as unsinkable as i can be // the wilds

chapter eight.

"Why does seeing her picture make you smile?"

"Because she was one of the quietest yet loudest people I've ever met."

"Can you explain to me how?"

"She was... you always knew when she walked into a room. She could stand there and not say a single thing, but God, she was there. She could always tell when someone was upset, and just the slightest bit of touch from her would instantly brighten your day.

I'm not the type of person to notice these sorts of things; at least I wasn't before the crash. I wasn't the type of person to be changed from human contact. But you could tell how much it meant to her, to make you feel better. But..."

"But what?"

"But there was something she was hiding. I never once believed it had anything to do with the island, or why we were there, but there was something that was weighing on her. And honestly, I could tell that most of the other girls could feel it too. It was like she was pouring everything into making other people feel better, and to help everyone else get through their problems, but she was abusing herself and her well being."

"Did this hurt you to see, to watch?"

"Of course it freaking did. Can you imagine having to watch someone put everything they could give into someone other than themselves? It just... it just reminded me so much of Nora, and how she would cast this... shadow onto me."

"A good shadow or a bad shadow?"

"A good one. In the beginning, I thought she was trying to walk all over me. But watching someone do the same thing as her, right in front of my eyes... it made me realize that it was protection. That she was willing to do just about anything to keep me safe.

And this girl in this picture... this beautiful girl... she was doing the same thing, but for people that she didn't even know. For people who said terrible things to her, including me, and she was doing it without it even registering in her head."

"Did it make you upset, to see?"

"Yeah, but it was also something that I envied. Her selflessness... the things she would do for others... that was something to admire. And it really, really sucks that... that all of that had to happen to her."

"I know, Rachel. I know."

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Hey guys!! I just wanted to take a moment and thank ALL of you! I just hit 1.2k reads, and I don't think y'all understand how much it means to me. I appreciate every single one of you, and your comments and votes make my day!!

I have, however, been a little bit at a loss as to what to do next with these characters and Raelynn - so please, if you have any ideas, I'd love to try and fit them into my story! 

Again, thank you so so so SO much, and I hope y'all stick around a little longer!

xoxo,

Em.