Trails of Secrets

36. Thoughts

"This was a lot easier with four people," Liam commented as he and Annalise stacked up the firewood.

Annalise huffed, "We are doing just fine."

Liam threw the last log onto the fire and sat down on the dirty earth below. Annalise took a seat next to him and they both watched as the fire grew over the next few minutes. 

"Now what?"

The sudden question startled Liam. Annalise had been in such a bad mood all night, that he was unsure of what to say. "What do you mean?"

She let out a sorrowful sigh, "Now what? For the past few months, both of us have sacrificed hours of each day to help Sara. And now, it's over. I don't want to write my book. I don't think I'll ever write again. And you quit your paper route for Sara. So you don't have that going for you anymore. Yeah, you can get another job easy enough, but that was like, your thing! Your normal! Your life! And it's all ruined because of Sara."

"Phin."

"What?" Annalise asked confused.

"Her name is Phin. Persephone to be exact."

She narrowed her eyes at Liam and spat, "Do you think I care what the liar's real name is?"

"Maybe not," Liam said thoughtfully as he gazed into the night sky. "But I do."

Instead of Annalise tearing his head off like Liam fully expected her to do, she did something surprising. 

She laughed. 

Annalise laughed so hard, that Liam was afraid the fire would go out. 

"I can't believe it," she finally managed to choke out.

Liam was confused. "Can't believe what?"

Annalise gave him her first genuine smile of the night and grabbed his hand. 

"You love her."

                                                                ~~~

"So.... I'm a little offended."

"Oh?"

"Don't sound so disinterested!"

"My bad. You have my full and complete attention, Noah."

Noah let out a dramatic sigh. "They left me! No, they didn't just leave me- they forgot me! Forgot me. I'm the one who's supposed to forget things. I understand Liam forgetting me; he's barely said three words to me. But Annalise! She's my friend! I thought we had something!"

Phin kicked her feet up onto the coffee table as they both attempted to recline on the demolished couch. 

"You poor soul. To be stuck with me."

Noah shrugged. "Eh. You don't seem too bad. I'm just offended. Just a little. I'm not really that offended though. If I'm being honest, I don't really care. Yeah, I don't really care that they left me. I'm not hurt at all. I'm good. Fine. Yeah, I'm fine."

Phin slid a few inches away from him.

"Really. I'm fine."

"Uh huh."

"Why did they leave?"

Phin turned away from him. "It's a long story."

"Can you make it a short story? Cause sometimes I get sidetracked when people tell long stories."

She laughed at his comment, "I didn't say that I was going to tell it to you. It was my way of saying, 'None of your business.'"

"Well I didn't care anyway. Besides, I figured that you would end up crying if you told the whole story since you're so weak at the moment."

Phin stiffened. "Is that a challenge?"

"I- uh-"

"Fine then. Here's what happened."

                                                                        ~~~

"I miss her, Liam."

He looked at Annalise to see a tear fall from her eye. Liam never did know what to do when someone was crying. So he did the only thing he could do.

He hugged her. 

They stayed like that for a long time. Neither knew how long they were like that, nor did they care. But eventually, Annalise broke the silence.

"Liam, why do you like having such a normal life?"

This again.

He shifted uncomfortably. Dare he tell his story again? After last time, is it really worth it? 

He looked into Annalise's eyes.

Yeah. She's worth it. 

                                                         ~~~

"Dude that's messed up." 

Phin rolled her eyes to keep the tears inside her head. "Yeah, I'm aware."

"That they would leave you after all that you have been through."

Wait, what?

"Well, I lied."

Noah shrugged. "Yeah, so? I can't remember who I was a few weeks ago. Who knows what I could have done in the past. Who I could have been in the past. I could have been the worst of the worst. But who I am today is what counts. And right now, you are being more honest than you've been with them for the past few months. If there is ever a time to trust you, it's now. Because now you are telling the truth."

Phin sat silently for awhile. She never even thought of looking at it that way. 

"You know, you aren't that stupid."

Noah huffed. "Gee, thanks."

"Sorry. That came out wrong."

"Nah, it's ok. I know that I come across pretty dumb since I never know what's happening. Hopefully soon I will have my memory back. I don't want to keep forgetting all of you. I really don't want to forget you."

Phin smiled. 

At least she wasn't alone.

                                                                     ~~~

"I won't leave you, Liam."

...

"I promise."