Secrets and Lies | COMPLETE

12| 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚘𝚢

FORREST

Sometimes you had to overstep and pray to not fall down into the depths.

Frankly, I knew this was overstepping the boundaries, crossing the line between what was right and stepping into the grey area where nothing was clear but I knew that this was my last resort.

I'd had enough.

That look in her eyes, how she was acting could no longer be enough to satisfy us. I wouldn't care if she'd never speak to us again but she needed help. I knew that her sisters weren't going to nor her busy parents so I put it in my hands to be the source of her recovery and to try and scare away the demons that slowly day by day were breaking her.

I knew it wasn't rational but she was becoming dangerous and not to anyone but herself and if anything happened to her, the fault felt like it would lie with me, someone who saw what was happening and yet did nothing to change any of it.

Rex went home, shoulders down with a look on his face that he always had when he stared at the young Amherst. No one could decipher what it was but to me, it looked like a blend of pity, frustration and sadness. There was another thing about his facial expression in the woods right after Amherst left. It was almost as if he was slowly giving up on her just as the others were. He'd never admit it and maybe he didn't even realise it was happening but I could see it.

But I couldn't give up, not yet. My heart wouldn't let something bad happen again.

So I decided to follow her, to stay in her shadows just so if she did something, I'd be there to catch her before her downfall.

I'd show her how that even though her sisters wouldn't love and care for her, that I did and would. I'd show her that despite her imperfections, whatever she went through, that I wouldn't stop until she was at least a little alright.

So, I'd followed her to the police station.

Was she coming here to confess something? Visit someone?

All the ideas that filtered through my mind where weak. It was always so confusing trying to figure her out, what her actions would be and why. She was the hardest puzzle, one I thought I'd never solve, let alone find the right pieces for.

It felt as if every time I thought I had a piece down, the picture on the box changed and I'd have to change all my pieces, change my goal, change everything just to gave it all change again and again and again.

It was frustrating. Consuming. Tiring.

But I'd never give up.

I waited outside the police station for a while and was about to go in but I didn't because in the next moment, she came out, more downcast than when she went in.

My heart pitter-pattered in my chest, the little beats almost painful as once again, there was sadness etched all over her body, spraying out of her like rays of melancholy that I couldn't help but be hit by.

Handling it herself?

What bullshit was she feeding herself? It was so blatantly obvious that she was not handling it herself. Why would she not let us in?

I started walking behind her, far enough so she wouldn't see me but close enough that I would imagine she could feel me, hoping my presence was as soothing to the soul as hers was to mine.

But in the next second, she disappeared and I swear I had my eyes on her. How the hell did she disappear so quickly?

In a rush to make sure I didn't lose her for losing her now could mean losing the pieces of the puzzle that would be vital for the bigger picture, I sped up, almost to a run and scouted for her presence.