After All This Time ⚢ ✓

Chapter 6

GENEVA didn't leave any room for conversation with that call. She had no intentions of speaking with Allan tonight, regardless of the amount of times he tried to call her back. Unfortunately, she didn't have any real intentions of finding sleep either. Her mind wouldn't let her.

Instead, she placed her phone on Do Not Disturb, then set it on the nightstand. Some fresh air sounded like a perfect escape, to Geneva. It would pull her away from the quickly closing in walls of this smaller than she remembered room. She pushed herself off the rickety bed, and slipped on some fuzzy socks. She was about to head out in her oversized shirt and pajama pants, but she reached for a robe at the last moment, remembering how low the temperatures could drop at night time.

Sherlene's home was engraved in Geneva's memory. Every creaky stair. Every loose floorboard. Her and Axelle had gotten caught sneaking out so many times, they were forced to create a map from memory. This was how Geneva managed to get through the almost pitch balck home, even after all those years. Both Sherlene and Jackie were light sleepers, which made it difficult for any of the foster kids to stay up past hours... but Geneva and Axelle were just some of those souls that favored the night time. The peace and quiet.

So as Geneva made it to the front entrance and slowly pushed open the main door, She swallowed her initial surprise when her eye's caught Axelle's.

Axelle, too, had come here for some fresh air. To clear her thoughts. Staring out into the fields at night was an eerie, yet comforting feeling. She hadn't been out long, before she heard the familiar sound of those shitty door hinges.

It was funny how much she wasn't expecting Geneva, even though Geneva was the only other one in this household that would still be about this late at night. They had all just returned from Sherlene's funeral though, and Axelle couldn't imagine sleep found anyone well tonight.

"Oh, I'm sorr-, I didn't-" Geneva was already turning to leave, but Axelle called out to her.

"Wait."

Geneva froze just inches away from the door frame, unsure of what to do. She wanted to be alone tonight. At least, that's what she thought she wanted... but then Axelle added the word "Please."

Axelle shifted over some on the porch bench, allowing space for Geneva to sit. "You can ignore me all you want, but you don't have to deprive yourself of some fresh air to do so." She said to this clearly frazzled woman.

Geneva had to think even harder about this invite. Was it Axelle's old shirt and dusted black jeans she wore on this particular night, that made the offer too intense? It could have been all the unanswered questions she still had. She was worried that if she sat down, even if she said nothing, Axelle would still see her. Still hear her. Still feel her.

But maybe she wanted that tonight.

So Geneva's feet did the talking for her. They carried her to the empty spot on the bench besides Axelle, and she took a seat.

Geneva was right about the weather conditions tonight. another chill blew through the air that made her hug the fuzzy robe she wore, even tighter. The cold didn't seem to bother Axelle though, not in the slightest. She hadn't flinched when the wind bit back, even though she was only in a short sleeve shirt.

They both stared out into the empty field in silence. It reminded each girl of the nights they would come out here to talk. So many years had passed since then, but the one thing that hadn't changed was the view. That was the beautiful thing about Shoreville- it was timeless.

Axelle couldn't help but think back to the last conversation her and Geneva shared, before they'd gone back to bed. So much had happened but night, but the words that were shared between these two girls had stayed with Axelle all these years later. She wanted that again, that moment of bliss, of love, of happiness before everything came crashing to the floor. It was a different level of pain to long for something you know you didn't deserve, and Axelle knew that all too well.