Amelia had everything- family, friends, a promising future- the sky was the limit. But just like that everything was taken from her. One moment she's planning her high school graduation party the next she's laying on a therapist's couch. It was as i...
I stared blankly at my other half. The air in the room had thickened. Once more I felt as if my body was submerged in water. Not drowning, but merely floating.
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"Okay. Okay, let's just relax for a minute," I said.
I needed to keep myself as calm as possible. I was only now just starting to understand my persona against Mia's. She was indifference. I was sympathy. She was chaos. Which meant that I needed to be stability.
I watched her regain her natural composure. I didn't need to feel her emotion to know what they were. Anger. A deep seeded anger towards the unknown. Of the two of us she was the one with the most knowledge of who we were dealing with. Maybe it was time for me to gain a better understanding.
"Mia, I am willing to accept the shit that is going on around us. But, you have to help me. Help me understand. I will ask Aralyn to go look at apartments tomorrow, alright?"
She nodded her head once more.
"But, in return, I need you to tell me as much as you can about Zachary and whoever the hell else works for him."
"Fine. . . I will tell you everything I know. But not here."
Just as my mouth opened to argue Mia held up her hand in protest. Her face was serious.
"Not here. From here on out, we're not gonna risk anything. When we are completely alone, I will tell you everything."
"Promise me," I said sternly.
". . . promise."
A sudden knock on the door caused me to jump. I turned my body to find Aralyn poking her head through the door.
She greeted me with a smile. "Hey."
"Hey," I said hoarsely.
I felt her eyes scanning me from top to bottom.
"You alright?"
"Yea, why?" I replied.
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She shoved her hands in her back pockets and shrugged.
"I thought you said you were taking a shower," she commented.
I glanced back at the mirror above the dresser. That's when I noticed my phone sitting on the dresser and quickly picked it up.
"I-uh- got caught up in a work call."
"Oh. Well, the pizzas are ready. Why don't you come down and eat?"
I nodded in agreement, however something in Aralyn's expression told me she wasn't completely convinced.
"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked again.
I rolled my eyes and laughed, "yes."
"You just seemed a little off when you got home just now."
I gave her my most convincing smile, made my way around the bed and rested my hands on her shoulders. She didn't need to get tangled in this shit-show of a mess that was my life.
"Aralyn, I promise you. Everything is fine. I'm just exhausted, that's all. I barely slept last night and Elijah had multiple clients today."
She looked at me with pure concern. It was that same look she'd get in her eyes when I'd fade in and out of a lost memory. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in close.
"You know you can always talk to me," she assured. "Is there something wrong between you and Elijah right now? Has he said or done anything-"
"No. Nothing like that is going on. He's been really great, actually." I pulled back. "He's been patient and has even tried helping me get through my issues."
Thinking about Elijah now made my chest hurt. Like someone stuck a knife under my ribs and continuously twisted it. Of all the bullshit coming out of my mouth- this was the most truthful thing I said. Ironic.
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I thought back to when I was in his office earlier. His idea of me going back home felt impossible. Perhaps, maybe one day, I figured I would eventually return home for one reason or another. Whether it be to see my other relatives who've I basically shut out of my life or to sell the house. However, that meant going through each room and packing away all of their belongings. Each one attached to a memory.
When it came to Elijah and me, I had no idea what laid in store for us. I didn't know what was real or fake at this point. If this was all for the sake of a job, then why go to such an extent to pretend that he cared? What would he care if I ever went home again? Why care about my problems? Why go through the trouble of making me fall for him?
