𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐊- 𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐒

Chapter Twenty-Five

Forgiving The Unforgivable

1692 words

Everything hurts, this might make you hate me less but the epilogue will make you happy

I hope.

Ellie couldn't hear anything when walking up to the farmhouse. No music, or talking. Not even the sound of Aurora cleaning. She walked up the stairs finally hearing the wind chime sing when a breeze blew passed. Everything looked the same from the outside, she only prayed it looked the same on the inside. Ellie put her hand on the doorknob turning it slowly stepping into the lit up house. Everything was the same as she remembered, just quieter, still the bright place though. She glanced around wanting to call out Aurora's name but hesitated, the letters just on the tip of her tongue. She looked around before accidentally stepping on a loud squeaky toy, looking down she saw something that resembled broccoli but had many teeth marks engrained in the plastic.

The sound of the back door swinging open startled her, a dog came rushing around the corner before it stopped growling harshly at her. "Whoa there easy." Ellie stepped back with wide eyes putting her hands up in defense. Then around the corner came an all too familiar person, Aurora looking rather confused. "Easy boy, what's wron-" Aurora made eye contact with Ellie pausing when she saw her. "E-Ellie?" Aurora stepped back beside the dog, ripping her eyes away from the woman looking down at the dog petting it's fur back. "Easy Max it's okay. She's friendly it's okay." The dog calmed down then wagged its tail running right up to Ellie greeting her happily.

"When did you get back?" Aurora questioned quietly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Just now. I didn't go to Jackson, I wanted to see if you wer-" "Still here?" Aurora cut her off. Ellie nodded petting Max on the head who stuck his tongue out sitting at her feet. "I wanted a farmhouse, no matter what." Aurora spoke walking closer to Ellie. Ellie stood up straight looking at her then down at her hands at her missing fingers. "Holy shit." Aurora's eyes went wide looking at her fingers. "Abby, she um...she bit them off." Aurora stepped back, putting a knuckle to her lips keeping her eyes on Ellie's left hand. "So you found her?" Ellie nodded looking up at Aurora. "I couldn't do it." Aurora looked Ellie in the eyes watching something change.

"I couldn't...I saw Joel...then you. I let them go." Aurora leaned against the table next to the front door looking at the ground. "Do you regret it?" Ellie stared at Aurora but refused to look in her eyes. "No. I get it now." Aurora nodded then looked to the couches.

"Let's sit down." They walked to the couches taking a seat on the large sofa but stayed a bit far apart. "How's Jesse and Dina?" Aurora shrugged, picking at a string on her jeans. "Good, JJ's a great baby. Jesse's parents can be pushy though, Dina's been trying to escape them." Aurora wanted to smile but couldn't bring herself too. "Tommy?" She asked instantly, making Aurora tense up, taking her head out of her hand and sitting up. "We haven't exactly been on talking terms. I've been spending more time with Maria. He's tried talking to me I'm just...not ready to hear it I guess." Ellie nodded already feeling guilty, she closed her eyes then looked up at Aurora. "And you?" Aurora pushed out a laugh rubbing her eyes with her fingers.

"That's a great question." She sat up straight staring right into Ellie's eyes. "Fine. I've had time to think about everything I thought about this day a lot but of course I also thought about how you were probably dead and that I should move on." Ellie looked at her hands shifting uncomfortably. "I'm sorry." "I know. I can see it when you look at me." Aurora continued to watch her, examining her face. "You always could read me like a book." "What can I say, you're easy to read Ms. Williams."