As stormy as the Bermuda triangle (Completed)

Chapter 6: A chosen path.

Hi all.  Thanks to all of you reading my story.  Please comment and tell me what you think of it so far.  I would love to know what you think. I am good with thinking about what i want to write but not so good when it comes to putting it in wrighting. 

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 I arrived home just after eight.  I ignored everyone as I entered the house and went straight to my room.  After my shower and dressed in shorts and a t shirt, I took my time cleaning my room and doing my hair.  But at nine thirty I knew that I was just delaying the inevitable. 

I came into the dining room where everyone was sitting.  My parents and the West’s were there.  I was hesitant in the door and as my gaze swept over each and every face in the room I realized that the decision I was about to make, was going to be the hardest I have ever needed to make.  I turned around and walked to the kitchen as fast as I could. 

My surroundings became a blur, my chest was on fire and my throat was swollen and hurting.  As the first tear fell on the counter I heard footsteps coming up behind me.  I felt his warmth and I inhaled his sent.  I wanted so much to turn and be in his arms, but I knew that that would just make the pain worse.  I talked with my back still to him.  “Don’t come any closer.  I can not allow you to touch me in any way.  If you would please go and wait with the rest of the people, I will be there in a minute.”  I tried to keep my voice stable and not let him hear the pain in my voice.

“Okay Emma.  I will go in just a second, but if you don’t mind I would just like to say one thing.”  When I didn’t stop him he continued.   “I am sorry about yesterday.  I didn’t know that Chris felt that way.  We have never talked about our feelings for you with each other.  I don’t want you to feel like you are in the middle.  I can sort things out with Chris and nothing between you and me would have to change.  I love you Emma.”  He left the kitchen. 

Alone I started to cry but a few minutes later I dried my eyes and walked back to the dining room.  I didn’t sit.  I stayed close to the door and made sure that I would be able to escape when I needed to.  The room was big and the dark wood dining table could seat twenty four people.  The walls bottle green and the carpet was a deep chocolate brown.  From the centre of the ceiling hung a chandelier decorated with ceramic balls at the base where every bulb screwed in.  There were a few expensive pieces of artwork on the walls.  The room usually had a warm atmosphere but tonight it was cold and dark even though the light was on. 

I looked at my parents’ worried faces.  I loved them with all my heart and I could never hurt them.  “Mom and dad, I have been thinking for hours and hours.  I have made my decision and I know you will support me what ever I decide.”

I looked over each and every one in the room.  “This is not a discussion.  I will not change my mind.  So don’t try to change it for me.  Mr. and Mrs. W., to me you are a second pair of parents.  I love you so much and I want to thank you for everything you have ever done for me.  You have raised two very special boys and I hope that after my decision has been made that you will not keep the boys away from my parents, because I know that my parents love them just as much as you love me.”

My eyes fell on Chris. He was sitting on the opposite side of the table than Daniel was sitting.  “I am so sorry for everything that happened and the heart ache that I caused you.  It wasn’t intentional.  I have loved you for as long as I can remember and that would never change.  You are my best friend and my brother.  You have loved me and taken care of me and you were there for me whenever I needed you.  Thank you for all of that and so much more.  Never in my life did I mean to hurt you ever.  Please, from the deepest part of my heart, forgive your brother.  He is the only one you have and if you let this ruin your relationship with him, you will never be able to forgive your self.”

The lump in my throat made my voice sound weak.  Before I could stop them, the tears rolled down my cheeks.  I turned to the door and closed my eyes.  When I was composed I faced my loved ones again.  I looked at every one of them except for Daniel.  I couldn’t look at him and say what I was about to.  Instead I looked at the table in front of Daniel.  “Daniel.”  I looked at the ring on my finger that he gave to me for my tenth birthday.  “I have no words.  I am so scared of what the future without you might bring.  Since Sunday morning I knew where life was taking us, I knew that our love was the real thing.  You have made me complete in every way.  But yesterday I realized that if I didn’t do what I was about to, I would take a piece of you away, a piece that is more important than any thing else.  Please forgive your brother.  You were both hurt in this and you both need to forgive each other.  I will always love you and you will always have a special place in me heart.  The day we had by the lake was the most perfect day of my life and I will treasure it for ever.  Please go and enjoy your life.  I don’t want you to wait for me. 

I looked at everyone.  “Like my father put it to me yesterday.  I am it a cross road and I have to choose a direction.  The only direction that I was able to choose wasn’t one that my dad laid before me but one that I decided was best for everyone in the long run.  Before school ended I was approached by a teacher.  She said that there is a school in the U.K. that asked me to come and spend a semester with them.  The school is known for producing talented writers.  My teachers send them some of my work and they offered me a place.  I wasn’t going to take it, but I changed my mind.  I leave on Friday.”  I dried my eyes.  My heart broke when I heard his voice.  I had to turn away so no one would see me cry.  I felt my heart crack into a million pieces. 

His voice was sad and broken.  It sounded like he too needed to fight the tears that were threatening to run down his cheeks.  “How long will you be gone?”

“Anything from five months to a year depending on how I do in the first semester.”  I couldn’t stand it anymore.  I left the room and ran the stairs two at a time. 

The pain where my heart was supposed to be was excruciating.  I couldn’t breath and everything just started to cave in on top of me.  I opened my closet and took out two big Louis Vitone  suitcases and started packing.  As I placed the first few items into the suitcase I started to panic.  Did I make the right choice?  My legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor.  I curled up into a little ball and that is how I stayed for hours. 

I didn’t have the strength to do anything.  I couldn’t move and my body was stiff.  My room grew dark and I knew I was supposed to go to bed but I was afraid to.  I didn’t want the dream again, I wouldn’t survive it this time.  I was hanging on by a thread.  

I didn’t hear the knock, I don’t even know if there was a knock.  I didn’t look up but I knew who it was.  He picked me up of the floor and lay me down on the bed.  Just his touch made my pain subside.  We didn’t talk and it was fine by me.  I fell asleep in his arms and there were no nightmares.