Love...or Life?

Chapter Two: The Photographs

The sound of the door crashing against the wall behind it rang through my ears and I felt my heart start to pound against my rib cage.

What happened in this house?

Why did it feel so different?

Thoughts began to flood my brain and my palms and forehead started to sweat.

For some reason I couldn't bring myself to step inside, but why?

It felt as if I was physically being held back, and restrained so my whole body was completely still.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists to relieve my tension within me.

The clamminess of my hands started to bother me not long after but I'd calmed myself enough by then so I released grip on my fingers.

Startled by my mother sliding open a kitchen curtain, I began to wipe my palms against my thighs once more and attempted to look natural in her view. It didn't work.

"Victoria, are you okay?" she called through the window. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"

She chuckled, but I began to question if that's what was wrong.

Had I seen one?

Is that what was holding me back?

I didn't reply to my mother, just flashed her a fake smile before heading into the doorway cautiously.

***

It was obvious that this house hadn't been lived in for decades. The walls were riddled with dust and cobwebs and the photo frames were virtually ancient. Within them sat a few black and white photographs of a young couple. They were clearly married.

The first photograph featured a young man, who was rather tall and handsome, standing straight with his wife's hands placed upon his chest who was more short and plump. They didn't look extremely happy together.

The second photograph was of the couple from the first picture but with a large group of people, who I assumed was their family. Lord knows, this might have been a wedding picture. Maybe weddings were exceedingly dreary back then.

The last photograph included the same couple again except they were standing together with linked arms but no facial expression at all. Oh gosh, this is what horror films are made of.

A sudden thought struck me at that moment like a predator. Did this couple...die here? Are they still here?

My temples started to throb and my breathing started to become shallow-a few signs of a panic attack.

I'd started getting them after two months in the institution, and would get them when I was unsure of a situation or extremely nervous.

This time it was for both reasons.

My eyelids delicately closed and slow heavy breaths escaped my lips as I tried to calm myself before my parents could see me. They always seemed to create a huge fuss over them when I can deal with them alone.

As I inhaled forcefully one last time, I placed my hand upon my chest to feel the beats of my heart. They slowly began to regulate and my headache started to subdue.

My body felt calmer now but in my head I most definitely was not relaxed, for I could feel that I was not alone here.

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I hope you enjoyed the second chapter! Feel free to comment/favourite if you wish :)