Swim Away (Mermaid)

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Noah is gone."

Did I hear right or had my ears deceived me?

I froze as chills ran up my whole body. Too many awful thoughts flew through my mind. My head started spinning as I reached the worst case scenario.

Asher caught me as I almost lost consciousness. I didn't want those words to sink in, but they were digging a hole and it was going deep.

"Gone? Like they took him?" I whispered, right under his ear.

Who was I kidding? I knew what Asher meant.

My heart was pounding, rapidly. That was the only sound in my ears. I could see Asher's mouth moving, but the words were unreachable.
Unreadable.

'Noah is gone,' repeated in my head and I held on to Asher tighter. He was my support. I could feel everything slipping from me. Even my breathing had left and gasping for air was getting harder.

Asher continued to move his lips, but I heard nothing. I couldn't hear anything.

I closed my eyes.

I shook my head.

I wanted to speak, but the words weren't coming out. I only continued to shake my head and loosen my grip on Asher. He furrowed his brows while keeping his eye on me. He seemed to have chosen not to speak anymore. Then I took a step back. I couldn't feel my body anymore, it felt like I was going to fall over any second.

I used the couch for support.

Asher cautiously took a step closer, obviously afraid to make any movements. I placed my hand in front of me, which was right against his chest.

I shook my head again.

I was focusing on the words I wanted to say.

"Stop!" not exactly what I wanted I meant to say, but it was something. I couldn't bring myself to say anymore. I choked up. My throat feeling tight.

I could feel something in me trying to escape, but I ignored it.

"Lara!" Asher said, concern in his voice. He was right in front of me now, but I held out my hand. It came in contact with his shirt and I grabbed it.

"Stop!" I repeated, and some force around me shoved him back. His back smacked against the wall. A feeling of deja vu came upon me, but I shook it off.

Everything around us was falling or breaking.

I hugged myself as the wind from the outside broke in.

Asher stayed against the wall, his eyes wide open. I turned away, not wanting him to know that this was the way I chose to handle it. Knowing it was wrong, but I did it anyway.

I clutched my hand near my chest while tears were streaming down my face. Everything was too much. I couldn't keep myself upright, so I slid down to the floor.

"Go away!" I screamed. "Get out!"

I hid my face with my hair, not wanting him to see me or even speak to me.

I couldn't. I just couldn't.

Asher's footsteps could be heard as he made it to the door. He clutched the doorknob, but the clicking sound didn't come.

He was staying there, gripping the doorknob real tight. There wasn't a single sound in that moment. I got curious as to why he didn't move, but before I could shout at him to leave again, he was sitting beside me.

There were no words spoken between us for a while. The desire to shove him out was there, but I couldn't do it. He wasn't going to budge, I could feel it.