Yellowed

Chapter 18; Rains and Bridge

A chilling whisper rumbled in my ear, and I felt like I wanted to faint. I looked at Mr. Gray and tried to figure out what he was saying, but I couldn't. He was looking at me pale and with a horrified expression. 

"I can't breathe," I tried so hard to say. It seemed like I was drowning again, and he was the only one keeping me surfaced. Then everything went black, and I felt like I was falling again. I tried to call out to him, but instead, when I tried to open my eyes, I could no longer feel my body in the chair. The images I saw and felt before floated in the air, and he slowly faded into the darkness. I want to scream in rage. The look of frustration, hope, and fear in Mr. Gray's eyes pierced my heart, but when I tried to reach him, he faded. The sound of the rain drowned my voice as the images faded, and I looked straight into Mr.Gray's eyes again before he completely vanished. 

I woke up in an old dust-covered and not-so-large hut that contained a small window beside the door. I felt weak and hungry, but as I looked around, I did not see anyone. I tried to sit up, but the pain coursed through my body. I lowered my body to the lonesome bed. A murmur of voices serenaded my ears, and I slowly widened my eyes.

I slowly looked at the people coming, confused and tired.

"Where am I?" I tried to speak, but the pain made me lose the ability to talk properly. The rush of air made me feel dizzy. My body was so heavy, and my head hurt so bad.

The two people talking outside began to fade when someone said, "he was awake."

"Aunt!" I tried to call out for her, but my throat was dry, and my voice kept making rough sounds. Then the door to the room burst open, and the figure of my aunt appear. She runs to me and sits beside the bed. Her eyes were full of worry when she took me in her arms. I tried to calm her down, but the throbbing pain made my vision hazy.

"Where am I?" I ask again.

"You're at my friend's house," she said. "You're lucky she found you beside the bridge yesterday. If not, who would have known what would happen to you?" she added as she wiped her tears. 

As I tried to lift myself, I felt the other sickening feeling in my stomach that I had felt before. I held Aunt's arms, and she let me rest my body before she gave me water. The water felt like heaven to me. I took a huge gulp, and I tried to sit up but the excruciating pain forced me to lie down again.

"Where's he?" I asked my aunt again. 

"I already warned you that this day might come, but you two didn't listen," she said. "I heard that he was sent to the camp to train and join the war... they didn't say when will he return." 

Confusion was plastered on my face. I don't know what to say, but knowing he was fine was a relief. I lay on the bed, and despite the pain, I had at least a good piece of mind for now.

"How long have I been here?" I asked, barely mumbling a few words.

 "Almost more than a day," my aunt said. 

I tried to sit up again but still couldn't hold the pain. I could feel the tears forming around my eyes. The feeling of disappointment weighed my heart down as I tried to remember that night. I turned around and faced the window.

"I should have never been with him..." I mumbled under my breath. "It's all because of me."

My aunt grabbed my hand and tried to console me.

"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault," she said. "But no matter how hard it is, you can't risk being seen with him again. Especially by the general."