Silence in the sound

Chapter Five

Before continuing to campground, we stopped at the Tambellup Store to purchase some basics such as sleeping bags and other camping necessities. Deklan seemed very serious about it, as if he was in some sort of deep concentration. I shook it off assuming he was just thinking about the priorities of our camp set up, and that assumption ended up being correct.

After Deklan had bought us all that we needed we headed on another half an hour walk to an isolated camping ground nearby the little town.

T: Wow, barely anyone here, hey?

I motioned to the campsite, when we got there, we both immediately noticed how there was literally no one but ourselves there.

D: Barely anyone except us.

He responded, he was a lot more at ease than he was in the store and I could tell he was ready for us to just chill and have a nice night, my hopes were the same!

The fact no one was besides Deklan and I felt in a way, soothing? Just him and I alone had my brain in shambles, but quickly I regained my composure and acted as normal. I didn't want to get distracted from the tasks we had ahead of us.

We set up our sleeping bags and basic supplies near a cute looking bonfire on the north end of this campground and watched s the sunset over the horizon...

Deklan lit a fire and I must admit my playful side began to unravel,

T: Deklan?
D: What is it, shitface?

T: Haha always so serious! Let's play a game of questions!

I insisted to him.

D: Questions?

T: Questions, we take turns asking each other, well, you know, questions.

D: Oh whatever, there's not much else I have to do, is there?

He sighed.

The sun continued to set and the questions continued to roll in. I knew the topic of my kidnapping was off-limits. Questions were being answered truthfully by both of us. They were remaining fairly tame and mostly appropriate, until Deklan asked me,

D: Why did you leave Perth?

I went silent, he went silent. The atmosphere sucked it's breathe in making sure not to breathe out in this moment of tensity.

I sat there dumbfounded, should I tell him? How can I trust him when he can not trust me?

I stood up

T: I cant do this right now, how can I be honest with you when you have an entire conniving plan that I don't even know the steps or motives towards?

D: Tianah! Wait!

Deklan said getting up and catching up to me

D: I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked, it's just... I didn't think I would ever see you again after you left, it took a toll on me and I just wanted to know if your reason was worthy.

I snapped.

T: I don't need to prove anything to you! And when I say anything Deklan, I mean ANYTHING! You have no privilege to lecture me on worthy reasons when YOU literally f*cking kidnapped me and can not even tell me why!

Deklan went silent.

D: I'm sorry.

The words got thrown out like nothing I had heard before. So much sincerity was in this man's voice.

Even thought I wanted to be able to forgive him with all my heart, and I knew it was the right thing to do, he just wanted to know why I left, I couldn't bring myself to tell him, I needed time alone.

T: Deklan... I just- need some time to myself

I said, holding back a pool of tears from being unleashed.

I went and sat next to the fire once more, so did Deklan but this time he respected my wish of being alone. We sat in silence and he didn't try to initiate anything, I appreciated it more than he could ever know.

I just wanted to forget today, forget the tiresome walk, forget acting like a couple, forget the question he asked me that totally repulsed my mood.

I tried to lay down, shut my eyes and forget the last forty eight hours of my life with minimal success. I couldn't get to sleep, no surprise there I never could, but this time it was bad and when I say I couldn't get to sleep I mean that I laid in my sleeping bag from the darkness of the night until dawn. I didn't want Deklan to know, so I chose to act asleep the whole time and hope for the best that the day ahead of us would not be too gruesome on my bodies overwhelming exhaustion and fatigue.

Before I knew it, I heard a familiar voice

D: Good morning, Tianah.