What she left Behind | ONGOING

CHAPTER 13

───── Chloe ─────

She wanted to be an author.

I never once would've imagined something like that. I mean, she has always been very talented, but I never knew she was so close to achieving something as important as publishing her book.

I was listening to Derek read aloud that letter but all I could think about was how she never shared that with me or anyone. She obviously didn't say anything to Derek because he was just as surprised as I was.

Now I'm in the kitchen, where Mrs. Prescott began baking some chocolate chip cookies. She seemed a bit concerned when she first saw me walk down the stairs and said that a snack could probably help. She didn't ask why I wasn't looking too good but I assumed she knew that us being in Savannah's room could trigger some memories.

I also didn't argue against her baking cookies for me because she seemed too excited about it, which she hasn't been that way since what happened; she truly is making outstanding progress and to me, that's something admirable.

"That smells good," I hear Derek say as he enters the kitchen. He is holding the manuscript in one hand, causing my eyes to widen. I didn't expect him to bring it out of Savannah's room. I just thought that it would stay inside that box because I didn't find the strength to read past the front page. I was holding it and re-reading the word: MANUSCRIPT, but I couldn't read the content of it.

"Thank you, sweetie, these will be done in about 25 minutes, I hope you both can stay to try them once they're out of the oven."

I want to leave but I also don't want to be rude. I force myself to nod and smile, even though inside I am not really in the mood to have any snack.

"We wouldn't miss it. Also, Savannah's room is almost done being organized," Derek says and walks closer to where I'm standing. Mrs. Prescott's face has a mixture of relief and happiness, that alone makes me feel good about this whole thing. She couldn't go inside that room just yet and truly needed someone to do it for her, at least until she could find the strength to do it herself.

She didn't force me to do it, I willingly said I would, even though I thought that reliving this part of Savannah would be triggering.

Looking at it that way, it does make me feel good about offering my help and even dragging Derek to do it with me as well. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have been able to do it myself. I was surprised that Derek said yes when I asked him to help me—glad he accepted, but very shocked.

Oh, God. . . I wasn't thinking about how he would feel by coming here and opening that door. I mean, the way he talked about how he felt that time he exploded in the woods, makes me think that this could've been very hard for him as well.

Now I feel terrible.

"Well, I will go check the clothes in the washing machine, I'll be right back."

Even her tone of voice changed. Talking about this experience with a psychologist has helped her, and I am glad about that.

Derek waits until Mrs. Prescott is no longer in sight and then quickly turns to look at me. His chill and laid-back expression turned to a concerned one.

"Are you alright?" he asks. His voice was almost like a whisper.

I'm still surprised by this side of him—the somehow sweet and worried side where he shows he can feel bad for other people in situations like these.

I nod, "Yeah, sorry. I shouldn't have left you there."

He smiles, "I understand why you did. I mean, discovering something like this isn't easy"