Healing Hearts

Chapter 1: The Dark Past

[Jase's Pov]

"Mum?" I called out. She jolted at my voice. I was getting rather uncomfortable with her strange behaviour lately. She hasn't stop pacing around and fidgetting with her fingers.

"Mum? Are you alright?" I asked.

Before she could answer or even turn around, I was pulled back abruptly and thrown against the wall. I felt pain and something trickling down my neck, but before I could find out what it was, a tall stranger came into view. He gave me a sinister look before turning his attention towards my mother.

I was beyond confused as to what was going on, I could see fear flickering in her eyes as she converses with this dangerous dark-haired man. My visions began to cloud.

By the time I could hear only my own heartbeat, I saw her mouthing something. Was it 'I love you'? I didn't get to find out before my eyelids failed me.

Time skip~

When I open my eyes again, I was in my own room. "Dad?" I called out to the man standing at the curtains, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You're awake!" He gasped. "I thought I lost you too." I was glad to see him but I didn't fail to realise what he meant and the clenched fist of his. He was trying to stay strong and pretend he wasn't affected by what happened.

But he was slowing losing it. It started with isolating himself in his room to the point that even I wasn't allowed to leave the house. He stops smiling or even talks at all, he was always staring into space.

When he told me he wanted to attend a ball, I thought he was finally recovering, only to receive the news of his abrupt death.

After the funeral, I stayed with Uncle Steven and his wife. Uncle Steven and Dad had been friends for as long as I can remember but it only took two weeks for them to finally had enough of me.

When I arrived at the orphanage, I was filled with hatred and sorrow. I cried and cursed on the first night, I was mad that life was so unfair to me. But I hated myself more, I hate myself for crying, for being weak.

A few days later~

Unlike father, I didn't like isolating myself in a small room, I had to get out. When I finally left the room, I found a girl sitting outside my door. I was shocked but somehow the shocked look on the girl's face greatly surpasses mine. I was going to walk away when her voice stopped me.

"Wait! Please don't go!" She pleaded. "I'm Ashley and I really want to be your friend!"

"W-Why are you crying?!" I shrieked. Who on earth is this girl? I really can't stand crybabies.

"Stop crying. If you don't stop crying. I won't be your friend." I sigh.

[Ashley's Pov]

(Back to the first day Jase arrives at the orphanage)

Everyone was shaken up by the arrival of a new girl, she became the topic of all conversations. As soon as I step into the room, it became silent and they glared at me. "Go away, monster." One of them cussed.

It's been like this for as long as I can remember. They hated me because I was the only survivor of a car accident. But why? It makes no sense, I didn't do anything wrong.

The new girl, on the other hand, was something, she actually isolated herself in her room and if someone tries to talk her out of it, they end up running out of the room crying.

One night, I decided to sit outside her door because I was sicked of the other girls calling me names. Imagine the shock I had when she came out of her room.

Time skip(2 weeks)~

Everyone had gone inside to get ready for dinner while Jase and I stayed outside.

"Jase?" I called out. She didn't look up but I know she heard me. "Why do they hate me?" I asked. She stopped arranging the flowers and look at me.

"They don't hate you." She replied. "They're jealous of you."

"What do you mean?" I asked. She got up from her squatting position and walk towards the gates leading to the orphanage. She pointed at the sign and turns back to look at me. "Everyone here was abandoned by their parents, they were not loved. But you are different. Despite the tragedy, your parents loved you." With that, she went inside.

Jase keeps a cold facade but deep down she's really warm. She promised to get us out of here so that we can both lead a normal life. For our freedom, nothing is going to stop us.