A Feeling About You

CHAPTER 5: Whispers of the Past

I step out of Forest Heights High School, inhaling the crisp, autumn air that carries the promise of change and renewal. The colourful leaves rustle gently, forming a beautiful carpet of red, orange, and gold beneath my feet. Fall, my favourite season, has arrived in all its glory.

As I reflect on my first day of grade 9, a mix of emotions swirls inside me - excitement for the new experiences, relief that it went well, and a hint of nervousness about the unknowns that lie ahead. My chroma empathy has been a constant companion, but today, it was easier to manage, thanks to a certain distraction.

I notice familiar footsteps following me quietly, and feel a flutter in my stomach as euphoric yellow hues waft from behind me. I turn around to see Kai, a mischievous glint in his eyes and a playful grin on his face.

"Hey, Adira," he says, the warmth in his voice complimented by an affectionate pink.

I playfully push his head away, trying to hide the effect he has on me. "You can't resist those jump scares, can you? You used to do that all the time when we were kids. I'm immune to them now."

Kai chuckles, his laughter like music to my ears. "You had such a serious look on your face earlier, I'm glad you loosened up. What's on your mind?"

My heart flutters at his genuine concern. "Just the usual first-day-of-school thoughts. Aiden started public school today after being homeschooled for so long, and I can't help but worry about how he's doing."

Kai nods understandingly. "It's completely natural to feel that way. I'm sure he'll do great, especially with a caring sister like you looking out for him."

I smile, grateful for his reassurance. "Thanks, Kai. I hope you're right. It's just hard to let go and not be there to support him on his first day."

Kai places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "He's lucky to have you as his sister. And if you want, we can go check on him together."

The thought of Kai offering to help eases my worries, and I feel a sense of relief wash over me. "That would be nice. Thanks, Kai."

I cross the sidewalk, lost in a sea of memories from our childhood days. "Remember how we used to play in the park together with Kyong?" I ask Kai, feeling a warm sense of nostalgia.

His laughter brings back even more memories, and I smile, reminiscing about the times I used to take care of Kyong whenever he fell or got scared. He adored me back then.

"He was such a cute little kid," I say, my heart swelling with affection for those cherished moments. "I wonder if he still remembers me. He didn't seem to this morning."

"Well, there's only one way to-" Kai's voice trails off, and suddenly, the colours around him shift from warm greens to dark indigo and gloomy blacks. It feels like I'm sinking into an abyss of fear and uncertainty, suffocating in the shadows that envelop my heart.

"Adira!" Kai's urgent voice jolts me back to reality. He pulls me close to the sidewalk, and I realize that I had almost been hit by a speeding car. My heart races, and I can feel the panic rising within me.

The screeching sound of the car comes to a halt, and I turn to see the driver swearing angrily as he drives away. But I can't register the details; I feel numb, trapped in the grip of my past.

In this moment, the memories I've tried so hard to suppress flood back with overwhelming force. My parents' last moments, the struggle to open the minivan's doors, the terror of those final seconds haunt me once more.

The accident that took my parents away from me was never solved. The police closed the case as a hit and run, with no evidence to find the culprit responsible for their deaths. No video footage, no license plate, nothing. I hate the uncertainty, the feeling of injustice that lingers in my heart.

The weight of the past presses down on me, and I feel myself form a lump in my throat as my eyes sting. The memories of that day, the desperation to save my parents, the futility of it all...I hate it.

The ringing in my head grows louder, and my vision blurs. I feel nauseous, as if I'm drowning in a sea of emotions I can't escape.

But then, reality pulls me back as I notice Kai's hand, which still holds onto my arm, trembling ever so slightly. It's in that moment that the weight of my actions fully dawns on me.

I can feel the overwhelming darkness that had engulfed my heart starting to recede, pushed away by Kai's presence and his unwavering concern.

"Thanks, Kai. Sorry for the scare, I should've looked where I was going," I mutter, a tinge of guilt lacing my words.

His eyes flicker, and I realize that this situation is more than just an unexpected bump in the road. I remember how he used to have a similar look in his eyes when we were kids, the one he wore when he spoke about his father's passing.

Kai's father died when he was little, a victim of lung cancer. He had to face the loss of his dad at such a young age, and the memory of his father's suffering and his own helplessness lingers in the shadows of his aura. It's a pain he's carried with him for years, a pain that I can feel radiating from him right now.

His aura, once vibrant and warm, now feels unbearably heavy. And I realize that in my own emotional turmoil, I might have unwittingly awakened some traumatic memories for him as well.

"I'm safe now, thanks to you," I say, my voice soft as I try to convey my gratitude.

His grasp on my arm loosens, and he takes a step back, putting some space between us. His smile, still present, seems to waver slightly, revealing a hint of vulnerability that I've rarely seen before.

I swallow hard, feeling a mix of emotions - remorse for causing him distress, gratitude for his quick thinking, and a desire to comfort him as he's comforted me countless times before. But the words escape me, lost in the midst of the complex feelings swirling within me.

As we stand there, the weight of our unspoken thoughts hangs in the air. It's a moment of vulnerability and shared understanding, a glimpse into the depths of our emotional connection that goes beyond words.

I step closer to him, an impulsive decision driven by gratitude and something else-something that feels like a connection I can't explain. I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it gently.

"You know, for a moment there, I felt like you were my lifeline," I admit, my voice soft but sincere.

Kai's gaze meets mine, and I see a mixture of emotions in his eyes-concern, relief, and something deeper that I can't quite decipher. The shadows that flicker across his face tell of a pain that runs deeper than the surface.

"Adira," he says softly, his voice full of empathy. "You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have people who care about you and want to help, including me."

His vulnerability draws me in, and in that moment, I understand that Kai's past holds scars similar to mine. I give his hand a gentle squeeze, letting him know that the sentiment he's offering isn't one-sided.

"I know, Kai. And I'm grateful for that."

He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze before finally releasing it. His eyes briefly flicker towards the road, where the car had sped away moments ago, and his jaw tightens almost imperceptibly.

"If you ever need someone to talk to or just be there, I'm here."

His words are a silent admission of his own struggles, and I nod in acknowledgment. There's a depth to Kai that I'm only beginning to uncover, a history of pain and loss that mirrors my own.

As we continue our walk, the autumn breeze carries away the lingering heaviness, and I find solace in Kai's company. In the midst of the shadows that still haunt me, I realize that I'm not alone on this journey. With friends like Kai by my side-friends who understand the weight of grief and the power of empathy-I have the strength to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

And as the sun begins to set, casting a warm glow over the horizon, I'm reminded that even in the darkest moments, there's always a glimmer of light waiting to guide us forward.

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Author's note: changed Adira and Kai's reaction to the speeding car and added more details about Kai's past.