Will You Keep My All?

Chapter 3

Did you ever feel the numbness in your heart once someone hurt you, but you couldn't blame them because they had no single idea what you truly felt for them? Did you get cold feet when you tried to speak out your feelings? You were lost because you didn't know how to carry a broken heart, how to keep facing the day with a broken smile, and how to keep continuing the life you don't know where it could take you.

Alcea is that person. She doesn't know if she can still genuinely smile at her friend. She doesn't know if she can keep congratulating Maple on her engagement with Julian. She doesn't know if she can still act as her friend.

Returning to her hometown is a good opportunity, too, so she can think clearly. If Maple is with her, she might fail to hold in her emotions. Maple wants to give her a ride to the airport, but she kindly rejects her friend. She prefers riding a taxi in silence. She could feel the disappointment in Maple's voice when she called her 4 hours before her flight. She sleeps throughout the whole ride on the plane. She wants to rest her mind, and she doesn't want to think anymore.

"Alcea! Here!"

Alcea stopped looking around when she saw a familiar older woman waving at her in the crowd. She sighs in relief, smiling at Emerly. It's been a year since the last time they saw each other. Emerly celebrated the last Christmas with her in her place. Even with that wrinkled skin, the older woman really knows how to wear fashionable clothes. Her nervousness was gone seeing a familiar face. She's only been a child since the last time she stepped here.

"Emerly," She called her with a bright smile on her face.

Emily gave her a welcoming hug and kissed her cheeks. "You look good since the last time I saw you, schnucki,"

"Thank you. You look younger, Emerly," She chuckled when Emerly playfully slapped her arms.

But Emerly's face becomes serious. "I do want you to rest first, but...do you want us to go straight to Donnie's place or to talk with the lawyer first? I already talked with the lawyer who is handling the case against Donnie," She worriedly squeezed her hands.

She really appreciates Emerly's help. She doesn't know what will happen to her life if she's not with her during those times she's suffering. "I want to go straight to Donnie's place. I hope I can speak what I've prepared in my speech,"

Emerly nodded. "Don't worry. I already explained everything to the authority what really happened to you. Donnie already knew the information that you were alive. He seemed happy about that news too. We don't know what he will say, but no matter what happened, don't let that man hurt you again,"

She doesn't know what will be Donnie look like. She was a little girl since the last time she saw him. Did she hate him? Yes. But she grew tired of feeling that way. She doesn't want to keep hating someone, but she has to. If she won't hate him, what will her parents say? That it's fine that he killed them? She's angry with him but never shows it. She rather keeps that anger until she faces him again. And this is the right moment for that.

Emerly drive the car. The older woman keeps explaining to her what will those police officers say to her once they need to get her statement. She'll be okay. Emerly is here with her. Whatever happened, she needed to become prepared.

As they reached a familiar house, memories from the past registered in her brain. She and her parents are sometimes visiting that place. And the last time she was, there was when she runaway after she heard Donnie's conversation with another man. The place looks old as if Donnie never bothers doing any changes. As they left the car, they saw four police officers walk out of the door. One of them was holding the doorknob as they escorted them inside the house. Donnie is still under house arrest. She can feel how hard her heartbeat is drumming against her ribcage.