Whispers Of The Heart

Chapter 10

Emery Rose

As I paced back and forth in my living room, the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm and inviting light across the space. The room itself was cozy yet spacious, with plush sofas arranged around a rustic coffee table adorned with stacks of well-loved books and magazines. A soft white rug adorned the floor, adding a touch of warmth and comfort to the room.

Despite the peaceful atmosphere, uncertainty lingered, clouding my thoughts my god, why did I agree to this tutoring session in the first place? Yesterday, in a moment of fleeting courage, I had mustered up the nerve to ask Grayson to help me with my studies. And now, faced with the reality of it, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

I couldn't shake the memory of his words from yesterday.

"This doesn't change anything."

Ass.

It had infuriated me, the casual indifference in his tone stirring a well of anger deep within me. I wanted to confront him, to demand answers to the questions that had been plaguing me for years.

But all I said was "Got it"

I had no illusions about our tutoring sessions reviving our friendship. I had given up hope when his very much alive grandmother forced him to give me a ride, only for him to drown out any attempt at conversation with the blare of the radio.

It had been four years since he last set foot in my home, four years since our friendship had fractured beyond repair. And now, he was returning, not as my best friend, but as my tutor—the very person who seemed to harbor nothing but disdain for me.

My parents were absent. My mom, a doctor, often worked long hours at the hospital, while my dad, a sheriff, was usually out keeping Gracefield safe. Their demanding jobs meant they were often preoccupied with their own responsibilities, leaving me alone most of the time.

What struck me the most was their obliviousness to the changes that had occurred in my life over the past 4 years.

Despite knowing Justin, it appeared that my parents were oblivious to the presence of Leslie, my best friend, who had visited our home frequently, or Olivia, who had kindly driven me home on multiple occasions. I had stopped hanging out with Grayson, and he had stopped coming over, yet my parents never seemed to notice.

It was as though they had become disconnected from the world around them since my sister's passing, their attention consumed by their own grief and the demands of their respective careers.

They seemed to move through the world with blinders on, but I couldn't blame them. They are still great parents, doing their best to navigate their own pain while trying to hold our family together.

But despite their efforts, their unintentional neglect left me feeling unseen and unheard. I tried to fill the void left by my sister's absence, to be the daughter they needed me to be, but it never felt like enough.

I could see the sadness in their eyes, the longing for what once was, and I couldn't help but feel like I was failing them.

This is all my fault.

The knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, and I knew instantly who it was. Grayson. His distinctive rhythm echoed through the hallway, a reminder of the past. He still knocks the same.

Does that makes sense?

I noticed tears streaming down my face "Oh, you have to be shitting me," I muttered under my breath and I couldn't help but feel a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach.