Thirteen Years | P. Galliard

22

** This is the last chapter before the epilogue. I know it seems to drop off a bit, but the epilogue will explain the rest.

I've come such a long way with this story, and thank you to everyone who has read this. It took a LONG time to complete this story, so thank you to those who have been patient and worked with me.

Please enjoy

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The house was eerily quiet upon entering, one would be able to hear a pin drop within the residence if they truly wanted. Everything was still, even the curtains no longer danced as the windows were latched shut. It was almost like the house sat in a standstill; cups and plates set out for dinner, laundry neatly folded in a basket in the corner yet to be put away, and items from the festival still strewn about the counter to be put away later. It had been three days since you had set foot in your residence, three days that strangled you as you expected the worst.

Your parents inevitably missing, no bodies recovered but not found either - your heart sank to see no one was home. There were many, almost countless, families who had yet to hear anything. No death confirmed, but no word from vanished people either. Your street was the furthest from the plaza, jammed between another street and the large, barb topped fence that kept Eldians from getting out. Though your street practically untouched, nearly everyone you knew partook in the theatrics of some sort. Everyone was missing someone because of the events that unfolded.

You couldn't stay in the barrack like building, even if you wished to, as it wasn't in Liberio. The only reason to which you were there in the first place being Porco, berating anyone who dared not to let you through with him. Marleyans were too caught up with the assault to truly care about where Porco's, so called, "pet" went. Once three days had passed, they thought it high time you leave. Deep inside yourself, you knew you would return to this. But you couldn't find any tears left to shed, the well running dry from the last three days of erratic emotions.

"Pock," you whispered, looking behind yourself for the man. "I can't bring myself to even go in." The weight of emotions and memories was enormous, making your shoulders drop. You felt his hand touch your waist, a silent but comforting feeling as you remained in the door way. Gripping the door knob tightly, you closed your eyes and took a deep, shaky breath.

"You don't have to stay here if you don't want to," he reassured. "You can stay with me," he offered, yet he truly didn't know why he even had to. In his mind, it was a complete given.

"I need clothes," you countered gently. "I'm tired of wearing old soldiers clothes that don't fit." While at the barrack, Porco was only able to find bits and pieces of old, forgotten clothing. He only did so to make you more comfortable, knowing you would rather something else than the blood soaked, filthy ones you had before. But the clothes he found were both too big and too small, and mismatch of sizes swallowed you whole but sucked you in all at the same time - and none in the right places. Made for people much bigger and stronger than you, you felt out of place and utterly insignificant.

"I can get some for you?" He offered, gently pulling at your waist to move forwards to the door. With a silent nod, you moved out from the doorway to the side, letting him through as you couldn't bring yourself to step foot in the house. As you watched him trek towards your room, you turned with a sigh and sat down on the stoop. Putting your head in your hands, you sat silently without a single thought. For once your mind was silent, not rattling your mind like a ball and chain.

It was a moment before the man returned, a small stack of folded clothing in his arms when he did. "I grabbed something you might like, dear," he mused with a gentle smile. Porco desperately tried to raise your spirits, knowing you had thoroughly been through quite enough, and he hoped the item in his hand would help. A photo. One that you had hidden away in your drawer for no one to find years ago.