Burn

2

[trigger warning at the end of the page.....]
Kiara's pov

As we began driving, my mind began to wander.

Why did Colby leave me?

The thought of him seeing me laying in a field and deciding to leave me made me want to cry.

He left me to die.

I went across the country to save him and he left me to die.

"So, Maria, did you grow up in California?" Paul asked, trying to start conversation.

He seemed like a nice guy, truly.

"I've been everywhere, kinda," I said, looking out the window as I spoke.

"Really? That's neat," He said with a smile.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke up again, "Even though your arm is wounded and bloody," He paused, clicking his tongue, "You look very well taken care of. That surprises me, since California is in complete isolation,"

"Yeah. I guess I just got off lucky," I said with a sigh.

"Until now," Paul muttered with a chuckle, "How does a pretty girl like you get stuck out here?"

I shrugged, making the conversation come to an awkward silence.

I don't know how long we were driving for, maybe twenty minutes but could have been nearly an hour before he spoke up again.

"You can put the knife down," Paul sighed like he was holding back a laugh, "I'm not going to hurt you,"

I looked down, noticing how I was twisting the knife around in my hand.

"I didn't even realize," I said with an embarrassed smile, "It's a habit,"

"A habit?" He asked, and instantly I wanted to slam my head onto the window beside me.

Why can't you just keep your fucking mouth shut? I scolded myself, turning to him with a smile, "Yeah, I used to play with knives all the time,"

"Well, don't you think that's kind of dangerous?" He asked, "I would never let my daughter touch a knife,"

"My parents didn't care," I said with a shrug, "They let me do my thing,"

"I'm sure that didn't get you very far," He huffed, his voice suddenly becoming annoyed.

"Excuse me?" I asked, taken aback.

"I'm just sayin' you probably wouldn't be lost across the country if your parents had better control over you," Paul snapped.

"I am a grown woman," I crossed my arms, "I will do as I please,"

"While you're with me, you'll do as I please. You don't make the rules right now," He looked at me for the first time in a while, his dark eyes daggers into my own.

"I never said anything about you," I glared at him, "Why are you acting like such a dick?"

"I'm just trying to make the rules very clear," He said lowly, reaching for his sunglasses as the orange setting sunlight set on the car.

"I am not a child," I said, pushing away the thoughts of Gabby that swamped over me.

I miss my love. I miss my little girl.

Why did he leave me here? What did I do wrong?

The sudden thought of Colby swamped sadness on me, mixing with the growing agitation Paul was causing me to have.

"I don't want you getting all entitled with me. I am doing you a favor," Paul continued on and on before I stopped him.

"You are not doing me a favor," I scoffed, "You wanted to bring me home. I did not ask you to do anything,"

"Yeah, you're welcome," He snapped.

I fell quiet, not having the energy to pointlessly argue with this old man anymore.

We were strangers, arguing over something so meaningless.

All that was important to me was getting home to Colby and Gabby.

I leaned against the window, my heart aching as I pictured Colby.

The last time I saw him, he had me in his arms and even in the moment I thought we were gonna die, we stayed together.

And fell together. Died.

I wish I was dead. Our love would have lasted forever.

I felt so broken. I couldn't piece a proper conclusion in my mind why he would have left me.

Why did I wake up alone?

I twisted my ring anxiously, the only thing I had left from him.

What is going to happen once I finally make it home?

What if Colby isn't there?

What if everything is different now that he left me?

What if he doesn't love me anymore?

I sat there for a moment, absorbing that thought.

My face fell into my hands as I begsn to cry.

"What is wrong?" Paul asked, his anger slowly melting away as I cried.

I ignored him, letting myself fall deeper into my sadness.

"Look," Paul said, "I'm sorry if I sounded rude earlier, alright? But there's no need to cry over it,"

"You don't even get it!" I lifted my face just long enough to scream at him before letting it fall once again.

"I apologized, alright?  What do you want me to say?" He sucked in a breath quickly as a gas station caught his eye. "How about a drink? You like tea?"

I didn't respond as he pulled into the lot, parking in front of the building.

He got out quickly, jogging into the store.

I took this time to try and calm down before the old man came jogging out with a little bag.

"Here," Paul said, handing me the tea, throwing a little opened package and the bag in the back.

"What's that?" I asked, breaking the seal on the tea and having a sip.

"My medicine," He said quickly, reaching back and shoving the package further behind his seat.

"Have another sip," He insisted as I began to put the drink down, "It'll help you feel better,"

Reluctantly, I took another sip and let it swish around in my mouth before swallowing. "Thank you," I said, setting it down and leaning back into my seat.

"Sure, no problem," He said as he put the car into gear, leaving the gas station and getting back on the highway.

I felt my eyes get droopy a little while after we got back on the road.

I let the sleep consume me, hoping it would bring me to Colby and Gabby faster.

And it sure did, by the time I woke back up it was well past sunset.

It was dark out, and the car was still going.

I looked over at Paul, who was focusing on the road.

It took me a second to realize I was feeling odd.

I followed Paul's arm with my eyes, as it was extended over by my lap.

And there his hand was, in the dark, in between my legs.

Underneath my pants and underwear.