Stranger in my Home

Tell me please: where she is pt3

Lorraine felt weak.

There was a strange heaviness in her chest that caused her to gasp for air. Unfortunately, this only caused a sharp pain to spread across her torso, reducing her to taking very shallow breaths. When the heaviness became overwhelming again, she repeated the cycle.

Her throat felt on fire.

Her eyes were stuck together.

Her heart pounded in her ears, making her even more aware of the importance of a heartbeat.

Jumbled memories hit her all at once.

She was no more.

Hyolin was no more. She could never return home.

She could never see her kids grow.

She could never join in Lorraine's antics, something the two of them had so loved to do as they spent their childhood, teens, and adulthood together.

They were like sisters.

She was the yin to her yang. The sole to her shoes. The cream on her cake.

They were so, so different yet so complementary.

But they were no more. Lorraine wasn't sure if she wanted to scream, shout, or just curse aloud at the world. Not that she would be able to do any of it, even if she wanted to.

Lorraine was aware that she was being dramatic. Realistically, there was no need for her to be playing Sleeping Beauty in this hospital bed. After all, she hadn't acquired any physical injuries; the cause of her physical pain was just a manifestation of her anguish.

She recalled being awoken by some officers and being bombarded with questions. They had been really aggressive with her, almost as if she had been the perpetrator. Sad, confused, and literally traumatized from what she had seen, Lorraine had fainted two more times.

That is how she had ended up like this in bed, dry tears causing her lids to be gross and sticky, and the constant beeping from other patients' monitors crossing the hall and resounding in her room.

Lorraine knew she couldn't be here forever; she'd have to eventually get out and complete the officers' questioning. She hadn't expected the link and info given to her to be also sent to anyone else. Unlike her, Caleb had done the right thing and involved the police. Afterall this was not a movie but real life .

She felt so silly for thinking that this whole missing situation was going to be a stroll in the park.

Lorraine could not understand. Hyolin had no enemies; she had never even hurt a fly. There was no reason why someone would want to harm her in any way. Heck, Hyolin was even friendlier than Lorraine herself. Why would anyone want to hurt her?

It did not make sense.

Was this just the result of serendipity? Could it be that Hyolin had been unfortunate and ended up on a villain's agenda by accident?

Lorraine did not know.

What she knew was that every time she thought about the state of Hyolin, the overwhelming urge to throw up descended on her.

Lorraine sighed. This was unfair. All of it. And now she was going to be one of the primary suspects because she foolishly thought she could play hero by herself.

Lorraine sighed again heavily.

She was just about to finally open her eyes when she heard some footsteps approaching.

The footsteps felt unfamiliar; they sounded very heavy and stomp-like as they approached at a steady pace.

Lorraine's door was already open, so the person in question just stepped in nonchalantly before sliding the door closed.