The Other Side

Chapter Eight: "Lost and Found"

There I was; in the dark, alone, and freezing cold. I was walking down the highway in a blue dress with my high heels in my hand. What was I thinking? Certainly it was the only thing that made sense at the moment. No one could know that I was in Seattle. Ephah definitely couldn't know that I didn't have the generator... or Ezra's key card. I was foolish. I should have never told Ezra anything! Now look at me... pathetically walking home in hopes that I'd find a shortcut that would cut a day maybe. I lived in Colville, Washington. 5 hours away from Seattle. If I walked home, it would certainly take more than five days to get there. 

Maybe I could catch a ride.

I decided to sit down. I waited for a car to drive by. Who knew these streets would be so Barron. It was just my luck. I should've never gotten emotionally connected with Luke/Ephah. What was I to do? If I called someone there would be too many questions, if I called Ephah, he would be angry. If only I just kept my big mouth shut. 

Suddenly something hit me. I didn't know what I was thinking, but I got up and walked across the street. I dropped my shoes right where I stopped. I looked forward; it was a forest. For some reason there was something telling me that I needed to go into the forest, and so I did. I walked forward, not looking back. 

It was raining, my makeup was running and my dress was torn to shreds. I had been walking for hours in that forest. It was probably past 3am, I decided I would stop walking and just rest for a second, but instead I ended up falling asleep, without shelter or a fire. 

I woke up about two hours later to a figure hovering over me. It was still dark, so I couldn't see their face. The thunderstorm was so loud next to the rain that was pouring down. I could barely hear this person's voice, except that it was a man. He then picked me up. 

"I'm so sorry, Grace...." was the last thing I heard before I fell back into a deep sleep.

I woke up in an unfamiliar place. 

It was all white. 

The walls, the couch, the floor.... the bed that I just awoke from... 

It almost seemed like a mental institution. 

I was wearing a large blue T-shirt (seemed as if it were a male's) and nothing else. I sat up quickly, I had no idea where I was and who's apartment I was in. 

I saw my phone on the white dresser all the way across the room which was right beside the bedroom door. I quietly tip-toed over to it. From the cracked door I saw Ezra walk by, he glanced and saw me too. 

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. I need to get out of here." I whispered while frantically trying to find his car keys so I could get the generator. 

"Grace? You're up?" He was making his way toward the door. He had a plate of food in his hands. "I brought you some food if you're hungry."

He opened the door "Grace? Honey?" 

"Don't call me honey...." I screamed angrily as I backed up. "How in the fuck did I get in this shirt? Did you fucking change me out of all of my clothes without my consent!?" 

He could tell I was angry, he shut the door behind him and started to 'shush' me. "I promise, I didn't see anything. You were covered in mud and I-" 

I interrupted him "you what, just changed me out of my clothes and saw me complete naked?" I continued "why did you even come back? I opened up to you and told you the truth and you left me. No way on getting back. Why didn't you just leave me and forget all about me?" 

He sighed "I know... I was wrong to have jumped to conclusions. I was wrong to have left you. I was wrong to have changed you out of your own clothes. But I wasn't wrong for coming back.... because I came back for a reason; not because I felt bad... but because I reminded myself, I could be losing something very important to me." He gulped "I haven't known you long, sure, and I may have fucked up pretty badly already, but I trust you and I care for you... and I'll make up for all the mistakes I've made. Grace, please give me another chance." 

I couldn't be heartless... I cared for him, and he obviously did as well. "Please don't hurt me again... I trusted you, and was fully honest with you..." He nodded. 

I ran to him and gave him a hug. It was the first time that I've hugged him. I felt like he could help me. I felt like I wasn't in trouble anymore. 

I then felt his hug grow tighter... 

He looked down at me and whispered as his lips were slightly touching mine "I'll make everything better, darling." 

Then, he kissed me.... for the first time, and might I say with such passion; as his lips  were caressing mine. 

I felt safe. I felt real again.