Roses

Meeting A Second Time

Eventually we had to give up, when it got too dark to search we called out one last time. We still had to turn back and make our way out of the forest, thankfully the creek guided us to the trail we had come from. Just now with one person less, my heart seemed to tear all over again at the thought. Nobody said a word, our breathing was barely audible as we walked the trail back. Our mood was as low as a funeral's farewell. In a way it felt like that too.

We parted ways at Jolene's home, we all dwelled silently for a few moments. None of us really wanted to leave, it was like admitting we truly had failed and that she wouldn't be coming back. Kyle took the first sour bite of defeat, he only wished for us to find some rest tonight before leaving, the darkness swallowing him up quickly. Haley and Jane went together, I saw Jane trembling as they slowly walked off, holding hands. I heard Haley whisper words of comfort to the poor girl, I hoped she wouldn't be too scared from this. Michael and I stayed silent for a while, both not wanting to leave. The silence was suffocating and I felt like running away, but I also didn't want to leave. Ever.

I couldn't be there for her in the forest, but I at least could be there for her here, at her home. I choked back tears and I was surprised when Michael offered to walk me home. I looked at him for a while, he was genuine. I only nodded, at a loss for words. They were gone, just like her. We both took one last, long glance at her house, now dark. Her parents were on a vacation and I felt sorry for what they would come back to and that I couldn't have helped prevent it. I know there's still a chance she's fine, but the dark, twisting feeling in my gut told me something was incredibly wrong.

Eventually the sight of the dark house grew too much, as we turned our backs, it felt like I turned my back to her and our friendship. I didn't want to leave her, but I also knew I couldn't stay, especially with the cold darkness seeping in from everywhere. I was thankfully I wasn't alone, with someone I knew, and someone my friend trusted so deeply I couldn't help but feel safe by his side.

We arrived at the apartment complex door, neither of us said anything for a long moment. I was at a loss for words, like the whole thing really did steal my friend and my words. "If you ever want to talk, you... know my number." He offered eventually, not entirely sure of himself but I gave him a small yet gentle smile. "Thank you Michael, same goes for you... I know she meant a lot to you too." I replied, I was near tears all over again, but quickly turned back to the door. Fumbling a little with my keys, though it felt subdued, as if someone had wrapped me in a blanket. I wished that I could've done exactly that, wrap myself in my blankets and cry until I could no longer move.

I walked up the two sets of stairs as slow as I could, not just because I wanted to stay away from the backlash for longer but I was also very exhausted. So I was pretty much done completely. When I opened the door I already heard footsteps, I just kept my head down as I kicked my shoes off, not bothering to keep them standing up. "Who the hell do you think you are, young lady?!" I heard my mom's boyfriend yell at me, I simply walked past him, but sadly he gripped my wrist and jerked me back.

"Don't fucking touch me." I say before wriggling my arm from his grip. I looked up into his hateful, green eyes. They looked like venom, poisoning me and mom slowly. "Do not talk to me that way. I am your new father and as such you have to respect me!" He had calmed down just enough to stop yelling, he probably just cared about what the neighbors would think. I scowled, I hated him so much, he would never be able to replace my father.

God I wanted to yell at him all the things he would never be, how dare he even attempt to replace what I had lost. What we had lost, it's not changeable or fixable. "You are not my father. Will never be, get that in your head. Mister." I spat before again walking to my room, purposefully bumping against his side. He was too surprised to do anything until I was well down the hallway, he turned to me and started yelling all kinds of things about my "terrible" behavior. Like he didn't deserve any of it, I slammed my door shut as loud as I could.