Twisted love

Fractured Memories

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Chapter:  Twenty-six
(Andrew's POV)

As I listened to the psychologist speak and "diagnosed" me, my mind drifted to the past...I found myself standing in a familiar place, the echoes of laughter and the faint scent of freshly cut grass enveloping me. High school. The memories flooded back, sharp and vivid, each one a shard of glass embedded deep in my mind. I remembered her—Katanya—her blonde hair shining in the sun, laughter spilling from her lips like music. The moments we shared had felt innocent, carefree, but they were tainted by the shadows lurking within me.

It was a day like any other when I finally mustered the courage to approach her. My heart raced as I called out to her, the words trembling on my lips. “Katanya, can we talk?” She turned, her expression a mix of curiosity and confusion. I could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, and I knew I had to say it—to confess everything I felt. “I really like you. I think I’m in love with you.”

Her laughter rang out, but it was hollow, echoing painfully in my chest. “Andrew, that’s... kind of creepy. You need to chill.” My stomach dropped as she shook her head, disappointment etched across her delicate features. “Just take me home.”

I panicked. I couldn’t let her go, not now, not when I was so close. “Something’s wrong with my car,” I lied, the words slipping out too easily. “I think it’s overheating. Can you drive?” She hesitated but eventually agreed, her kindness blinding her to the danger lurking behind my smile.

We climbed into her car, and as soon as she turned the key, I felt a surge of adrenaline. My hands gripped the wheel, and instead of taking it slow, I pressed the accelerator down. “Andrew, slow down!” she cried, her voice tinged with fear. But I didn’t listen. I couldn’t listen. All I could feel was the need to control, to possess. The wind whipped through the open windows, drowning out her words, fueling my reckless abandon.

The impact was sudden, jarring. Time slowed as the car collided with the tree, the world exploding in a cacophony of sound and fury. I blinked, disoriented, the air thick with smoke and the scent of burning rubber. Katanya groaned beside me, her body crumpled against the dashboard. Panic surged through me as I scrambled out of the car, dragging her limp form behind me.

“Tell me you love me, Katanya!” I shouted, desperation clawing at my throat. “Just say it!” But her eyes were filled with pain, not love. “You need help, Andrew,” she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. Those words cut deeper than any physical wound. I couldn’t accept it. I wouldn’t.

In a moment of rage, I spotted a boulder nearby. I lifted it, feeling the weight of it in my hands, the power thrumming through my veins. I brought it down repeatedly, each strike a release, a twisted satisfaction that consumed me. The crunch of bone and the splatter of blood stained my hands, but in that moment, I felt invincible. I was the master of her fate.

When it was done, the silence that followed was deafening. I looked at her—my Katanya, the girl who had rejected me. The girl I thought would save me from myself. But she lay there, broken, her eyes clouded with fear and disbelief. I dragged her back into the car, my heart pounding, the flames licking at the edges of my sanity. I set it ablaze, watching as the fire consumed the evidence of my twisted love.

As the flames roared, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. I had hidden my crime well, hadn’t I? No one would ever know the truth. I buried the memories deep, convinced I could escape them. But as I stood there in that burning wreckage, I knew the darkness within me would always linger, waiting for a moment to resurface.

After that fateful night, I returned home, the echoes of the flames still ringing in my ears. It was as if a thick fog had settled over my mind, blurring the lines between reality and my twisted perceptions. I stepped through the front door, my heart racing as if I had just emerged from a nightmare, desperate to erase the haunting images that clung to me.

The house felt empty, but I quickly buried the memories beneath a mask of normalcy. I busied myself with tasks, convincing myself that life had to go on. I could not afford to dwell on what I had done. Instead, I found solace in the illusion that I could start anew. The guilt gnawed at me, but I buried it deep, convinced I could shape my own reality.

Days turned into weeks, and then one afternoon, I stumbled upon Katherine at a local café, laughing with Oliver. The sight struck me like a bolt of lightning. There she was—my beautiful Katanya, but it wasn’t her. This was Katherine, her twin, and yet, my mind twisted the two of them together in a whirlwind of emotions. I watched them from a distance, my heart pounding in my chest, each laugh echoing the love I had once felt.

The confusion surged as I absorbed the scene before me. Katherine looked so happy, but the sight of her with Oliver ignited something dark and possessive within me. No longer could I afford to be the boy who lost her; this was my second chance. I felt an overwhelming need to claim her, to rewrite the past. I had to make her mine this time, to show her that I could be the one who would protect her, who would love her the way she deserved.

I could picture it perfectly in my mind—Katherine and me, laughing together, sharing secrets and dreams. She would see the good in me, the potential I could unlock if only she would allow me the opportunity. But first, I had to remove Oliver from the equation. He was a barrier, a reminder of my failures and insecurities. But I wouldn’t let him stand in my way again.

As I sat there, watching them, my thoughts twisted into a plan. I could approach Katherine, tell her that I had changed, that I was no longer the broken boy from high school. This was my chance to prove myself. The darkness of my past felt like a distant memory, a mere shadow that I could outrun. I envisioned the life we could share, filled with laughter and love, if only I could break the bonds that tied her to Oliver.

With renewed determination, I stood and walked toward them, my heart racing in anticipation. I would make this work. This time, I wouldn’t let fear or past mistakes dictate my actions. I was ready to fight for Katherine, to reclaim the love I had once lost. As I approached, a sense of clarity washed over me. I could be her savior this time. I could be the man she needed, the one who would never let her down. This was my opportunity, and I would seize it. But I turned back around...not now...not yet.

As I watched their table from afar, I could see Katherine’s face light up with recognition. Her smile sent a jolt of electricity through me, igniting the hope that I could still win her heart. I was no longer just Andrew; I was the man who would rewrite our story, the one who would make sure this time would be different

Suddenly, I was pulled back to the present, the memories crashing over me like a tidal wave. The weight of what I had done settled heavily in my chest, suffocating me. Katanya was gone, and I had been the one to snuff out her light. As the realization sunk in, I felt a chilling mix of horror and remorse. I had loved her, and in my madness, I had destroyed her.

The tears streamed down my face, an outpouring of grief and regret. I had to find a way to atone for my actions, to face the truth of what I had done. And deep down, I feared that the memories I had buried might just be the beginning of a nightmare I could never escape.

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