Deep In Lava

Chapter Four

I don't know how many of the stories I had read, and I don't remember falling asleep either. The light coming in through my window suggests it's late in the afternoon.

The book was face down on the floor. I sit up and all of what happened this morning comes rushing into my head. It hurts, I don't want to see it all again. I want this to stop.

Through frustration I pick up a glass bottle and throw it to the wall ahead of me. It makes a satisfying crashing sound as it smashes to pieces, scattering across the floor.

I pick up another and toss it between my hands. It feels good to break things, I chuck it towards the same wall and sure to enough it smashes, leaving a stain on the wall where the lager splattered on to it.

I could do this all day, or what's left of the day. But I can't, I at least need to have some control of myself. If only just enough to get out of bed.

But I fear I may not have that as I continue to sit in my covers. The book stairs at me from the floor, I want to pick it up but I lack the energy to do so.

I listen closely to something and I hear soft cries, they seem to becoming from behind the wall in the bathroom. I listen closer and realise that it's Lizzy. She's still here.

Something inside of me hurts. It makes me pick up the book. My favourite book as a child.

I get myself up off my bed and walk to the door taking the book with me.

I find myself staring at the bathroom door for what feels like and eternity just listening to her cries. I want her, I really do. But I can't have her if she doesn't want me.

I knock twice on the door. Her crying stops and her broken voice calls out, "who is it?"

I take a deep breath before answering her, "Lizzy, it's me." I hear movements coming from behind the door. Only until she unlocks and opens the door do I release a breath I never realised I was holding.

She looks up at me, eyes watery and bloodshot lined with smudged eyeliner. I don't know what to say to her, so I just hold out the book to her. She looks down at it confused, so I push it closer to her, until eventually she holds it in her hands and I can let go.

As I turn around and walk back to my room I hear her sweet yet broken voice, "Liam, wait." I stop in my tracks. "You don't have to, but please just listen to me."

Turning around I stare directly at her face. She knows I want answers. "Ok then, why?"

She holds the book close to chest, "where am I supposed to start?"

"How about the beginning?" She gives me a clueless look. I groan at the frustration of everything. "How about this fucking wedding of yours?" Maybe that came out with too much anger because I notice she steps back a little bit, but right now I don't care, I need answers. I've gone too long without any.

She looks down at floor as she starts to explain, "I, It was my Mother. She wants me to marry into a wealthy family. When I was twelve she forced me to be engaged to someone who was seventeen."

I knew this was her Mother's doing. If she's eighteen now then he must be twenty-three. It's not much of an age gap when you think about it. She continues with her explanation.

"I never wanted to marry him, but he wanted me, likely he still does. He's possessive and nasty. I hate him, I absolutely hate him." She grits her teeth as she lets out her anger. But then her eyes soften as she looks up at me. "I was waiting, all that time for my best friend to return, for you to be my knight in shining armour like you promised me. And then you finally came, but you were so, different. You changed." She looks up at me, her eyes misting over. "I thought today you were back, I though I had finally gotten you back." She looks back to the floor and I notice a speck of water drip on the floor. "Clearly you haven't." She clutches the book tightly to her chest, "I heard the smashing, you haven't changed a bit, I was a fool for thinking you had!"