Dreamcatcher (FreenBecky)

Chapter 25: When the thread breaks

Seven years ago. New York...

Here it is. Becca feels it again.

It is so familiar, almost identical to that one. She remembers it perfectly from the past. The world around you freezes, stops moving, stops talking, and loses its colors. There is only you and some kind of weightlessness. You try to flounder, to move, but it is useless. You are stuck, you have lost contact with the outside world. You are immersed in yourself. You hear only yourself and see yourself alone in complete darkness. You are consumed by this feeling. You are lost.

She remembers perfectly how she felt it on the very day when she was told that her mother had died. When she was told that she did not survive the operation, as promised. It was unexpected, fast, and Becca was not ready for it. In one moment, she lost everything. In one day, in one instant. A few words and the world turned upside down.

It's amazing how words can change a situation, a person, feelings, emotions. What a strong power they have. Words are a powerful weapon. Two words, and the world is already collapsing. Unbelievable, Becca thinks. She dives into herself. This barrier wakes up again, and it already protects the girl's feelings from everyone, and Billy feels it with every cell of his body.

They didn't talk. They didn't talk at all.

After talking with Freen, Becca didn't say a word, and Billy stopped asking questions after five minutes of trying to get the girl to talk. He knows that he can't. He knows what's happening.

They get into the car in complete silence and drive back to the loft. Silently. Billy's eyes are wet with tears, his hands are tightly gripping the steering wheel, and his jaw is clenched to such an extent that the muscles of his jaw are clearly visible. There is an incredible hurricane of feelings in his chest and he doesn't know what to do. He is angry.

Becca looks out the window the whole way and says nothing. She's not crying, she's not showing any emotion at all. Her face is expressionless. It's bad. Billy knows how bad it is. He knows her.

They walk into the loft in silence. Becca goes straight to the kitchen and puts the kettle on. She doesn't know what to do. She can't fully process what's happened. She clings to every thought in her head: Dad, Freen, the guys, Billy, Dad, Freen, the guys, Billy, work, the bar, Freen, the wedding, the ring, Billy, Dad... and so on, the same images whirl around endlessly, and she doesn't understand what to do with it. What will happen next. She's so immersed in these thoughts that she doesn't notice how she's silently staring at one point, sitting on a bar stool.

Billy stands about five steps away from her, watching. He watches Becca and doesn't know which side to approach her from. What should he say? He's scared himself.

"Look at me" he begins quietly, standing to her right.

Becca continues to sit on the chair and look at the stove, and how the fire burns on it.

"Please," Billy's voice is quiet and hoarse, he can barely suppress these feelings of hopelessness and fear. "Don't be silent. Tell me, what are we going to do?"

Green eyes turn their gaze to the guy with complete indifference and see all his pain.

"We?" the girl asks, looking straight into the guy's eyes. "It's my problem. Leave me alone."

And Billy breaks down in an instant, slamming his hand on the counter with all his might so hard that Becca jerked and covered her eyes, wanting not to see those eyes of her brother.