Forbidden

Chapter Fourteen

''Turn here.'' I pointed towards the right house at the end of Partridge Lane and Cole swiftly parked on the other side of the road. We were close enough so that we could both sneak a glance into the front windows but far enough that we could only see the faint outlines of a person. I saw the shadow of David slouching down in front of a small television in the living room which caught my attention. Cole turned off the car engine and turned to me. 

''Is this the house?'' I hesitantly nodded in response as I clutched the hem of the seatbelt. I knew I was still terrified of them but I had every reason to be. It was almost like the old days when I stared off into the distance at the house I used to call a home. Now when I look at it, I feel nothing but heartbroken and miserable. It all wasn't fair. 

I was scared that David would do the exact same thing to another young and innocent girl who didn't deserve it. No one deserved to have their innocence ripped out from underneath them.

''I remember coming here,'' I whispered, catching Cole's attention. ''I remember coming back and just watching intently from across the street. I wanted to keep a close eye on them both as they either fought and screamed at each other over petty arguments I couldn't hear or just watched TV together in the lounge. I used to cringe and grit my teeth every single time I saw David or Nancy walk past without a care in the world as if it's not haunting their conscience. To them, it may have been just a slight mistake from the past but it ruined me. I remember how I desperately wanted to burn the whole fucking house down but I knew I couldn't risk it. The police told me that if any harm came to their family, I would be solely to blame for what happened. I'd be the main suspect in the investigation from my 'acts of violent behaviour' from what I had done before. I wouldn't have any chances after that. I'd be put straight in prison next to my father and I don't want-''

''Why is your father in prison?'' Cole curiously asked, awaiting a response.

''He murdered my mother.''

''Oh shit,'' Cole responded with a frown. ''I'm sorry.''

''Don't worry about it, it was a long time ago anyway. I was only five at the time but... sometimes I wish she was still here with me. I know that if my mum was still here, she wouldn't of thrown me in a random stranger's home and let any of this shit happen to me. She loved me so much that she wanted to give me a better life...which meant that she had to leave my father in order for that to happen. But unfortunately a happy life was not in the cards for me. All I remember was my father coming home drunk and he started beating her senseless. it was as if he didn't have a heart, like he couldn't feel anything at all. I was cowering in the corner of the room while he beat her to death... I can't believe I just sat there and watched it happen...''

''Look,'' he spoke up as he brushed back a few strands of my hair behind my ear. ''It's not your fault. Don't you ever think that it's your fault for what happened.''

''No but it was,'' I shook my head. ''If I hadn't hid in the corner--''

''Then you'd be dead too,'' Cole interrupted as he slid his hand in mine. ''And I wouldn't have met such a beautiful, strong girl that I now call my foster sister if that hadn't happened now would I? Don't worry about David, Nancy or your father because they are not worth your time. You have more of a heart in your pinky finger than they all do in their entire bodies combined, don't forget that.''

As Cole softly smiled back at me, I suddenly felt my rosy cheeks burn with giddy excitement as his gaze hesitantly traveled down to my lips. I couldn't think straight but I didn't even want to think. I didn't want to think about anything in my life. All I cared about was what was happening right now.