Take A Deep Breath

Chapter 11

"Did you get in?"

I glance up to see Cadence smiling awkwardly, running a hand through his brown hair.

"Yeah.. Finally."

He nods and stares back at the TV, just like always.

I wish it wasn't so awkward, but at the moment I can't do anything to help- even though I hate it, Saffron and Cadence are a little more than just strangers to me. I really know nothing about them, let alone myself.

I sigh mentally and focus back on the computer screen, my finger tracing the mousepad.

Where do I start?

I find myself click the iPhotos symbol at the bottom of the screen and I know that I will be getting emotional.

I have over 2000 photos in total. It will take ages to look through them all and I know I won't make through most of them tonight, but nevertheless I click on the first folder.

The first photo is of my mother. And a man I don't recognise, but by the pose I assume it's my father. I zoom in on his face, taking note of all his details. Why haven't I met him again yet? Did something happen to him? The date on the photo is 2011. Four years ago. What happened?

I shake the thought out of my head and move on.

The next photo is of myself, Saffron and Cadence at a party. It's dated 2012 and they both look younger. They are smiling brightly- Cadence has an arm around my waist and another arm around Saffron's shoulder. Saffron has an arm up and I am poking my tongue out, half laughing at something behind the camera.

I wish I could remember where it was from. It looks like we had fun.

I continue to scroll through all the photos. Half of them are people I don't recognise but I feel emotional all the same.  Cadence eventually stands up and sits next to me, leaning in so he can see what I'm doing.

"How far are you into the photos?" He asks.

"Nearly finished the first folder." I respond, clicking the arrow for the next photo.

It is a photo of what seems to be a group in a classroom. "That was your class a couple of years ago," Cadence explains.  "Do you recognise any of them?"

I frown to myself, studying all the faces. "They seem familiar. But I don't..."

Names jump in my head as I trail off.

"It's okay," He reassures me gently. "You have all the time in the world."

I quickly skip the next few photos of the classroom- some silly versions of the original photo- and find one of Cadence that I've obviously taken.

I find myself smiling. It is of him standing outside in the rain, mid-air about to jump into a puddle.

"That was a great day," Cadence commentates, amused.

"It looks like it."

I keep going through the photos until I finish the folder. Yawning, I close the computer and let it shut down. Cadence grabs it and places it on the table beside the couch, copying my yawn.

In silence, I find myself laying my head on the edge of the couch. Cadence doesn't say anything but I know he has something on his mind. I can't be bothered questioning him now as I'm already exhausted, but curiosity doesn't fade from my mind as he doesn't move from where he was.

Just as I'm about to open my mouth to ask him about it, an arm wraps around me and suddenly he is moving my head onto his lap, draping a blanket onto me. He leans some of his weight on the arm of the couch and hesitates before placing a hand on arm.

"Thank you," I find myself whispering in the sudden silence. 

I see him smile in the darkness.