A murderous summer

Chapter 11

The ground gave way under her feet. She collapsed on the floor in tears. She couldn't understand what had happened. She listened to absolutely nothing. She felt arms enclose to comfort her. No rational thought could cross her mind. She never left the screen from her gaze, convinced that it was only a bad dream.

When the anchorman went on to another subject, the girl collapsed completely. There were two bodies. One covered with a sheet and the other in the ambulance... It doesn't mean that Samuel died. And it certainly doesn't mean that Samuel was driving. But she couldn't help but panic. She felt that someone took her in his arms and raised her. Her father placed her on her bed. Her mother came running with a pill. Joelle hastened to swallow it.

Knowing full well that her reaction was exaggerated, she closed her eyes and hoped that the effect of the drug act fast. She wanted to forget about it. She wanted to convince herself that what she saw meant nothing. Someone else could very well be behind the wheel. Perhaps she had dumped Samuel, but that didn't mean she hated him. She was still in love with him. A small error with his cousin. Quietly, she felt invaded by a wave of sympathetic calm. The sounds and voices around her began to get lost in a fog caused by the pill. She herself sank into the fog. She remained there until the middle of the night. When she opened her eyes, taking deep breaths, she sat up slowly. She felt very calm. She shouldn't have to dramatize as she had done. She got up and went to the window.

She folded her arms across her chest, sighing. Joelle wanted to know the details she was incapable of listening. Who was driving? Who were the victims and what really happened. She wanted to know everything. She turned to her computer. She dreaded what she could find out, but she had to know. I must know the truth... She opened her computer and launched the search. She quickly found an article. Except there wasn't the name of the victims. Everything she learned, the driver had died, killed instantly. The passenger was in critical but stable condition.

She bit her lower lip. She closed her computer, heaving a deep sigh. She hadn't got all the answers she was looking for. The mystery persisted, making her more nervous. She went to bed to mull over her thoughts. She slowly slipped into a restless sleep. She didn't really slept, waking up at irregular intervals. Her cheeks were wet with tears when she forced herself to open her eyes. It was raining outside. Another gray day, perfectly matching with my mood. She wasn't feeling very well. Except she couldn't stand to stay locked in the house. Or even her own room. As soon as the bathroom door opened, she got out of bed. She hastened to get into the shower. Then she returned to her room to get dressed. She went down to the kitchen to server herself a large glass of orange juice. Joelle took her glass and slowly walked to the living room. She hesitated a moment in front of the television.

"How do you feel?" her brother asked.

The girl turned slowly toward him.

"Not very good."

"They didn't say their names," he replied, knowing what she was thinking.

"And do the police know what happened?"

"A simple loss of control, I think."

"It's as simple as that," she sighed before finishing her juice, "loss of control causing an accident..."

"These are things that happen."

We are the proof, big brother. Joelle bit her tongue so as not reply. Gilbert had suffered enough. It was time for her to move on and leave him alone. Going after him brought her absolutely nothing. She returned to the kitchen to rinse her glass. Her brother was silent. He didn't know what to say to comfort her.

"He will not let anyone drive his car," she said.

"You know very well that it means nothing. He could have done a simple exception."

She shook her head, not sharing his opinion. She herself could never get behind the wheel. She really feared the worst. And her brother knew it. Gilbert nodded before climbing the stairs. She was alone with her many thoughts. She began to regret the rain and the departure of her brother. She really hated her thoughts now. They were dark and scary. At least, her dreams had calmed down. There was a time she had one. The girl looked up at the window. A walk in the rain... She put on a hooded jacket before leaving the house. She needed to stop thinking for a while. Her brain was working too much.

Her memories jostled in her head as she walked. She saw all the parties in which her friends had so much fun. Drinking and singing until the wee hours of the morning. Pranks done during class. Joelle ran, as if doing so allowed her to escape her memories. The surprise party they had organized for Marco's birthday at the beginning of the school year. The girl laughed. They were so drunk and danced that night! Marco didn't suspect anything. A very nice evening! She continued to run except that her speed had decreased.

She began to cry despite her smile. She kept very good memories of all her friends. Why everything was turned upside down? Joelle continued her way until being completely being out of breath. She tripped over a branch and fell into a mud puddle.

She began to hit the ground while crying. She finally calmed down, out of strength. She got to her feet, but she didn't move. The rain cleaned the mud she still had on her knees and hands. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. Chris may be right: I'm a little Drama Queen! She chuckled, shaking her head. Why was she reacting this way? As the rain didn't seem to decrease, she resigned herself to return home. She dug her hands into her pockets and took the road the other way. She walked at a slow pace.

She entered the house and locked herself in the bathroom to clean up a bit. At least she felt much better. Walking and running had allowed her to express some rage she felt. She took a quick shower to improve a little the image that the mirror gave her. She wiped her hair, getting back to her room. She cast a quick glance at her computer and resigned herself to open it. She quickly found what she was looking for: the driver had lost control of his vehicle in a tight turn. The passenger was ejected from the car, but his condition was improving.

Samuel was driving.