Snow and the Wishing Well (Fallen Tales series)

Chapter 39

Chapter 39
Justin
I had nursed her for three days. She had been a zombie.
That night, the first thing I had done was place her in the shower. She needed to be washed of that day. I couldn't leave her, not for a second.
She sat in the shower, her knees up against her chest and her arms wrapped around herself as the water pour over her. She stared into nothingness, only blinking when drops of water got into her eyes. Though water ran down her face like rain, I couldn't miss the tears that fell from her eyes.
After I had struggled to wash and dry her, I had helped her in some of my sweat pants that I could have easily tied the waist band to suit her size, and an old jump that was several sizes too big. I then had carried her to the bed where she had stayed for three days.
She had barely eaten. When I had brought her, her favourite take out from Ginos Pizza, she had hardly taken two bites. Just muttered the words, "I'm not hungry."
I was so worried about her. So worried that I hadn't almost left her today, to go to the library. I shouldn't have left her but when I had told her that I wasn't going to go, she had quickly said, "Go, there's no point of both of us staying here."
So I had left, only for an hour. And when I had come back she was gone.
My heart started to pound as I searched for her in the bathroom, but she wasn't there.
I ran my hand through my hair, trying to think. Where could she have gone, where could she have – and then I knew.
I had found her sitting on the edge of the wishing well, looking into the distance. I sat beside her, looking at her carefully. Her idea of leaving the hotel must have been a rapid decision because she still wore my sweat pants and jumper.
"I thought I would find you here," I told her, trying to pretend that I hadn't just freaked out.
"I-I just needed some fresh air," she stuttered.
It had been the most words she said in days.
"So why come here?" I asked.
She shrugged, "This is where it all started. Well not here exactly but close enough."
We were silent as we listened to the sound of birds, above us.
"Can I show you something?" she asked, surprising me.
This girl was different to the one I had nursed for three days.
Not knowing what to say, I said, "Sure."
She took my hand and led me to the far end of the park. This part of the park look deserted, with the grass over grown and trees that had never been tamed. I followed her behind an old tin shed, where she knelt down in the dirt and started to dig. It wasn't long till she dug out a dirty blue bag. Catching my eye, I knelt down beside her as she unzipped it.
When she looked as if she wouldn't open it anymore, I parted the sides to open it even more. I could see a few clothes, photos and an old teddy bear.
"My nurse, Heather had packed it for me the night I left," she told me as I peered down at the items, "I sold some of the clothing and a few jewellery. These were the only important things left."
I pulled out the pieces of clothing and placed them aside, "I have a few other bags of clothing that I had 'stolen' over the city, but not many."
I picked up the small grey teddy bear, rubbing it's worn out ribbon between my fingers.
"I got that when I was born," she told me.
I placed it aside as well, then picked up the photos.
The first one was of what was probably her fifteenth birthday. With her next to a cake and an elderly woman with her arms around her shoulder.
"That's Heather," she sniffed, "She didn't want to have the photo, but I made her."
I frowned at the next photo.
"Sarah, whose baby are you holding?" I asked.
She looked up, but didn't look surprised, "I'm the baby, that's m-my mother."
My eyes grew wide as I looked at the photo. She was a dead ringer for her mother. Same fair skin, jet-black hair, deep brown hair. It was uncanny. She sat beside a man that resembled the same spark in Sarah's eyes that she got when she was happy. There was no doubt that he was her father.
My eyes peered down at the little baby in her arms. That was my Sarah. That little baby would see so much hurt and pain just in the course of two year.
I vowed to myself then, that I would do everything in my power for her not to feel hurt or pain again.
I packed up the stuff and zipped up the bag. I then stood and held out my hand to her.
Her eyes landed on my open hand then to my eyes.
"We should leave the bag here," she said.
I shook my head, "No, Sarah, its coming with us. Let's keep it as a reminder if nothing else."
She nodded agreeing. She took my hand and allowed me to pull her up. Wrapping my arm around her shoulder as we started the walk back to the hotel.