The Boy Next Door ✑(h.s.)

thirty one

Chapter 31

Getting back home was a blur. Everything was. Nothing was okay anymore, and I found myself constantly wondering if it ever really was.

The hospital had let Harry and I know that they had contacted our parents, letting them know where we were and that we were on our way back. Just to think that had that happened just a few days ago I would have freaked out.

But now, I'm too numb. Too in shock.

The car ride was silent most of the way, and I honestly admired the fact of Harry being respectful of my thoughts. I can't begin to describe to him what all his support means to me, regardless if it's just a silent car ride, it means all the difference to me.

I doze in and out of sleep as I feel so emotionally drained of everything. I don't wake up until Harry tells me that we have arrived in my driveway. I open my eyes to see my parents standing near the car with an expression that is nothing as I had imagined. They weren't angry, they didn't have the steam coming out of their ears like I had imagined several times in my head.

They were somber. They were guilty. That's when I realized they knew this whole time.

And that's when it all made sense. The immediate rejection of allowing me to see Angie, the fear in their eyes, it all made sense. They knew.

I get out of the car and my mother is the first one to run over and enclose me in her arms. I let her as I am too drained to do anything. Too drained to fight her off me, too drained to hug her back.

I don't realize the tears that leave my eyes anymore as they have just been too constant within the past 12 hours.

"I am so so sorry, baby," is the constant repeate in my ear as my mother holds me tighter with each passing second. As she pulls away I can see the tears welling in her eyes and the redness of her face proving this wasn't the first time she had cried today.

"Why? Why didn't you guys tell me?" I ask trying to hold back my tears again. I just wanted an answer.

She offered me a sad smile and said, "We were trying to protect you. We thought we were doing what was best."

"But you didn't do what was best. You both made it worse. She's dead and I never got to say bye. She's gone and I'll never be able to tell her how much I loved her." I finally break down to the concrete of my driveway in tears.

It doesn't take long for my mother to follow me to the floor, holding me as I cried. Soon enough I am enclosed in the arms of Harry and my father as we all cry together in the midst of the dawning summer sky.

--

TEN MONTHS LATER

"I am so proud of you Poppy. You did it!" My mom exclaims kissing all over my face. I laugh at her over exaggeration but let her continue her loving assault anyways. The tassel hanging from my cap falling in front of my face as she pulls away, I huff as I push it back for the hundredth time now. My dad is right behind her as he hands me a bouquet of flowers and a warm hug to suit. "Congratulations Pops, I've never been prouder." I smile as he pulls away.

I still couldn't believe high school was over. The last bit of planned future was finished for me. I had to plan the rest myself. And although I smiled through the excitement of it all now, it terrified me to think what it meant for my future.

I stood there as my parents gawked at me in pride and love. It had been a rocky relationship between my parents and I but through it all, we became closer than ever. There was still so much pain within my heart and everything around me, but I was slowly getting to where I needed to be. At least, I think so.