Mystery Girl

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I climbed into the car, with the help of Susan. My bags were in the trunk, along with my trusty, hospital owned , wheelchair. Oh joy. I wasn't allowed to use my own legs for another 3 months.

Silence. We pulled out of the hospital parking lot. Getting onto the main street. Susan maneuvered the car through street after street, never sparing me a second glance. What was going on with her? Was she seriously this mad that I was going after Alana?

"Susan, this is stupid. Are you really this upset about me going after Alana?"

No reply, but I noticed her grip tighten around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. I stared out the window, if she really didn't want to talk about it now, I would wait.

Once we were nearly at the apartment block, Susan spoke up.

"Yes. Yes River. I don't want you going after Alana. I know these are your own decisions, but I don't want you going after her." By the time Susan's outburst was done, we were parked outside the apartment block. I unbuckled my seatbelt and twisted in my seat, toward Susan.

She leaned forward and rested her forhead on the steering wheel, still gripping onto it.

"Susan, why are you making such a big deal out of this? I want to help find Alana, its not like I'm running away and never coming back."

She lifted her head and looked at me, "Fine River," she started, straightening up, "If you want to go after Alana, go after her. But promise me that you'll come back home." I could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

Why was Susan being so emotional? What was going on? Was she ok? I hadn't actually talked to her in a while and I didn't know what was going on.

"Susan, why are you getting so worked up over this? It's not like I'm leaving you forever." I placed my hand on her shoulder and wiped the stray tear running down her cheek, with my thumb.

"River, dad left us. I don't want you leaving me too."

I pressed my lips together as she let her tears spill over. "I-Iwould never do that to you Susan. As much as me and dad are alike. I would never leave you."

Our dad had left several years ago. No warning, he just disappeared, without a trace, and we hadn't heard from him since.

"Are you sure you'll be coming back River? Are you? For all I know, you're going to meet up with Alana and you two will never come back. River, I can't take it if that happens?"

Where was she getting all these ideas from? Me leaving with Alana? That's crazy. Unbelievable. How could she think that?

"Susan, why you would think that, I have no idea, but regardless, I am going to come back. I just need to find Alana first." I pulled my sister into a hug and squeezed her tightly. After a few moments of hesitation, she returned the embrace, crying into my shoulder.

"Shhh…it's ok Susan. Stop crying." I brushed her hair down, taking it out of the ponytail and brushing it round her shoulders.

Eventually, Susan calmed down and pulled away. "Okay River, but if you don't come back within a week with no contact I'm coming to find you."

I laughed at my sister wary attitude. "Ok Susan. I'll be sure to call you."

I reached for the car door and motioned for Susan to get the wheelchair by hooking my thumb in the direction of the trunk.

As she wheeled the chair around to my door, I swung my legs out and climbed into the wheelchair. With some help from Susan, we were up in the apartment within 5 minutes.