Sing Of A Tree In The Wild

Election Day: Part Two

Hello people! I sincerely hope you all are enjoying the story. This chapter was kind of challenging to write, but thank God I pulled through. Your votes and comments are hugely needed and will be hugely appreciated. Enjoy!

Elfrida's mood change is very swift.

She takes her notebook from me and stands to leave. Without hesitation, I stand up and grasp her hand lightly.

"Get your hand off me, Dennis." She says, slowly, in a calm and serious voice.

"Elfrida, we aren't done."

"Oh yes, we are!" She exclaims, turning to face me. "I really don't know why you are hell-bent on finding out the details of my private life that don't concern you!"

I hesitate for a while. I heave a sigh, looking away. Soon, my eyes return to meet Elfrida's. In no time, she takes her agitated eyes off mine and resumes her walk to the door. As she places her hand on the knob, I speak again; my voice bringing her to an abrupt stop.

"For most of your life, you've been a recluse: cut off from the rest of society, hiding in the shadows of your conflicted self. You want to believe and hope for something better, you really want to. But you just can't; I don't blame you." I begin to edge towards her. "Since Year Four, everyone in our set has misjudged you and painted a wrong picture of you. They never bother to ask questions like 'Why does she act this way?', 'Is she really okay?', 'What's really wrong with her?', 'How can we help her?'" I stop briefly. I am already right behind her. "I am asking you those very questions, not just because of my inquisitive human nature, but also-and more importantly-because I want to help you."

"There's no way you can help me, Dennis." She says, without looking at me.

"That is another problem. You don't think anyone is capable of helping you, whereas I am." I turn her lightly to face me. "If you don't let anyone in now, sooner or later you will be forced to. And it may be too late by then."

I hope she sees the true emotion in my eyes. I really hope she does.

"I want to show our mates and basically the rest of the world how wrong they are about you. I want them to see you for the beautiful, amazing and talented person that you are, that you've always been. I want them to see the edifice in you."

Elfrida begins to tear up as she gives me a smile that is laced with both joy and pain. "Dennis.... I truly want to let someone in. I've always thought of it. And I strongly believe you're that someone. It's just...it's just..."

She can't hold back the tears any longer.

Without thinking twice, I envelop her in my arms. She grasps me tightly, doing little to quiet herself. I run my right hand down her hair until I stop at her neck scar. At that very instant, she breaks away and rubs the tears off her face with the back of her hand.

"I will let you in, eventually. For now, I just need to be alone. I'm sorry, Dennis."

"You don't have to be."

She gives me one more smile as she twists the knob and walks out of the house through the open door. I can't help watching her leave, watching her tread the street with her heart so heavy.

"Woah, the rain is more serious than I thought!" She yells at me excitedly. "I feel sad for those voting." How Elfrida switched from despondency to ecstasy so quickly, I do not know.

"Come on in!" I yell back at her. "You'll be drenched!"

"There's no need! I can make it! See you later, Dennis!" She smiles and waves at me before breaking into a run.