Reminiscing

Near Death Experience

Valerie POV~

I jumped up in surprise when I heard the front door slamming shut. It had slammed so hard against its frame that even the walls seemed to tremble. Causing the hanging frames to sway back and forth.

Nancy had that strength.

Nancy!

I quickly rushed towards the front door not expecting to see what I was now facing.

Nancy's back was pressed against the door and she had slid down to the floor. Her hands were covering her face and her shoulders were shaking.

What had happened?

I quickly rushed to her crouching form and it wasn't long before I was on the ground with her, trying helplessly to get her to talk to me.

"What happened?" I asked in a soft tone.

Nancy didn't answer. Her breaths were coming out rapidly and I knew she was fighting for control. She was afraid of exposing her emotions. I didn't know her to perfection, but I had gotten closer to her in the past few weeks and I knew that much.

Nancy was probably experiencing a breakdown and she didn't want me to witness it.

I didn't want to see her this way. So helpless and heartbroken. I knew that Candice probably had something to do with the state Nancy was currently in. But I dare not mention it. I didn't want to upset Nancy any further.

What exactly had transpired outside this house? Did Candice not hear Nancy out? Was Candice here to talk about a divorce?

I had no idea but I knew that Nancy really needed someone by her side right now.

"Nancy, please talk to me." I pleaded. "Just...let it all out. Isn't that what you always say?"

I ran my fingers through her still damp hair. I then rubbed her shoulders and I proceeded to pull her hands away from her face.

Her eyes were bloodshot and she was guarding her emotions with a mask of indifference.

I hated that.

I hated when she hid behind those walls that she had spent so much time building up. I hated when she tried to keep her emotions from pouring out. I hated how she acted like she was supposed to always be strong and comforting to me, yet she could never open up and allow herself to be vulnerable as well. She didn't understand that she was also allowed to be weak at certain times and moments–just like everyone else. She didn't always have to be strong. She didn't have to be so hard on herself.

"Let's go for a ride." She stood up as she wiped at her eyes.

Well, at least we're making progress, I thought to myself.

I was half expecting her to kick me out or push me away like she always did whenever she was experiencing a breakdown or a tough moment.

She snatched her keys from the kitchen's counter and she proceeded to leave the house.

I followed right behind her, locking the door on my way out. I then caught up with Nancy who had disappeared inside the garage.

As soon as I had stepped inside, a helmet was being pushed into my arms and I hadn't even fully processed what was happening until I noticed Nancy had already strapped a pitch black helmet over her head and was currently revving the engine of a monstrosity she called a motorcycle.

No f-cking way!

I gulped.

Normally I wasn't afraid of motorcycles or hopping on one whenever my friends had high-speed motorcycle races on highways speeding past cars and swerving between them. But Nancy had kind of just experienced a breakdown and I didn't want to accompany an emotionally unstable driver who could potentially let her emotional disorder reflect in her speed.