The Hollows Of Hiraeth (✔️) | 'Hollows' Book I

Chapter One-Hundred: Part One

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T h e   H o l l o w s O f
H    I    R    A    E T H
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T h e  E n d:
Denouement
Part Six/Seven

And so fall away from happiness is what I did. But it turned out this bitter way: that was never the reality. This is the reality. This is my God forsaken life. All of this danger, this bloodshed, this pain—this is the reality.

And, in this reality, I can't escape my routes—what people before me have had to deal with. Just because of a stupid tale. These are the times where you realise, there is nothing humane about some of us humans. I resent them for what they've done to me. I resent them for what they've done to my life.

My blood denies me the reality I thought I had. I don't belong where I thought I did. With a reality worse than a nightmare, I wonder when I'll wake up. I can't breathe. All these uncovered lies are suffocating.

But the worst of all are all the problems built up in my life over the past five months. All the natural teenage drama, all those bumps in the road that made all the drops seem that much scarier. Carter was my best friend. He loved me. And I couldn't return that. I knew I couldn't. And now, I'm just as bad as those other monsters, creating downfalls after hazardous bumps in the road. What have I done?

I've hurt more people than I've helped. Every time I've been saved, someone else has suffered the damage. I'll warn you, please keep your distance. I am an explosive. I am a ticking time bomb. And the next time I explode, it won't just be one or two people falling, it'll be the whole city.

So I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you, and your friends and your family. I swear I didn't mean to. I'll repay you however I can, just, please, let me heal.

—Sky Forest, twenty-four hours post reality.

We arrived at the academy an hour later and I spent a few moments sitting on a park bench looking out at the academy's grounds whilst I waited for news. Moments turned into two hours once I started to think about Carter. I didn't even notice when someone sat next to me.

"Looks nice." The person commented and I glanced to my side to see Cassie sitting cross legged on the bench next to me. I felt like hugging the living daylights out of her, but even she looked tainted from the days events.

"I never pinned you as a nature person." I remarked and Cassie smiled.

"Yeah, I was kidding." She responded and I found myself letting out a half-hearted laugh, playfully punching her arm.

She grabbed my hand, entwining our fingers, "It's going to get better, you know," She assured me and I smiled at her, "You're going to feel strong again one day." Cassie's words spoke more volumes of truth than I think she intended.

Only four months ago she was made more vulnerable than I have ever felt before. Months later she had to relive the moment as she revealed the events to us. Cassie had to feel strong again too. And I had a feeling that she was growing stronger, everyday.

"We make quite the pair, don't we?" I'm not sure how I managed to make a joke, but, nonetheless, it crawled up my throat and fell from my lips.

"Group, actually." She corrected and I frowned, following her gaze over to the rest of the girls. Avery held a bouquet of white carnations, Saph held nothing but herself up as they both stood in yesterday's clothing, like me.