Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

Chapter Nine

I ran.

As soon as I knew I was out of Kenzie's line of sight I took off.

I ran until my lungs were ready to give out, then kept on running. Anything to take away the pain of my heart breaking into millions of pieces.

I wanted to scream and cry. The only place I felt like I could do that without too many witnesses, was the beach. On one of my many bad days, I found a little alcove within a cluster of rocks.

My legs wanted to give out, but I kept pushing, as I ran towards my alcove. My vision blurred, and I tripped on a pile of seaweed a few meters away from where I wanted to go.

I fell face first towards the sand, but at the last second I caught myself. My lungs were crying out for air but the sobs escaping my mouth wouldn't allow the much needed air in. My legs were shaking, making me unsteady on my feet as I stood back up and slowly made my way to the alcove.

I wanted to be alone.

But the world had other ideas.

"Charlie?" I hear Isaac call out. "Char? What's wrong? What happened?!"

I turn, wanting to be anywhere but looking into Isaac's blue eyes, alight with concern.

"Charlotte, please." I feel Zac's hands rest on my shoulders.

I shrug him off, not being able to deal with the cocktail of emotions fighting for dominance in my mind.

I reach into my pockets and dig out my phone, purse, and keys and throw them on Isaac's beach towel. I look out at the horizon, wishing I could float out and join whatever it out there, beyond the point we can't see. Wanting to live out my childhood dream of being like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, except wanting to be a mermaid, not human like she did.

I then walk towards the water. As I step into the water and the waves lap up at my ankles I picture the last time I did this, three years ago.

Just like today I ran from the hospital, from Grandma, and the news that my parents died in a car crash. I somehow made my way to this little alcove. The water looked so peaceful, I wanted to feel peaceful too. Grandma found me thirty minutes later, treading water and coaxed me into coming back to shore.

I think that was the day where, if ever I was having just one of those days, a day where all I wanted to do was run. I would always find my way here. Usually just staring out into the distance. Letting the calming sounds of the waves help me bring everything back into perspective.

I am brought back to reality by the weight of a wave crashing over my head. With Isaac's terrified shouts for me to come back, I realise just how far I have gone into the ocean. I'm not scared though. I know I must be freaking Isaac out, but right now I need the ocean to wash the pain and hurt. The gentle rocking of the waves as they come in and out of shore, reminds me of the way my mother used to cradle me in her arms and rock me to sleep.

And right now, all I want is mum to wrap her arms around me and tell me everything is going to be okay.

"Charlie!" Isaac calls, his voice getting closer. "Charlie! What do you think you are doing?" He comes up side me and brings me into his chest, as if him holding on to me is going to save me from doing something stupid.

"Zac, I just need a minute. I promise I am not going to do anything drastic, and I will tell you everything when I come back to shore. I just need to be alone with my thoughts for a while."

Reluctantly he lets me go, but doesn't leave, concern plastered over his face. His eyes flash with scepticism.

"Please."