Silence

Chapter 14 - Cry, Yell, Scream

"Emma."

I feel my body being carefully shaken awake.

"Emma," the familiar voice whispers again, pulling me awake from the terrible memory.

I open my eyes to Carter standing over me with a panicked expression. When he sees I'm awake he lets out a breath and leans over to me. He puts one hand around my waist and helps me sit up. I look out the window seeing the first sparks of daylight coming from the rising sun.

Carter lets go of me and I push my blankets back. I cross my legs trying to control my thoughts of the memory that I just had. It must have been a memory, because I wouldn't dream of something like that. He reaches over and wipes a tear that streams down my face. I didn't even know that I was crying.

"I came over to ask if you wanted to run with me this morning since it's Saturday. I came in through the window because I wasn't sure if your mom would let me in. I saw you trembling in your sleep, and you were crying. Did you have a nightmare?" he whispers careful not to draw attention to my room.

I take a deep breath. "More like a memory," I whisper, unable to stop the tears seeping from my eyes.

I see the confused look Carter gives me, but I just shake my head and wrap my arms around him, hoping that he can comfort me.

"It's okay, you're okay," he breathes in my ear, but that pushes more tears from my eyes.

"No, Carter, I'm not okay. It isn't okay. I can't believe that I didn't remember what happened to me. That I didn't remember him." I cry into his shirt. Why had he done that to me? I still didn't remember the girl he was talking about.

Carter pulls me back and looks into my eyes, "Slow down. What are you talking about? Who didn't you remember?"

I blink my eyes and then stare back at him. I might as well tell him. "My father."

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Carter doesn't say another word before walking across the room and escaping through the window.

I walk over to the window, scared that he doesn't want to deal with my problems anymore. I stick my head through surprised to see him standing there with his arms outstretched.

"Climb out. I'll help you down," he tells me.

I do as he says and then we're jogging in the direction of school. He stops halfway there and I'm about to turn around and go back home, but he leans over and kisses me. I change my mind and follow him down a street.

"We're going to my house, no one is home, " he informs me.

"My mom," I panic, because I'll get in trouble if I'm not home.

He stops and takes his phone from his pocket. He texts something and then waits for a reply. His phone buzzes and he reads the message before putting it back in his pocket.

"Lauren has it covered," he tells me then takes my hand in his. We walk over to a white house with a wooden door. I feel grateful to have Lauren as a friend. She's always there for me.

Carter walks in and pulls me inside with him. He crosses the living room and opens a door. I follow inside and sit on a bed, which is probably his bed. The room is a light blue and the comforter is a darker blue.

"I'm going into my sister's room. I'll be right back," he says to me.

I nod my head and look around the room. I don't know why Carter brought me here, but I'm happy that I'm away from my house.