That Summer

The conversation

'Anna? Is that you?' An older woman's figure peered from the corner of the chained door.

'Uh- yes Miss Norman'

She shut the door. For a second I thought she shut me out.

The chains rattled agains the metal door frame. Miss Norman opened the door again, she smiled in my direction.

I thought she'd be mad at me for leaving Rachel.

' I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving Rachel'

'Nonsense Anna, I'm just glad your here.'

My forehead was moist. It could feel my heart thump hard continuously.

'Is Rachel in? I need to spe- I need to apologise' I stuttered.

Rachel's mum guided me to the staircase and told me 'go on Anna, she's in her room. You remember where it is?'

I sucked in my lips and nodded.

'Yes, thankyou'

I creeped up the stairs and grabbed onto the railings,I thought I was gonna fall backwards and tumble down the stairs I felt so nervous.

I came to her bedroom door. I waited there for a moment and sighed. What if she won't forgive me and tells me to leave. I heard her moving about in her room. I shook my head and tapped the door with my knuckles.

'Rachel?'

The door swung open.

'Anna!? Oh my god. what?' She looked shocked. She wrapped her arms around me and dragged me into her room.

I'm stumbled in and sat on her bed.

'Why has it taken you so long to talk to me? Why did you-'

I knew these questions were coming. I interrupted her.

' look Rachel I know I've been a terrible friend. An even bigger idiot of a BEST friend, but it's been hard since-'

She took my hand and held it.

' I know Anna I forgive you it's been hard. But you're here now and I've missed you. I was just upset that you got distant and felt you couldn't be with me through the difficult time. I wanted to be there for you but I wasn't, I wanted to be there and help you out. Cheer you up and take your mind off things but you dealt with the situation on your own.'

I looked down at the bed. I grabbed a pillow and played with the material.

'Im sorry Rachel, I just didn't know how to act. I lost myself. I was all alone and it didn't feel nice but I didn't know how to be around people I didn't want everyone constantly asking how I was and people treating me different just because of what happened. So I excluded myself from everyone.'

She tightly squeezed me again but his time it lasted longer. She tucked my hair behind my ear as she pulled away.

'What about this Kyle? Eh?'

I smirked.

'He's lovely, I've only known him a week but I really like him. He's so funny. He walks me to and from school. Walks me to the doorstep especially when it gets darker at night, making sure I get home.' She had this grin on her face.

'I really like how it's planned out so far. He has opened me up again, brang me back and shown me hope. He's new and he doesn't know my past. He can treat me like anyone else. I know I'm going to have to tell him one day. But right now I can't, I've just met him I can't dump all of my baggage and issues on him. I'll scare him away.' I let out a faint giggle.