Saved By a Stranger

Chapter Three: We're Not So Different You and I

Blaire stared at Taylor, her eyes wide with shock. "I-... I'm so sorry," she mumbled. Taylor shook her head. "It's fine. It was a long time ago," she said. The two sat in silence for a few moments.

"How did they die?" Blaire asked quietly, "If you don't mind me asking, I mean."

Taylor looked up at her and sighed. "My brother killed himself when he was sixteen. My sister was murdered at age ten," she said, toying with the straw in her drink, "My brother got fed up with my father's constant abuse and my mother's religious bullshit, so one night he went into my dad's room while he was passed out drunk, grabbed his gun and shot himself. Shortly after, my dad drank himself to death and we moved in wtih my grandparents. Then there was a fire. My sister and I were the only two who survived. They shipped us to live with my aunt and uncle, and their oldest son murdered her."

Blaire stared at her for a moment, her eyes wide. "Wait, go back. What happened? What started the fire? He just killed her. Like for no reason?" Blaire asked.

"No," Taylor said, shaking her head, "There's more to it, but it's a really long story." She frowned.

"I've got time," Blaire said. Taylor gave her a look. "Alright," she said, "How far do you want me to go back?"

"To the part about the fire. That's where I got lost," Blaire said, taking a sip of her Coke.

Taylor gave a heavy sigh. "My grandfather was a heavy smoker. Fell asleep with a cigarette in his mouth. Managed to catch him and his chair on fire. Soon the entire house went up. My grandmother and mom got trapped in the basement."

Blaire looked away. "Oh...," she said quietly, "What about with your sister?"

Taylor gave her a look. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean why did your cousin kill her. Usually someone doesn't just kill someone else for no reason. Did he have mental issues or something?"

"That's one way to put it," she said, glaring down at the table, " He was evil, if you ask me. He did horrible, disgusting things to both of us. Swore to kill us if either of us breathed a word about it. My sister ended up telling one of the neighbors' kids, they told their parents, the parents went to my aunt and uncle. Needless to say, he kept his word... I was the one who found her too." She shuddered.

Blaire stared at her, wide-eyed. "I-... I'm so sorry," she said, looking down.

"It's fine," she gave a half-hearted smile, "It's life."

"I guess," she frowned, "I don't understand why things like this happen to good people."

Taylor gave her a puzzled look. "Huh?"

"Well, I mean you seem like a good person. You're helping me," she said, looking away.

Taylor smiled. "Yeah, I guess," she said, smiling faintly. They sat quietly for a moment.

"I've tried before," Taylor said, breaking the silence.

Blaire's head snapped in her direction. "What? You mean suicide?" Blaire asked.

"Yeah, a couple of times actually," Taylor said, taking a sip of her Coke, "I also used to cut, take a lot of pills, and had serious depression problems. But that's another story"

"Oh..." Blaire said, "That explains a lot. Looks like we have a lot more in common than I first thought."

"Yeah," Taylor said, giving her a sheepish grin, "So are you ready to tell me your reasoning behind this whole ordeal?"

Before Blaire could answer, Lorianne came to the table and dropped off their food. "Alright, there ya go dearies," she said giving Blaire a wide smile, "Anything else I can do for ya?"

Taylor chuckled to herself. "Can we get a couple of refills?"

"Sure thing," she said, grabbing the girls' cups, "I'll be back in a jiffy." She walked off and returned with the girls' drinks. "Just holler if y'all need anything else, " she said before going off to go wait on another table.

Blaire glared at her as she walked away. Taylor smiled. "Don't you just love her?" she asked sarcastically.

Blaire shuddered. "No," she said, "Her voice... Just... Oh my God." She rubbed her temples.

"She's really not that bad," Taylor said, taking a bite of her food, "She's worked here for ages. She's super nice."

"Too nice if you ask me," Blaire mumbled.

Taylor laughed. "I hated her at first too," she said, "After you've know her for awhile, you'll learn to love her. She's a great listener, and she gives great advice.

Blaire shrugged and began eating. I don't know that I agree with that, but whatever. She looked up at Taylor. She said she's know her for awhile, and that she's a great listener and all. Maybe that 's where she got it from?

Lorainne came and took their plates. "Can I get you two anything else? Maybe some cake?" she asked, giving them a warm smile.

"No thank you, " Taylor said smiling back.

"Alright, well I'm just gonna leave this here," Lorainne said, placing the bill on the table, "Pay whenever you're ready.

"Which reason do you want?" she asked, slouching back in her chair.

"Huh?" Taylor gave her a puzzled look.

"There's a few reason why I was on that bridge," she asked, staring blankly at the table, "Which one do you want?"