The Promise Path

~ Chapter Four ~

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Avery wakes to a pounding head and searing pain throughout her right arm. She lies in bed for a while, allowing her eyes to adjust, hazy from sleep. Squinting, she looks down at her arm only to find a thick layer of white bandages spotted with red, too bright over her dark skin. She furrows her brow, confused of how or why she got in this mess. Come to think of it, she can't even remember how she got upstairs and into her room. What happened?

Disoriented, she hears the faint sound of footsteps coming up stairs and contemplates whether or not to pretend to be asleep, not ready to face the burden of reality. She decides against it, and when the door opens to deep green eyes, warmth floods over her body. She wasn't aware that she was cold to begin with, but it's nice to feel awake. Alive.

"Morning, how you holding up?" Lucy carries a tray of what smells like freshly baked bread and a cup of hot cocoa. She wears a placid expression; a small smile, the polite, caring kind. But she can't help but notice she looks tired, her eyes puffy.

"Well, my arm hurts like a bitch and my head is throbbing, but I can cope with that. In the mean time, please explain what happened, I'm so confused right now." With that, Lucy's smile fades, replaced with a concerned frown. She sets the tray down onto Avery's bedside table and sits on the edge of her bed. She bites her lip, and after what seems like forever, she replies with,

"You almost died. I came upstairs to find you-" she stifles a sob, "I found you bleeding- to death in the- bath. I almost- lost you." With that, Lucy's body crumples; her eyes give way to large quantities of water, streaming down her face as her body shudders through sob after sob. Avery goes to try and comfort her friend but doesn't know what to to say or do to make the situation any better, she's not very good around emotional people.

She decides to just place her left hand on Lucy's shoulder, a little reminder that she will always be there for her. But that's when she realises, she almost wasn't. Thoughts whirl in her head, combining lies with reality. Images flash before her eyes; a blade, a bath, dark skin, brittle bones, blood.

Her arm goes limp and falls from Lucy's shoulder, making Lucy look up at Avery with watery eyes. Shocking them both, Avery feels her own tears rolling down her cheeks as she watches one of the only people that she cares about in this cruel world cry.

"I'm so sorry." Avery murmurs, her despair evident in her voice, "I can't believe I nearly left you like that, you and my dad... I'm so sorry for my selfishness." Avery's words make them both cry harder. Lucy practically launches herself at Avery, hugging her friend tightly to her chest as she sobs onto Avery's shoulder, letting out all of her sadness and anger and worry.

Lucy doesn't fully understand her feelings towards Avery, but deep down she knows that they're stronger than the typical feelings of friendship. Little does she know, Avery returns those feelings. However, Avery's feelings are misunderstood as much, maybe more so, as Lucy's. But another part of them knows that with their strict society, their relationship would never be allowed.

Avery and Lucy sit in each other's embraces while they cry, and even long after both of their tears dry up. Lucy pulls away first, sniffling slightly. She lets out a small chuckle, looking over at Avery's bedside table to where her now cold food sits. Trying to hold back her overwhelming emotions, Lucy shakily states,

"Your food has most definitely gone cold now. Do you want me to go get you something else?" Lucy offers, standing up and gesturing to Avery's bedroom door. Suddenly filled with a desire to not to be alone, Avery declines,