All We Know Is Falling - A Tayley Fanfiction

Chapter 9: Monster

Without a second thought, I'm running out of the door, away from the house. I have to get away from everyone before I hurt someone else. I can hear Taylor calling my name, but I don't care anymore. I don't want to hurt him, and the only way I can stop myself from doing that is to separate myself from him.

After a few minutes I find myself wanting to stop, to go back and try and make amends, but my legs keep pushing me further and further away. It's as if they are telling me that no matter what I do, there's no chance I can fix anything now. I have to go on.

I don't even know where I am now. I've made it to the opposite side of town, to an area I've never been to before, despite my devotion to my hometown. Cars pass me by, and pedestrians. They must think I'm just another crazy millennial bent on fitness, sprinting all this way. I want to ask someone to help me, but I'm sure inside they're just as fake happy as I am. Besides, I don't want them to become entangled in my plotline, the one that's tearing me down.

Eventually, I reach a forest somewhere. I'm dizzy and tired, and I need to stop running at some point. I can't tell how far I've gone - the sun is beginning to rise. I've run all night from my troubles, and it hasn't helped.

I'm pulled away from my daydream by someone walking towards me. Two people, a couple...or maybe three - the woman holds her abdomen as if she is a couple of months pregnant. When they reach me, I gasp and step backwards. Of all the people to meet in the middle of nowhere, how on earth could I have bumped into them?

I was trying to run away from my troubles, but I've met the one person I've hurt the most in my entire life.

Josh Farro.

It's been years since I saw him last. There was a lot of bad blood between us, and even though we tried to reconcile I'm incredibly wary around him. I could never be completely comfortable around someone that said the things that he did about me.

All this time I've been so angered, that he could accuse me of things that I would never do. Now, I'm wondering...was it ever him that was in the wrong, or was it me? Could I...have I gone against the wishes of my band, the people that mean so much to me?

I find myself backing up against a tree, breathing heavily. Yet he keeps approaching me, slowly, carefully, as if he knows what I'm thinking. When he reaches me I see his face in the light of the softly glowing sun, rising in the east. He's grown older since we were comrades, not just physically but mentally - I can see the toll that adulthood has taken. His features are calm, despite this, and he's coming towards me with a kindly look on his face.

Behind him his wife stands, unsure. She's pretty, certainly, and she's aged since I last saw her too. When she married Josh she was young and carefree - now she's the epitome of quietness and peace. Her baby bump is more prominent now that she's in the light, and I find myself surprisingly happy for her, despite all that's gone wrong in past years.

At last, Josh speaks. "Hello...Hayley...what are you doing here?"

I'm too stunned by the turn of events to reply.

"Come on...let's get you inside, and then we can talk."

Together, they take my arms and lead me to a cabin that I must not have noticed before on the outskirts of the forest. It's beautiful, picturesque, and I'm almost jealous of the perfect life that they have together. Almost.

Inside, I'm ushered to a sofa in a cozy room, tastefully furnished with Nashville original pieces. I'm handed a cup of coffee, before they both take seats - extremely close together - opposite me.

"So...Hayley..." Josh says, "How are you? It's been...a while since we last saw you."

I'm silent, staring back at them over my steaming mug. I just can't find the strength to speak.

"Hayley...I know we've had some bad times in the past, but I'm honestly ready to get over that and maybe start anew. I'm concerned about you. Why were you running through Nashville like that?"

Somehow, I muster up the words, and the whole story comes flowing out.