Love Can Heal A Broken Soul

Chapter 1

Clara got off the phone with the police and joined me, leaning against the car. Neither of us said a word. The only noise was the wind blowing though the trees and our breathing. Suddenly, Clara left the car and walked back into the house. I was confused and unsure whether to follow her or not.

Just as I decided to follow her in, she came back with two bottles of water. She handed me one and mentioned for me to hold my hand out. I held it out and she placed three pills in my palm.

"Your medicine," she said. "For your side."

I nodded and popped the pills, washing them down with water. "Thanks."

She nodded and leaned back against the car, drinking her own water.

"... Clara?" I asked softly.

"Yeah sweetheart?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked away the incoming tears. "Do you think she'll be alright?"

She sighed as she wiped her eyes. "She's strong. She's gotten through a lot of struggles in her life. I can't say for certain, but I hope she'll be okay. We can only hope she's okay."

We didn't have to wait for too much longer until we heard the sirens. A cop car pulled up in front of Rose's car and a man in a suit got out. He walked up to us as Clara met him halfway.

"Ms. Fields," the officer said.

"Detective Andrew," she replied as she held up the phone and keys. "My daughter called Rose and asked her to pick her up from school. Nearly an hour later, Rose still hadn't shown up and we found her keys and phone beside the car."

Detective Andrew nodded as he looked down at his phone and started typing. "I can understand why you're concerned and it does appear as if she has been taken. No sign of an attempted break-in?"

Clara shook her head. "No there wasn't. And the last text on the phone was to Stella. She never received my calls after that."

The detective nodded. "I'll call up Nathan and have the police come and check for any other details."

Clara sighed and glanced at me. "Thank you Mark."

He nodded once and walked back to his car.

Clara returned to her spot beside me at the car, sighing and crossing her arms.

"This is my fault isn't it?" I quietly asked, looking down.

I felt Clara look at me. "What makes you say that Stella?"

"Because if it wasn't for me getting upset at something stupid and calling her to pick me up then this wouldn't have happened."

Clara pushed herself off the car and hugged me to her chest. "None of this is your fault. Rose knew what being with me was like. She knew that there's people who do crazy things because of something I did. If anyone should be blaming themselves, it should be me."

She pulled me off of her chest. "But the last thing Rose would want is for anyone to blame themselves. It's not what she would want."

I looked up at her and saw tears in her eyes. She was trying to be so strong. But she's probably used to stuff like this.

"Clara why did you become a case worker?"

She paused for a moment. "I used to be in their shoes....I wanted to grow up and be someone that helps kids just like you get into better homes and have loving families."

"Wait, you were an orphan?"

She smiled softly. "Yeah I was. And I never got into a good home either. No one wanted me. I never got adopted or anything. Grew up in and out of homes until I was old enough to go on my own. Got a job, saved up money for college, and became a case worker. Eventually I met Rose and I had never been happier. She became my world and the family I always needed."

She pulled me back into a hug and kissed my forehead. "And now I have you too."

I smiled and hugged her closer. "She'll be okay. I know she will."

"Yeah...she will be," Clara said softly.