One Small Step | ✔

A New Town

I've told you their tales,

now, in a new town, it's time to start my own.

I don't know how it ends either, dear reader.

I'm in the dark as much as you are.

People always say, "Let them go,"

Sorry, but I just can't let them rest in peace just yet.

I was never as selfless as Carina.

Or forgiving as Adam.

Their pain, their deaths.

It threaten me, trying to get me to succumb to their fates.

But as much as I want to,

I can't.

Someone needs to understand why.

Why.

It's a funny word.

It brings up unnecessary questions.

But where there are question,

there must be answers, right?

Well, unless they're rhetorical.

Look, the depression is setting in, I'm losing my mind.

My dad drives his almost new silver Toyota down the street.

An arc of green leaves above us,

its legs on either side,

hiding every second house.

I bet all of those houses

are homes.

Inside them,

live happy, unbroken families.

Dad's voice jolts me back to reality.

"Tallulah," he says stiffly.

I look at him.

He stops the car.

He nods hid head jerkily,

towards a cheerful looking

bright yellow house.

It's much too cheerful for a shattered family.

It's Aunt Margaret's house.

She's somewhere in Europe right now.

Backpacking,

blissfully unaware.

Tate stands at the door.

My favourite brother.

The only one who ever even sort-of got me.

He gives me a crooked smile now.

His brown hair is unruly,

and his brown eyes sad,

but he still stands tall

and somehow, he looks normal.

"Hey, Lu-" He stops before finishing my nickname.

He steps forward,

opens his arms.

And I step into them.

He lets me cry,

and holds me tight,

as if by letting go,

I will fall into,

One