Light as a feather

Cam was sitting in her spot again. No Alice with her this time. I walked over and crouched beside her. She never looked my way.

"Cam."

"I'm sorry."

I looked at her. She had tears in her eyes. She still looked up at the sky.

"I'm so sorry."

They were falling down her face now.

"I'm so, so sorry Sam." She looked over at me. Her eyes a swirl of bright colors and misery. "I'm so sorry."

I grabbed her and hugged her.

You failed her

Alice's voice ran through my head.

I just want to be free.

Cam's words followed.

"I feel like everything's happening again. I don't know what to do." She cried. "I don't know what I will do."

Ice ran through my veins. What will she do. I already know what she's capable of. I know what she's like. If she goes down this path again, there's no stopping her this time. I will never see those amber eyes sparkle ever again.

I know what to do. There's no going back.

"Cam, you have to tell." She looked up at me and started to shake her head.

"I-I can't." She rubbed her eyes. "No Sam."

"You have to tell. Do you see yourself." I pointed to her. "You're acting like you did before."

She looked down. Her eyes cloudy. A storm raging.

"I won't let you. I can't let you do that again. I won't." She just shook her head.

"I allowed you to handle it yourself. I let you keep it a secret. But now it's back and it's going to destroy you again!" she looked up with wide tearful eyes. "If you died that day, I would have never forgiven myself, I still haven't, but I could have stopped it before it got that bad. I could have done something!"

"No, Sam I told you- "I cut her off.

"No Camren. If I was really your friend. I would have done something no matter how scared I was of losing you or how scared you were of telling. I would have acted. Alice was ready to act, and she doesn't even know you!"

The storm in her eyes was settling.

"I'm telling this time. I will not allow this to happen again. I will not watch you go down in that dark space again. I refuse. Please Cam! Please."

She sat up and wrapped her arms around herself, rocking. We waited in silence for the rest of lunch.

"Sam." Cam whispered. I looked at her. "What if they don't believe me. What if they give me away?"

She was hunched over and looked utterly defeated. Like her bones, themselves, left her.

"We have the proof that's on your body and 2 witnesses. I won't say that this is going to be easy, but you have me and Alicia. We'll be your strength."

I stood up and held my hand out for her. She looked up at me. Her eyes still cloudy, but a spot of clarity within all the swirls. She grabbed my hand.

I pulled her up.

She was as light as a feather.

"Soon", I thought. 

I gazed at her as we walked from the tree. The same tree all secretes were revealed under. One more. One more secret was released while under this tree. I looked up. The green leaves swaying in the breeze. Yes. One secret that once released will make our hearts soar. To release the fear and guilt.

To be as light as a feather