The River Speaks

Chapter Eleven: Campfire

Chapter Eleven: Campfire

Leaves crunch under the hooves of Ruby and Seattle. Not a word has been said between Aiden and I since we left the farm an hour ago. The sound of the water rushing in the river and the birds chirping calms me.

There's not a building, car, or anything of the sort in sight.

I took a little while to teach Aiden how to ride, but he seems to be comfortable.

The silence between us is a little awkward though, probably because we don't know each other well.

Suddenly, he breaks it.

"Do you ever compare inanimate object to real life?" He wonders.

I glance over my shoulder at him, slowing Ruby down slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"Like...for instance, the bark of a tree...does it remind you of something? Like your rough edges?"

"Are you saying I have rough edges?" I ask, smiling a little. I hear him chuckle and he shakes his head.

"No, I'm asking if you compare things to yourself?"

"Sometimes." I shrug. "Why? What's on your mind?"

He looks at the river.

"Rivers just remind me of everything I'm trying to avoid, I guess."

I open my mouth to ask him what he means, but I guess it's really not my business.

"O...kay." I hesitate, feeling awkward.

"Can I ask you something personal? You don't have to answer, I'm just curious because nobody asked."

I nod my head and glance at him.

"Did Elliot..." he looks like he doesn't know how to ask. "Did he do things to you that you may not have wanted?"

I immediately look at the reins in my hands.

I open my mouth to lie, and then I close it.

I'm so tired of it.

I'm tired of having to lie to people. I'm tired of pretending Elliot is good.

I just want to be myself for once in my life.

I don't have a single person that I can be completely honest with.

I just want honesty. I want vulnerability. I want to be able to be horribly straightforward. I want to be asked a question and told the truth. I want to tell the truth.

I want trust.

I just want a friend that I can trust to keep my secrets.

Madeline is wonderful but she was raised with me and if she thought she should, she would tell my parents, or somebody else would hear us and tell my parents.

"Yes." I say finally, not looking up. "Often, sometimes..." I clear my throat. "Multiple times in a row."

At that, he stops Seattle. I pull Ruby to a stop and chance a glance at him.

He looks like he wants to know more.

"He would ask for it. I would tell him I was tired and then he just...brushed off what I wanted and did it anyways. I could fall asleep in the middle of it and he would keep going."

I fell disgusting in my own body. I feel like a slave. I feel used and mistreated.

I don't get how I was so stupid.