The Secret

Chapter 6: Restrictions

When someone restricts oneself, it is a hard thing to do because the thing you want isn't far at all from reach. But sometimes, when carrying the secret, one must restrict theirself in order for the safety of others.

I watch as Nelly slowly opens her eyes in the hospital bed. It takes her a second as she looks around until she realizes me sitting here.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper.

I hate what I'm doing right now but it must be done.

"Get away from me," Nelly says through tears, "You sacrificed my life for some stupid secret."

"I love you, Nelly," I say, walking out the door, "I guess this is goodbye."

Nelly looks confused as I leave and walk down the hall, passing hospital rooms and rushing doctors and nurses. All in what seems like silence. I walk what feels like the longest walk of my life, seeming to be in slow motion. I continue and finally make it to the exit door at the end of the hallway. I stop and look back, hoping to see Nelly there. Of course, I don't see her. I slowly back up with door opening behind me, finally exiting. I leave in the sunset as tears stream.

A few days later, I attend Nelly's father's funeral, who was the person I identified at the house when it was burning down. The speaker gives a speech about Nelly's father and then a few people from the family talk about how such a great man he was as I can't even concentrate. Then, last but not least, Nelly gets up to say a few words before they put him in the ground.

"My father was a great man," Nelly says, turning her gaze and looking directly at me, "Better than any other man I've ever known. A lot better."

When the funeral ends, Nelly actually starts walking towards me. Immediately, as I realize this, I walk away and head for my car.

"Zane!," she says behind me.

Confused, I jump in my car and start it. She taps on the window and I jet off. Like I said, restricting one's self is hard. It's easy to break the restriction, which is available in arm's reach. Unfortunately, I can't break that restriction, as much as I hate to. Nelly must remain safe, and in order to do that, I must stay away from her. If I keep staying close to her, they will rip her away from me for the secret and I can't let that happen.

I arrive at my house and head to the front door. I reach for the handle right before everything goes black.