On the Other Side

Broken

20th of June, 2018. Jeana's POV

I stared at my coffee cup, watching the steam rise and swirl. It's been eight years since he disappeared into the forbidden forest and never came out.

It kills me slowly every day. Just that one word cost me all my love, my happiness and my joy

I remember when I was seven and I asked my mother what made the forest forbidden so evil.

She said

"It is filled monsters of all sorts. Witches with long cracked nails. Wolves with horns and men that moved at the speed of light, you must never enter that place, ever do you hear me"

"Yes mummy" I replied.

I should have listened

She hasn't spoken to me in years, neither has father. I hate them, for blaming me, for hurling me with insults, even though I tried to stop him.

I miss him so much though. I miss the way he tilted his head when he frowned. The way he splashed me with water whenever we went to the beach, the way his green eyes shone when he laughed too hard. I miss him. A voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"Hey miss, how you doin'" a man said. He was staring at me with a glint in his eyes that I didn't like.

I squinted at him. I don't have friends and haven't spoken to anyone for years. He definitely wasn't an exception.

He continued to speak "You don't talk much. The name's-"

I put my hand up to cut him off and stood up. I stared him down and watched him squirm. I loved when they do that. I smirked and walked out.

I exhaled sharply when I felt the cool night air kiss my skin. I begin to walk home, alone like always. I push open my door, wincing when I hear the screams of my mother. There she is lying on the kitchen floor with glass shattered around her.

"It's your fault for raising such an idiotic daughter." My father screamed

"You raised her too, don't blame me" she countered

I make my presence known to them, by clearing my throat. I am used to it now. They both look at me and my father sneers

"I hate you Jeana Tayor" I look up, he used my mother's maiden name, well that's a first.

"She is not my daughter, she is pathetic" She turned to me. "You will never be my daughter"

Those words, I've heard them before but somehow they hurt more this time. Tears spilled from my eyes. I look them both up and dowwere hurt and I did it to them. It was shameful when a child disappeared into the forbidden forest. We were isolated from the community, they showed us how much they hated us.

I walked upstairs. It was about time I left. I grabbed my pre-packed bags and made my way downstairs.

"Where do you think you are going" my mother spoke up

"Did you forget, I turn 18 today. It's been 8 years since Ol- he disappeared. I believe it's I time leave. Mother and father I have caused you too much pain. Forgive me"

Tears fell from their eyes it's the first time they or anyone has heard my voice in years.

I leave the door open as I walked out. I turned back to see them standing at the door looks of bewilderment on their faces

"It's time to find him" I say, making my way to the forbidden forest