Silence

Chapter 19 - Answers

"Okay guys, I hope you get everything all figured out," Lauren says as the movie credits start rolling.

I sit up from Carter's lap and stretch out my arms. He stands and takes my hand to help me up. His simple acts of affection are so endearing to me. I'm actually feeling something other than the numbness that had once taken over my life.

Carter and I walk outside, and Lauren waves before she closes her door. He continues holding my hand as he pulls us across the street. We stand near the big tree in the yard and I see blooming flowers growing from the ground around it.

Carter smiles and pulls me close to him. I feel butterflies flutter inside of me and then his lips are softly brushing against mine. I open my eyes when I feel the absence of his warm lips.

"I'll talk to you tonight angel," he tells me and I can see the admiration in his eyes. No one has ever looked at me that way and it feels so good.

We decide to go home and ask our moms and then call each other when we are done or text if I don't feel like talking. I'm going to ask my mother if I really was in the hospital, or what happened to me when I was in that room.

I smile and nod.

He leans in and kisses my forehead, "Good luck Em, I hope you get everything figured out."

I watch him walk to his truck and leave before I walk towards my front door. I take a deep breath, turn the handle, and walk inside. I see my mother glance at me from the kitchen table as I walk towards the stairs and head to my room.

****************

I check my phone again.

8 p.m.

I've been sitting here for half an hour. My mind is going crazy thinking about all possibilities of what could have happened to me and why my mom is being secretive around me. It's not like we really talk to each other but it still makes me upset that she would purposely hide something from me.

I run my hands through my hair. I check my phone one more time and only a minute has passed. Okay Emma, seriously, time to be brave and do this. Stop panicking.

I pull on some pj pants and a tee shirt and walk to my bathroom. I brush my teeth taking a few more minutes. Maybe I'm stalling but what can I say.

I brush my hair and pull it up into a ponytail. I quickly wash my face and dry it. I stand in the bathroom for another minute before heading back to my room.

I take my phone off the bedside table that's filled with things like hair pins, body lotion, deodorant, and a few pictures of me and Lauren.

I press the home button and see a message.

CARTER : I just spoke with my mom. Call me after you do. Okay?

ME: okay.

Now I'm curious.

I put my phone in my pj pants pocket and make my way down to the kitchen.

She's still sitting at the kitchen table playing some game on her iPad.

Take a deep breath Emma. It's fine, you're fine. You're safe.

"Mom?" I say softly.

She pauses her game and looks at me.

"Is everything okay?" She questions.

I walk over to the table and sit in a chair across from her I don't want to do this anymore. I want to go upstairs and hide under my blanket. I just hate talking. It's my mom though. I should be comfortable. I take another deep breath preparing myself. I can't get out of this one.