Catching My Queen

||ROSEMARY||

"Love cannot lie, they don't tend to forget you but You are always the one who is replaced by them. They will love you, remember you, feel you but they will never trust you because you are 'Replaced' " ~Farwa

Zara POV

My eyes snapped open while a muffled scream erupted in the empty room. My whole body was covered in a cold sweat, my hands were shaking, and my heart pounded in my chest. I looked around the room in suspicious and paranoid that if the horror has followed me here. The tears were streaming down my cheeks, and I get up cautiously. I rubbed my eyes and tried to awaken myself. The sun was shining brightly from the windows, but it didn't help me to calm down. The feeling of dread clung onto each broken pieces of my heart.

With wobbling steps, I walked into the bathroom and looked at my reflection. My eyes were swollen, and cheeks tainted with tears. My hair was a mess and dark hollow circle clouded my eyes. I look like a horrible mess. With shaky hands, I turned the tab on and splash the water on my face rather harshly. The cold water made contact with my skin, soothing the burning sensation on my cheeks and eyes. I gripped the counter and stared at my reflection. I had to find cognitive closure. That efficiently was the only thought running through my conscious mind. My dishevelled reflection was gently mocking me, promptly telling me of the countless sleepless nights that I have been typically encountered.

This was the third horrid nightmare within the same night. The essential medicine had undoubtedly stopped working on me because my body was now immune to them. The same way my heart was immune to the pain. I was convinced these nightmares were not going to stop but I needed to go back to the house. I needed telling the truth to Ryan and his family. The thought of facing Ryan's mum sends terror to my soul but sooner or later I had to talk to her, and I would prefer sooner so that I could gather all the pain in my heart and numb it for once and all.

One hour later I was standing right in front of Stone's house. It was Sunday so I was positive Ryan will be sleeping while his mum would be awake, preparing pancakes. It was like a ritual for the Stones family to traditionally have pancakes every Sunday. Even though I was unprepared to meet them just yet, but I had to do it.

My shaky hands gripped the doorbell, and I eagerly pressed it. My hands were trembling with that was making my chest tighten due to the lack of oxygen. I didn't even realise I had voluntarily stopped breathing properly. I waited for the door to be opened with bated breath. My eager eyes were cast on the floor which certainly had become one of the interesting things in the world. My legs were shaking, and I felt like I would give up at any possible moment. The bead of profuse sweats appeared on my forehead and I gripped the hem of my sweater. Suddenly, coming here undoubtedly felt like the severer crime that I have committed.

Before I could subtly change my mind and back away the door opened with a loud creak and two sets of the foot appear in front of me. I sighed shakily and my gaze travels from the floor to the familiar person's face. My eyes widen and tears welled up in the corner of my eyes. Neither of us moved a muscle. I could scarcely hear my heartbeat; I could scarcely hear her heartbeat mixed with nervousness. It was hard to sufficiently distinguish who was more nervous her or I. I was paralyzed with nervous fear which has allegedly robbed my ability of speech. While on the other hand, the latter was stared at me with a dull expression as she was not expecting something so hideous as me.

She blinked furiously, and the next moment I was engulfed in gently warms protecting arms. The hypnotic spell promptly broke, and I sobbed hysterically. She moved back and then cupped my face in her calloused hands as if fearing it was a dream, the tears ran down her eyes, but she didn't stop staring me. Once again, she shrieked and tackled me in an emotional hug.