A Forbidden Act

Part 4 - Decisions And Fears

Sharon was running, out of breath. She didn't know who, when, or where she was. She just ran. Her legs were at full speed. Suddenly she was in a clearing. The sun shone through the trees, and she wasn't running anymore. Her breath was back, as if she had never run. She felt happy, at peace. The sky darkened, and that feeling fade away, replaced by a sense of fear. She heard a sound behind her, and quickly turned around, ready to run. A man was coming out from the darkness of the trees. He had shhort and brown hair, and piercing blue eyes. A smile was inmprinted on his pale lips. Timo. In a split second, he was holding Sharon's hands, making her body arch.

"What are you-"

He muted her with a cloth. He had an evil grin on his face. Still holding her, he slowly put his other hand behind him and took out something silver. Glistening. Sharp. Deadly.

       

Sharon sat up in her bed, covered in cold sweat. Her breath was erratic, and her face wet from tears. She rubbed her swollen eyes. The young woman tried to steady her breath. After a few minutes she finally calmed down but she still couldn't sleep. She lit the candle on the side of her bed and got up, wobbling a little. She stayed where she was for a few seconds, getting her eyes adjusted to the sudden light. Breathing quietly, she walked slowly out of her room without a sound. She walked down the corridoor, looking behind her to check if anyone was following her. She didn't even know where she was going. She just.. Needed to think. Her desicion was made about the marriage, and she couldn't change it. But she still needed to think. About the consequences, and her feelings. Feelings? She had none. None for Timo, but... No, don't think about it. Don't think about her. Well, of course she did. She always thought about her. In the morning, and before going to sleep. When she was there, Sharon could barely taker her eyes off her. She didn't know how it was possible. That burning feeling, directed to... a girl. That burning feeling they call... love. No, it was unthinkable. She couldn't love a girl. It was something else, but she didn't know what. Walking along the corridoors, she eventually decided to go to the gardens, her quiet place. It was the summer, so she would be a little cold but not too much. 

       

She reached the gardens after a few minutes of walking and a lot of thinking. She sat down on a bench and sighed. The night birds were out, and Sharon could hear howls hooting in the silence. The sounds somehow made her relax, as if they protected her from any harm. That though quickly disappeared as she heard a sound further away. She quickly blew out the candle and got up, her heart pounding in her chest.

"It's okay, it's me..."

The voice was familiar. Too familiar. Sharon tensed, and her breath quickened.

"Oh... Hello." she said, trying to sound relaxed.

She sat back down, and Tarja sat just a few centimetres from her. Foor the first time since they had met, Sharon felt really uneasy, and it was quite obvious. She swallowed nervously. After a few minutes, Tarja suddenly hugged her.

"It's going to be okay Sharon." she whispered into her ear. "I know my brother, he will be kind to you. You'll be okay."

Overwhelmed by a mixture of confusion and stress, Sharon sobbed.

"Shhh... Shhh..."

Tarja stroked her back, whilst Sharon cried on her shoulder. How did this woman know exactly what to say? She hadn't asked what was wrong, because obviously Sharon wouldn't have wanted to talk about it. She hadn't tried to distract her either, it wouldn't have worked and they would have been even more uneasy. No, she just hugged her and whispered some soothing words. How did she do that? How did she make her feel so special...?