In The Shadows

Chapter-9: Mayday

A loud banging on the door woke Zoey up. Without giving a single glance to her appearance she sprinted towards the door.

"Nora", sleepy she opened the door just to find her cousin in shorts and a t-shirt and her glasses on.

Brushing past her Nora made her way inside the room, "I couldn't sleep."

Zoey closed the door while glancing at the clock.

2:10 am

"Because of you", her attention on Nora when she spoke

"Me?", with exhaustion she fully turned towards her.

"You fought with me" with a small pout Nora crossed her arms over her chest

"So you decided to barge into my house?", she spoke annoyed.

"I just want you to talk to me", exhaustion engulfed her voice which made Zoey's anger fade a little. She finally looked at Nora, looked at her struggle to somehow make her feel better.

"I don't know what to say to you.", the words left her mouth with the utmost honesty.

"I know. Just don't isolate yourself. At least not your family", Nora looked at her straight in the eye, "The last thing I want you to feel is lonely."

"Loneliness isn't about the isolation neither its the idea of being alone", Her voice merely above whisper, "It strikes you slowly, when you least expected and even when you say it out loud. It still hurts... Hurts to feel the isolation within.", she felt her heart trembling but the words were strong enough to shield her from shattering, "I feel it. Sometimes it's once a day, weeks, sometimes even a month but sometimes it's just hits you and then it's all dark and lonely.", Zoey looked anywhere but at her.

"I fear hurting everyone with how I am because the last thing I want you to feel is regret", her eyes finally meeting hers.

Nora's heart swelled with an unsaid emotion. It was the biggest step she could take.

"Sometimes I fear pushing you too hard."

She took a little step towards her.

"Fearing you'll retaliate in the worst way and on some days you do but that's how you mend yourself on worst of days."

"I don't", at Zoey's words Nora shook her head in disapproval.

"You do", without missing a single beat she wrapped her arms around her.

"It feels like..." Zoey rested her head on her shoulder running out of words.

"Home", Nora finished for her at which Zoey nodded.

"It does.", sighing at the lifted pressure off her chest.

"You can share it with me"

"I will when I'm ready", she said looking at her, "You need to go now Jackson is sleeping inside" 

"Oh?"

"Bye Nora", she said taking her outside to the door, "I'll see you tomorrow", she closed the door behind her & went back to her room seeing him lying there peacefully.

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Jackson woke up when he couldn't feel Zoey beside him in the bed. He opened his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. 

Where did she go? 

He got up from the bed & went to look for her when he heard some voices coming from outside.