The Truth Behind the Footsteps

Chapter 3: Opening Old Wounds

"Everybody has a chapter they don't read aloud." ~ Anonymous

7:34. On my way into the town square.

The local coffee shop buzzed with excitement. I missed this town's zeal. It was something I hadn't forgotten since I graduated from high school. I just forgot the feeling. It's happiness, brightness. Something I wasn't used to in my life presently. I sat down on the patio; the sun beamed upon the petite shop. A man glanced over at the patio table. He was just another person. Merely a stranger. My bicycle sat next to me by the table. It hung out and obstructed the path. He ran into it; knocking over my bike and causing a loud commotion.

"Hi, sorry. "

The brown eyes shown into the sun. They beamed with light. You got to be kidding me right? Lucas!

"Lucas! It's been a while," I darted my eyes to the fallen man. He looked at me, stolid. Are you going to say something? I wasn't used to the awkward silence and small talk. Lucas Emmott. I couldn't believe this!

"Yeah, it has," he sighed," Listen, sorry for bumping into your bike, but I've got to go."

And just like that, he was gone. Nothing to be said about the last incident. No remorse. No guilt. But, I mean, I couldn't blame him. Everyone has secrets. I was his worst one. The one that would never be uncovered. The one that would be buried into the darkness. Just. Like. That.

I drank my coffee and stared at my phone. Scrolling through contacts, I found his. Somewhere mixed in with all the relatives and close friends. I tapped it. Not thinking. I closed my eyes. No, I wasn't going to do this. Not now. It was over. For good.

Life had to go on. It was terrible though. All of the memories after the good. It was like the happiness was switched off after a point in time. The third year specifically, if we're counting. Lucas was my first love, and my last. I couldn't handle the heartbreak. I told myself I wasn't up for it again. Just if something went wrong.

The cold breeze tickled my freckled nose. Fall was the best time of the year, and yet the worst all at the same time. It was the season that would be followed by barren, cold, death. But, it was the best season for joy, and yet you wished it would never end. But, surprise, surprise. Just like every good thing, it was swept away. All the blissful, colorful leaves. Just to be raked up after fall and tossed into trashcans.

I had to be an optimist. If I let my feelings seep in about all of it, I would lose everything. But there was nothing to loose. Just some friends. I couldn't be negative. Baggage. Baggage was going to pull me down. I had escaped from the hole already; I couldn't go back into it.

I grabbed my latté and bag and walked my bike to the nearest corner. I couldn't get that situation off my mind! It's like one of those memories that just engraves itself upon your brain. Looking across the street, I saw a human from the corner of my eye. She was a woman. With curly hair. Dark black hair.

No! That was her! I hopped on my bicycle and rode away. Anxious, I looked back, only to find that the women was gone, like she appeared and disappeared into thin air. She wasn't a usual face in this town. I knew everyone. My family had connections. Or, used to. My mom left. "Something about finding herself". Apparently finding herself, was with another man, across the country. But, once again baggage.

+~~~~~~~+

Days passed. Still heard nothing from Lucas. If only we were better friends! College consumed me more than those thoughts. I regretted not moving into a dorm. But, someone had to own this house, take care of it. I just wished I was closer to my friends at school and my professors. I climbed into my Ford Focus and drove to the university. University of Pennsylvania! Crazy, right? All my life I had been told I wasn't good enough to go a university. And I'm no talented genius that's for sure. But, I made it!

I made it by majoring in communication. It was pretty interesting I guess, not my first pick, or my last. Math was my last choice, it bored me more than communication. But, I guess this major could work in the meantime. I arrived at the campus. There she was, standing next in front of me. Her dress, white. As if she wore rags, it had worn down over the years. I swerved to the right and crashed into the nearby tree. Glass shattered, my head hit the wheel. Unconscious, I laid there, alone.

a/n: Hello! Can't wait for the next one? I can't wait to publish it! Chapter 4 will be published shortly! Thanks for your support! -Izzy