Roommates

chapter 18

"Do you think she knows?" Elaine whispered the heavy phrase into the phone with a little fear.  I massaged my temple and leaned into the expensive chair.

"I don't know."

"How would she know?  Mom and dad buried it."

"I don't know, Laine.  But, I'm over it." I lied.

"If Brynn knew, she would've said something by now; she has to know something else."

"Zola, there are very little things in this world that would kill you; in fact, that's the only thing. I think-" I looked up and gently swore into the phone.

"I'm sorry, Laine, Healani's coming back.  I'll call you later, love you." I hung up the phone and stuffed it into my purse, I smiled at the beautiful lady approaching the table and sat up a bit.

"I apologize, the line to the bathroom was ridiculous!" Healani laughed and finished her water.

I decided to take Healani up on her offer for lunch.  So far, I've loved every minute of it.  In an unexplainable way, I feel like Healani truly understands me, mentally.  I feel free to talk to her openly and she accepts it without judgment.

She reminds me of my own mother, which is probably why they get along so well.  Healani accidentally met my mom through FaceTime and they've gotten incredibly close.  They text all the time and video chat once a week.

I'm glad the women get along, so is Lee.

"Here, lunch is over but I don't want to leave you just yet.  Let's take a walk." Healani sat $40 on the table and stood, offering her arm to me.

I stood without protest and locked arms with her.

Healani walked me to a park near the restaurant, never letting go of me.  For a while, we enjoyed the wind grazing the leaves, birds soaring through the sky, and light traffic near Drexel.  Healani lightly cleared her throat, gaining my attention.

I looked up from the clean cobblestone and raised my eyebrows.

"You know, Zola, you're a lot like me.  We're strong women who've been through terrible things.  I feel like I have a certain... bond with you.  Because of this, I can tell there's something bothering you.  Strong women know when other strong women are hurting."

Healani looked down at me and smiled gently, pulling me a little closer.

"If you'd like, you can talk to me about it." I feel safe and valued with Healani, I don't feel the need to be guarded or unsure of myself.  I took a deep breath and finally met her soft gaze.

"I just feel like I can't catch a break.  It's like, I find happiness and in order to pay for it, I have to experience more trauma.  I wanna be normal, I don't want Lee or my friends and family to have to constantly talk me down from breakdowns, I-"

Two rough hands gripped my shoulders, yanking me away from Healani's warm hold.  I gasped and fell into the firm figure.  The hands twirled my body and forced me to face them.

The sight made me lose my breath.  Cullen stood in front of me, clutching my shoulders as his dead eyes stared into my brown ones.  Tears welled in my eyes, I can't yank myself away from him.

Looking into his eyes felt like staring into an empty soul, a surge of fear corrupted my body.  He doesn't look the same at all, he doesn't even look like a healthy human.

"Zola." He murmured then continued to stare.

"Get off of her now, Cullen!" Healani snatched me away from him and held me close to her chest.