Amber

(10) Broken

Jared's Point Of View

I apologised to the hospital authorities before I ran after Amber, to her home, which no more existed. I was sure that she'd be there but to my astonishment, I couldn't find her anywhere near her former house. Who knew where she'd live now. Most importantly, who knew where she'd be sitting right now.

For about three hours, I searched every lonely place, calling her name at every corner. I had no idea where broken hearts went. At last, I sighed and sat on the ground when my legs refused to move anymore.

I knew her, she always spent her time in her room when she was upset. Only recently she had found a tree Ivy to confide in. Although my legs ached with so much running and my head reeled with stress, I got up with a half heart and lied to myself that it'd be the last place where I'd try to find her. In front of me was a steep slope of the hill on top of which rested the speaking tree or the so-called best friend of my best friend.

I wondered how Amber never hesitated to climb up this hill when i thought she had a lazy ass all the time.

Over the horizon, I could see a crouched figure under a large oak tree.

It was Amber.

It was hard to tell if I was really nervous or maybe pretending to be nervous because being nervous was the most suitable thing to be done right now. I was just confused. I walked up to her and kept my palm on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

She looked at me from the corner of her eye and turned to face me. She truly looked horrible with her red swollen eyes and puffed up cheeks. If it were any other day, I would have teased her for being a crybaby. Today was different.

I thought she'd be irritated as she ALWAYS said, "Jared, I hate it when people look at me with that sympathetic look in her eyes. It's annoying."

This time, she just looked at me and sighed. Too tired to cry, she let out a weak whimper.

"Amber, please go home." I said, and immediately regretted saying it.

She kept silent, not wanting to correct my mistake this time.

Dumbfounded, I sat beside her for a while but when my patience gave way I asked her, "You got your Grandma's diary, didn't you"

Amber's hands trembled. From behind her, she took out the antique diary I had been holding hours ago.

Looking at the diary now resting in her lap, she said, "She wanted me to read it, it was something important."

She carressed it like a child and said, "I haven't managed to read it yet."

"Why?" I asked.

"I'm- I'm scared. That I might find something worse."

I kept my hands on her shoulders and shook them. "Amber," I looked in her eyes, "You... are a fighter. And no one can ever scare you. You understand?" She seemed to look convinced so I confidently continued, "And afterall," I shrugged, "it's just a diary!"

She angrily slapped my hands off her shoulders and shouted, "IT IS NOT A DIARY! IT IS MY GRANDMA, JARED JONES. AND I DO NOT NEED YOUR SYMPATHY TO CONTINUE MY LIFE."

I was taken aback. I assumed she would gain strength with these words. I was foolish to search for her all day only to receive such harsh words. Without further argument, I stood up and walked away without catching a single glance at her, coldness evident in my eyes.

I felt stupid.

Stupid to be with her in the hospital.

Stupid to look for her like a madman.

Stupid to comfort her.

Stupid to keep trying with her.

A/N:-
A very short chapter. And yes, it was the end of Jared's Point Of View. Do you think it's right for Jared to get frustrated and give up on Amber? Or do you think he'll give up at all?