LIED PROMISES

17 - Wanderer

♡
❅❅❅

❝Betrayed I felt,
All worn out and broke;
If you never loved me,
Why did you provoke?❞

❅❅❅
♡

EMMA

I explained everything to Steven, because after such a lovely day I didn't aspire to us ending like that, I didn't want him to misunderstand me; mostly I didn't want him to leave, not in the least for a misapprehension like that.

I'd always been a collector, and had a hard time giving up possessions. I summoned up the time I was left alone in my school trip, in the seventh grade, when my then best friend insulted me in front of everyone, and it was Alyssa who defended me. And now, she didn't even manage a place in my contact list.

Steven professed he was sorry, and I forgave him, although he had hurt me. Why, it was just a misunderstanding, right?

"But Steven, what if Dan is really in a trouble?" I asked, confused, and unable to register that he'd go away like that.

It was funny; I'd faced such betrayal a number of times, and still my poor heart wouldn't be able to agree when someone new did it. My poor heart just seemed to love everyone with all its might, no matter how many times it broke, no matter how many times it didn't get loved back, and I didn't really know how many more heartbreaks it would have to realise that it had to change.

"He'd tell you, what the trouble is," he whispered.

"He told me he had some issue with his parents," I said, clenching my fist tight so that my nails would dig into my skin, and my mind would be focused on the physical pain so that it'll get over the emotional one for a while.

"What kind of an issue?"

"I don't know, really, what if his parents took away his phone?"

"No parents could do that, he ain't a kid, come on, Em," he said, leaving me in perplexity, why, my parents would take away my phone and check it any time they wished, and I was made to believe that all parents did so.

"What if his parents are beating him up?"

Steven's jaw dropped. He looked almost baffled, and had a hard time registering what had spilled out of my mouth.

"Emma, you know normal parents don't beat up their kid, they can surely scold, but beating up is way too much," he said, in a very benevolent manner.

"Parents don't beat up kids?"

Droplets of sweat occupied Steven's forehead.

He just couldn't swallow the sort of stuff I uttered, and an awful realisation struck me, "what the fuck are you saying Emma!" I shouted at my heart.

"Never mind, I don't know what I just said, anyway - "

"Emma, are you okay?"

"Yes, yes of course, why?"

"Liar."

He looked into my eyes, and I wondered if he'd been cognizant of my dark secret, and just then, he murmured, "I know you don't trust me, but with time, you will, and I'll be all ears, the day you decide to tell me."

"There's nothing to tell, Steve."

"I'm sure there is a lot."

"None that you'd care about," I opened my phone to block Daniel's number, reluctantly, but didn't yet.