The River (Laurisa Cimorelli)

Thirteen: Finding Clues Pt. 3

THIRTEEN: FINDING CLUES Pt. 3 

[PASSING OUT]

LAUREN

AMY IS STILL BITING HER NAILS for a solid half an hour now. She didn't know what to do while she looking at her little sister's pale body laying on the couch that belongs to the old woman named Karla. The warm and fun expression of her pretty face is turned into the nervous one. She can't take her eyes off of Lauren who still laying on the couch, unconscious. Karla has been gone to the kitchen since Lauren passed out half hour ago to make something out of her useful plants that could help Lauren to wake up. This is terrifies Amy. She doesn't like this and never in her mind Lauren would pass out like this.

Is it normal for a person to passed out for more than 30 minutes? What happened? Amy put the blame on herself because if she didn't agree to drive her to Karla's house, this would've not happened. Let alone the thought of Lauren would be mad MAD at Amy if she did reject her. the most important thing is Lauren safe and not pass out like this. 

"I made this, try to keep her smelling it." Amy reached it out and without waiting for anything else, she did what she told.

It looks like some leaves, crushed by Karla and she added water or something on it. Not going to lie, Amy feel relaxed as the smell of the herbs filling the living room that three of them are in right now. it brushes off some of her nervousness. And Amy really thankful for that. 

Just as when she was wonder what that is, Karla answered. "It's herbs. I have plenty of the ingredients in my kitchen. It's useful to make the person who smells it feel relaxed and calm."

Amy nodded, understood. Then she sighed, putting her focus back on her little sister. "What happened to her?" Karla won't lie, there's a guilt feeling inside of her and she doesn't know what really happened either. "I don't know. I think Lauren was just shocked about what I told her earlier. I am so sorry, Amy. I shoudn't have told her, right?"

"What? No no no, it is completely our fault to ask you the question. You just giving us the information we asked, and we can't thank you enough for that, Karla." Amy smiled warmly to the old woman which Karla smiled back. "Is it normal though? It's been half an hour." Amy asked.

"There was a psychologic chaos happened inside her mind. I don't know what she's been through but the things that I told you girls before might be too much for her brain to handle. Normally people would wake up from passing out after like 5 to 10 minutes, but again, it depends on how the person handle it. She will wake up after the psychologic chaos that has caused her to pass out has resolved itself. That is why I made her that herbs, it helps to make people who smells it relaxes." Karla explained as she studies Lauren's figure who lay down on her couch. 

Amy was on the ground, also stare at Lauren. "She's been through a lot, hasn't she?" Karla asked.

Amy on the floor nodded and sighing, lean her head into the couch right next to Lauren's head. "Yes. I just don't know what to do now, especially after you told her what she wanted to know. Things was pretty bad enough to handle but its much worse now after we got the information from you. I don't know what will happen to Lauren after this."

Amy didn't realize that she's just spilling her mind. but she feels okay with it, though, Karla is a good listener so Amy just give up and tell her about whats on her mind. "Why did some of you tried to hide whatever it is from her?" Amy jumped hearing the question and turned her head to look at the old face of Karla. "What do you mean?"

"She won't come here if you and the others giving her the answer she's been wanting." Karla smiled to Amy and it was just enough to make her feels like so dumb because what Karla said was true. "From the first I met her at the river, I know something has happened because I found her zoning out on the side of the river, that was why I talked to Lauren, even though she seems like doesn't want to bothered."

"Then finally you girls came here. I saw Lauren's face and just noticed how much of things burdened her." Amy looks back at Lauren's pretty face. 

"Don't you girls ever think, how much of things that Lauren has been keeping inside for a long time because first, she didn't want to burden you, or second, she was scared no one will tell her the truth anymore."

"Poor girl. So many things inside that little pretty head." Karla feels sorry for Lauren. Years she spend on learning and doing psychology things just makes her becomes aware of how people act and react. And Amy now feels exteremely more guilty after Karla said that. She was never think that way about everything, but now, yes it's true. Her eyes becomes so hot all of sudden. "I feel so guilty for lying to my little sister."

"But what could you do when you don't have any choice?" Amy asked Karla with teary eyes. "I didn't even knew what I know was true or not. My family tried to protect both of the side. This is not all about Lauren, and that's all they explained to me. I have no clue what happened exactly, Karla. If I knew it, I will definitely help Lauren from a long time ago. But no, I didn't have a choice except to stay silent and let things happened."

Karla's heart feels hurt as Amy said it all with her cracking voice. "What happened is happened, my dear. All you have to do is protecting your sister from herself if what I have in mind is true and about to happen."

"I'm afraid that Lauren will hurt herself."

hold awn

im posting another chapter real quick! thank me later. this was literally the shortest chapter ive ever wrote tho omg ew 1000 words what? no