Amelia had everything- family, friends, a promising future- the sky was the limit. But just like that everything was taken from her. One moment she's planning her high school graduation party the next she's laying on a therapist's couch. It was as i...
The memories began to fade when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. Immediately, I was pulled back to the present. Holy crap! I was still in Elijah's car- not my old house in New Jersey.
We were parked next to the curb across the street from the house. How long had we been sitting here?
I looked over at him. "I'm sorry, I must have zoned out."
A gorgeous smile curved his mouth. "Don't be sorry." His thumb caressed my cheek. I welcomed the intimate touch, considering we're my mind just was. "Whatever you were thinking about must have made you happy. I noticed you were smiling a little."
Happy? Was that what he thought I was feeling? Sure I was fond of the memory which may have produced some resemblance of a smile but I would hardly call that happiness. According to my numerous past therapists, my mind was not properly equipped to produce the chemicals required to give off the emotion of happiness. Something about a high deficiency with my endorphins? I couldn't remember. Personally, I didn't care enough to.
I bit my inner cheek to keep from giving a fake response. Old habits are a bitch to quit.
"I was thinking about how different the summers used to be when I was younger. How carefree things were."
The rain had lessened since we left the park, but the drops continued their tranquil pattern on the windows.
"What did you used to do in the summer?" He asked with interest.
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"Well, back in Jersey, Aralyn and I would take frequent trips down the shore. We liked walking along the boardwalk where she would drag me in and out of every arcade," I laughed at remembering her silly banter about how she absolutely needed a giant stuffed panda bear. "Any money she'd make during the year was all pretty much spent on those claw machines. Aside from that we'd go to the mall or see what new movies were playing at the theater."
"Sounds like you and Aralyn spent a lot of time together growing up. I find it incredible that the two of you stayed so close even through college," he explained. "I lost connection with most of the people I went to school with."
Losing connection with friends you had back in high school wasn't uncommon, especially if you traveled out of state. I, on the other hand, felt it was necessary to cut off contact with those who knew me prior to college. Things were awkward enough when I went back to finish up the rest of senior year. And whether they knew it or not, I always heard them whispering behind my back. Those people no longer saw me as a student or an acquaintance.
Instead I became the school nut case, who would lose her mind at any given moment. But all during that period Aralyn was the one that refused to join the masses. She would hear the whispers and shoot death glares at anyone who dared speak of me.
Aralyn was the only constant thing in my life. She had been there when my own blood relatives were nowhere to be found. I didn't know what would have become of me if she ever decided to leave. It wasn't fair of me to keep her from a normal life, one that didn't require her to babysit me when I'd accidentally slip off the rails. That I did know.
