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...
My eyes shot open the same time my lungs filled with air. I found myself lying down on a soft mattress as opposed to the hard floor of the antique shop. Where was I now?
I was able to slowly move my limbs in order to push myself up. With my head sliding up the headboard I surveyed the room. It took a long time for me to process where I was. It seemed that I was moved to a bedroom. I no longer heard the sound of the crashing waves hitting the sand outside. Instead, I was only able to hear the restless noise of the cicadas outside. I was no longer at the shore.
The room was dark, and the curtains had been drawn to cut out the light. There was no one else with me, which caused a spike of distress to run through me like before. I began doubting my surroundings. Was this place real? Or, was I still trapped inside my own mind?
In order to figure this out, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. A prickly numbness made it difficult to keep my balance. I chose to make my way over to the window first. Pushing back the thick, heavy curtains I felt a weight being lifted from me. Iron Gate. Elijah had brought me back to his home in Iron Gate.
The sun was beginning to set over the beautiful, well kept, community. Although I was relieved to see where I was, the same couldn't be said about who I was with. I recalled the anger I felt towards Elijah with clear definition. My hatred was on the borderline of betrayal. But why?
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My hands clenched tighter around the curtains when I heard someone enter the room. Elijah made no real attempt to move closer when he saw me up and about.
"You're awake." He remained in the doorway. "Are you-"
"How long was I out?" My voice held zero emotion.
"Almost a day," he replied.
A day? The time I was unconscious felt no more than an hour. It was unimaginable how I managed to lose almost a whole day in just one hour. I kept my gaze locked on the window for fear of seeing him.
I was afraid to ask.
"Did...did I... act differently? In any way?"
"No. You didn't move an inch." I heard him move forward. If I was truly unconscious, for a day no less, I would be lying if I said I wasn't surprised. Why wouldn't she take advantage of the opportunity to take control? Not unless she did and Elijah was lying.
"Amelia, what happened in that store that made you pass out like that?"
I turned to see him sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting. My stomach turned over the second I looked into his eyes. Those same eyes that once caressed me were now looking right through me like I was nothing but air.
"I was staring at a painting. A strange feeling came over me and suddenly everything went dark. I was thrown into a memory I didn't even know I had," I explained.
A shade of color drained from his face. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"What was it? Your family?"
I gently shook my head. Elijah tried to keep a handle on his expression, knowing fully well it would give away his true emotion. He was worried and I could tell.
"Elijah, I need you to tell me the truth," I began. His brows raised in question, however he remained silent.
The air grew thicker with each passing second. Soon, all I was breathing in was uncertainty mixed with a hint of fear.
Was I really afraid of finding out the truth between Elijah and I? Truthfully, I felt indecisive. Between the broken memories from my past and the ambivalent feelings I had towards him- I have come to my wits ends.
I think the real question I should have asked myself was, did I really want to find out the truth?
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I briefly thought back to one of my conversations with my anonymous emailer, "S". They had mentioned something about uncovering the truth that came at a price. According to them, Elijah already knew certain things about me prior to our meeting in his office.
At first, I was skeptical about their implications. Part of me still remained uncertain if they were telling the truth. On the other hand, I wasn't able to deny the memories I had seen.
I need to find out the truth- regardless of whatever the consequences may be.
