Like Real People Do - Jill Roord

Because I Know You

Jill's POV

There she was. Hunched over at a table, staring down at the empty glasses as her shoulders trembled and her eyes remained empty. The Hunter I knew wasn't there, I think the part that hurt the most was the realization that I missed a person who no longer existed, but still physically sat right in front of me.She had the same face and the same stride, even the same voice, and she carried herself in similar ways on a good day, but she was not the girl I missed. She was an entirely different person. The version of Hunter I so badly missed left without a word, without a warning. She hadn't bothered to say goodbye or explain why she had to leave and that is what hurt me the most; I never could've seen it coming. 

My knees weakened seeing Lia helplessly grasp onto Hunter's hand, trying to break her out of the trance. I quickly walked towards them, pushing past the drunken men and beer filled tables. 

"Hunter," I said her name, hoping she'd look up.

But she didn't. 

Lia got to her feet after being knelt down next to Hunter's chair, "I just found her here and she won't talk to me Jill," She gripped onto my arm, clearly panicked.

I gulped, knowing I needed to stay calm at least until we'd gotten Hunter home and from the state of her table, I knew she couldn't walk all the way. "Wally can you call Leah and bring the car here?" I nodded her through each word, trying to calm the brunette down.

"Okay," Lia quickly agreed, "I'll call her now," she was quick to leave to pub, looking back one last time to see Hunter who still hadn't moved or even recognized our presences.

I wondered what went on in her mind, I wondered if this was a conscious choice she made to escape reality and if so why? Everything was good, she'd been doing incredibly in her career and even after loosing Nana she had seemed strong with all of the love surrounding her. Only months ago she'd loved better than anyone I knew, she smiled and made those sarcastic little jokes I never quite understood, but I always laughed because I remembered how hearing her laugh brightened up my entire day. But those were just memories now, memories getting more and more distant with every passing day. 

"Hunter," I said again, pulling out the chair beside her, "We're going to take you home, okay?"

She didn't reply but I knew she'd heard me from the way her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. 

I forever held this hope she could change, I knew Hunter could change because I still remembered who she used to be. I still begged for us to work through this, for her to come out the other side of this dark tunnel and into the light, but I also feared of falling in love with the potential of things. 

I gently laid my hand on top of Hunter's, "Please talk to me," I whispered, not knowing how else I could save us. Save her. A moment of silence passed us by, everyone else in the pub faded into a meaningless backdrop, "Please," my voice cracked, the tears pricked at my eyes. 

Hunter finally turned her head and stared at me, there didn't seem to be a thought behind her eyes; so sadness, no joy, no desperation. It was just empty. How could it be that we used to say so much without words but now we sat in complete silence?

My eyes bored into hers, begging to find a glimmer of the girl I'd once known, "You have me," I reminded her, "Please don't run."

She looked down to the table, finally opening her mouth, "I won't," her words were dry. Empty. 

These days it was either all of nothing with Hunter; she was either empty or flooded with pain. I wasn't sure which one was the less healthy but I knew it needed to change, things couldn't continue like this; t was my job to change them. I'd told Nana that I'd look after Hunter and promised Alexia the same, though most of all I'd promised myself, I was desperate to stop her from slipping through my fingers.