FrAcTuReD (Part One) (Completed continued in Part Two)

Chapter. 26

She let out a short laugh. "You make it sound like it's a military base, but yeah, I'll be sure to let her know. But, do you mind if I take her outside for a bit, it's a nice day I think she'd like to go out for a bit of a hike for a project that she has for school. Alex and a few others are coming with, I think she'd enjoy it."

"Sure, and next time I don't have work I'll tag along too."

"Wow look at all the colourful trees!" Nina said with a laugh as she twirled around with the leaves falling gently in the woods.

"Hey you guys sure this is safe?" Will asked as he pulled of the rear of the group, Jason and Alex in the middle while Charla was at the front with Nina who was now holding her hand. "I mean is it really a good idea to bring a little girl to the mountains?"

"It's for a school project," Charla said. "The mountains are the best place to get different kinds of leaves. Besides we used Google earth and consulted my uncle for the best places. That's also not near the site."

"Yeah!" Nina said. "Dad said we would be fine he's a Detective he knows these things!"

"Plus it helps to be in a group," Charla added while Nina was holding her hand. "And now with it being the beginning of October a lot of the leaves have changed and are falling. Better options then doing it back at home."

Alex then came over and wrapped and arm around Charla's neck, since she wasn't wearing her headphones today, and gave a big grin. "Well are you the responsible Big Sis, must be nice huh Nina?"

"Big... Sis..." Nina repeated then looked up at Charla and then to Alex. "She's my Big Sister now?"

"Heck yeah she is, who wouldn't want Charla as a sister?"

"I can think of a few people who would hate on that idea," she said softly before looking to Nina and saying. "If you see me as your sister then I have no problem with it."

Nina laughed. "Yay, Charla's my big sister now!" she then pulled away from Charla's hand and pointed at a large Oak tree. "Oh, let's try there first and see if we can find the prettiest leaves!"

"You heard her boys!" Alex said to Will and Jason. "Get to it!"

"Hey what the hell?" Will complained. "Your making us do all the work?"

"No," she said in a prolonged tone. "We're all helping Nina, but you guys have to go first, it's the rules."

Will didn't look amused. "What rules?"

"The rules! Now come on, get going."

Jason merely shook his head before crouching down to Nina's level. "Why don't you lead us to the spot you think is best okay Nina?"

"Okay?" she took Jason's hand and led him, and a reluctant Will to the Oak tree.

"You so owe me dinner for this Al," Will told her. "I had no sleep I hope you know."

"Oh, quit being a baby you'll be fine when we get some coffee into you." Alex said before turning to Charla who was now watching Nina and the two boys looking for good leaves for Nina's school project. "Hey uh... Will told me he saw you at his family's bar last night, you... you don't remember it, do you?"

She shook her head. "No, my uncle talked about it this morning, that his partner saw me there with some journalist but..." she shook her head. "I hate this, not being able to remember anything that my body does. I can't help but feel like something is wrong with me."

Alex didn't say a word, much like before when Charla had revealed to her about having some other personality within her she couldn't think of anything to say.

Charla sighed and placed her hands in her leather coat pockets. "Not like saying it will change anything. I shouldn't complain but it's a hard thing to deal with at times. Makes me wonder how other people who have more then one other personality can cope with it all. I'm envious of them... of them able to lead a somewhat normal life without too much worry."

"I guess you would be, it's still hard for me to wrap my brain around it all but, I'm not going to judge you for whatever this other personality does."

Charla gave her a blank look. "And why not?"

"Because it's not you Charla. Whatever that personality does is solely on them, not you. at least that's how I see it."

Charla silently scoffed and gave a faint smile, when was the last time she met someone that was so accepting of her flaws without any kind of judgment? Besides her brother and father no one else came to mind. She then pulled out her cellphone and said. "Hey I, actually just got a call. I'll be right back, watch over Nina for me okay?"

Alex smiled. "Sure, thing Big Sis." And then headed over to the three and squatted beside Nina asking what leaves she had already found.

Charla turned and walked at least six feet away and went behind a large tree, her back pressed against the bark as her shoulders began to shake, her head hung low. The phone call was a complete lie, but when she heard Nina call her a sister with that big cheerful smile it made an old memory come back, a reminder of how at times Charla would call Carlin. She clasped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying as she tilted her head back towards the sky and stop tears from falling. This was something she would have to deal with, another thing she would need to accept in her life with Carlin now gone.

Life truly could come around and smack you right in the face, whether you wanted it too or not. And it was a rather sad, and even difficult reality to even face, even more so alone.

But I'm not alone... Charla thought as she leaned forward and took several deep breaths. It's not like before, it will never be like before.

"Hey where did Charla go?" Will asked.

Nina began to look around slightly concerned. "Big Sis?"

Charla quickly wiped her eyes and came out from her hiding place and smiled at Nina. "I'm right here, I had phone call. Sorry about that." She then joined Nina's side and crouched down to her level. "So, did you find anything good?"

"Yeah, Will, Jason, Alex and I found a lot of good leaves so far!" she said with a big bright smile. But then asked. "Are you okay?"

Charla smiled, the little girl was always perceptive. "I'm good, I promise Nina."