Wild Hearts

Only The Truth

It's a stupid hope. It's been almost two hours. Why would he stay?

Even so, I was sure there be some sign. Something, anything at all that would lead me back into his world. Or better yet, there he would stand, waiting expectantly for my return, tutting and checking his watch like he was standing patiently all that time.

Again, so so stupid, but sometimes you hold onto stupid beliefs. Because you need to. They're all you have.

A small part of me fears I'll find him laying there, half-buried in snow. I pushed him over, and he didn't get up. What if he hit his head and...

No. I can't fall prey to my darker thoughts. I let them have too much sway, too often. Start foolishly optimistic first; ask questions later.

There's the tunnel. I draw in a long breath, but don't let it go.

Something moves in the bushes to my left and I release my breath, flinching. The bush shakes violently, and then a rabbit pushes out. I watch it tread cautiously in the snow, watch it explore curiously, a million flecks of white glittering along its fur. Then I sneeze, and it darts off.

I take those last few steps and shiver. Of course. Of course, he wouldn't be there. Connor said as much, repeatedly. And he was speaking sense, but when it comes to what your heart says, you put your brain into sleep mode and follow blindly. He at least agreed with that and said no more on the subject. I watched his turquoise eyes then, watched them dance.

Not like this was any big surprise. But I had to come anyway. If anything...

If anything, to have some closure. And maybe... just maybe...

Why did he want to bring me to this tunnel? What was he trying to show me?

Another long breath. And breathe out.

The first step is mine. The second is his. Into darkness.

And another.

And another...

Nothing.

Another step. My foot crunches down on something. Something small and plastic. Reaching down, I fumble about in the darkness, and then I pick up the small rectangular device. There's no mistaking it. My finger runs over the smooth glass screen, the cracks staining the surface. I turn it on, and the light stings. But there it is. His background. He never showed me, but somehow I'm not surprised by what I see.

Ryder, arm around me, a foggy pier our backdrop, blood-red roses burning against the gloom. Proof. Proof of friendship, for my parents then. Now...

The screen turns off and I clench the phone tight. What does this mean?

Did he drop it, or was it discarded, a painful reminder of the friendship I threw away?

I don't know. Maybe I'm just being dramatic. Either option is shit. Once again, I can't get in contact with him. Ryder is truly, as seems to be the recurring pattern, lost.

I close my eyes, not that it matters, and try and control my breathing. I feel... angry. So incredibly angry. And miserable. More than a little frightened too. At what? I'm not sure. I just know I am, and that this is too confusing, too much for me to bear.

"Aiden?!"

Connor. I ignore the whispers in the dark and spin, stumbling out into the murky light. Connor stands on his heels on a hill, feet sinking into the snow, one hand shielding his eyes from the sun.

I run to him, throwing my arms around his pink jacket, nestling into the rich designer fabric.

Connor is a complete stranger, but he's also my friend, if that even makes sense.