It Started With A Lie

Chapter 10

Ellie was alone.

Again.

She had been sitting in her room staring at the ceiling, feeling hot tears escape from her eyes and move their way down the side of her head. She could hear Joel tossing and turning, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn't move.
But, of course, that wouldn't stop her. She managed to pull herself up and sit on the bed. She ran her fingers along the end, feeling the blanket's soft cotton. She held onto all sorts of objects: the walls, door handles, dressers, tables, any thing that could help her stand up.
By the time she made it to Joel's room, he was already awake.
"Ellie!" She got frightened by his exaggerated scream of her name, and almost fell.
"Sorry, sorry. I, um," he cleared his throat, "what're you doing up? Are you alright?" He held his the back of his neck and massaged it a little.

Her sparkling eyes stared at him. She was at a loss for words.
"Ellie?" He looked up at her, and frowned. "What's wrong, BabyGirl?"
Her voice was stiff and cold. "I didn't want to be alone so I walked over here."
Joel nodded knowingly, "Okay. Do you want to come sit down or...?"

"I don't want to sit down. I just didn't want to be alone."
Joel looked into her damaged eyes. He couldn't decipher her feelings, if she even had any.
"Ellie, are you sure you're-"
"I'M FUCKING FINE, ALRIGHT?"
Joel frowned, "I didn't mean to upset you. I just-"
"You just what? Actually give a damn? Right? Oh, am I supposed to think that these gestures and these names are supposed to make me forget what you did? You fucking lied to me, Joel. Wh-?" She rubbed her forehead, "Why won't you just tell me?" Her voice got cloudy, "Why won't you just, just tell me what you did and why you did it and we can be fine I-"
"Ellie..."
"WHY WON'T YOU TELL ME?"
"FOR THE SAME FUCKING REASON YOU WON'T TELL ME ABOUT DAVID!"
Ellie let out a surprised gasp, and her eyes filled with water. She broke in front of him. She couldn't believe what she heard. Joel had never raised his voice at her, not even so much as ignored her. He was always there for her, all the time. Why was he different now?
Ellie turned around, and Joel didn't say anything.
He watched her leave, he watched the only person he ever cared about leave. He scoffed, and closed the door behind her.

Instead of walking to her room, she walked downstairs. She walked out of their house and into the dark of the night.

'He doesn't care anymore', she thought.

She slept outside for the remainder of the night.