A WATTPAD FEATURED STORY
❝Love pays no attention to color❞
Jasmine Karesh never thought she'd spend her senior year of high school struggling to accept her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis, a disease that forbids her from forgetting the scho...
She wrapped her fingers around his bicep to stop him in his tracks. "It's just a little further now. She has to be here."
Ashton glanced at her hand and then, her. "Thank you, Jasmine. Not just for coming with me, but for risking your parent's trust to help me."
"I would've found a way to get out of there even if you didn't ask. It's no problem."
His hand covered hers and her eyes moved to the expensive watch glittering on his wrist. It seemed like an heirloom that wasn't quite right to wear while hiking through the woods on a rescue mission.
Jasmine sighed when she noticed her suspicion was aimed at someone as harmless as Ashton. A watch wasn't going to hurt her and neither would he.
His fingers ran over the inside of her palm in the same way Shayan had. Much to her surprise, he pulled away within seconds and continued walking without so much as another word. Her cheeks heated up in the absence of his touch and she pulled her hospital gown up by the waistline, stepping over a stray branch. They made their way through the small little forest that followed the highway. Despite its creepy atmosphere, the forest was a better alternative to the main road, where they would be prime targets for off-course cars.
Jasmine halted when she approached the area near her old elementary school. She was already reminded of what happened twelve years ago and she wasn't even inside the school. She was in the playground next to it and yet, she could still see her uncle fall to the ground. The memory stole her breath and made her cling to her neck as if that would clear her airways.
The man beside her did not notice her panic attack and rather, stared at the slide with his mouth wide open.
"Mom!" he screamed and sprinted to her. She was bound with duct tape around her wrists and legs, and on her mouth, accompanied by a blindfold over her eyes. At her son's voice, she struggled against the restraints to reach him, her dark hair flying across her face.
This woman had helped Jasmine so much and this is what had come to her.
It was all her fault.
She pushed the terrible— yet accurate— realization out of her mind as she ripped the tape off Maria's mouth. Ashton rescued her from the rest and his mother blinked multiple when she saw him. She pulled him into her arms, ignoring the burns on her wrists and tears in her eyes as she held him close.
Jasmine rushed over to help them, noticing the waver in Maria's stance even as she held on to her son for dear life.
The woman shook her head. "You've helped us so much already by leading my son to me. I'm thankful you had my back." Maria flashed her a weak smile, utilizing Ashton as a crutch when she gave up on standing on her own.
"I can help hold you up, though." Jasmine offered her arm yet again.
Maria waved her hand and Ashton let out a chuckle that sounded more like a breath of relief. "I've got her. She can be really stubborn about certain things. But anyway, we can't thank you enough."
"It's no problem," she replied with a tight smile, ignoring the voice in her head that told her that she was forced to do this for them, that it wasn't done out of the kindness of her own heart.
Maria looked up with a start. "I forgot something. I was given a note before I was dumped here. It's for you. I would take it to the office and dust for fingerprints, but they haven't left a trace of their identity behind. If you need someone to stay here with you, though, we can do that."
"You don't have to. I'll be okay." She tried to smile again, but it only came out more forced than before. "But Maria, are you sure you didn't get a good look at the person who did this to you?"
"No, I didn't. I'm sorry, honey," she replied, waving as they parted ways. "We'll see you soon, Jas."
Jasmine sat on the swings of the playground after they left, the sun beginning to set. The wind kicked in and she wrapped her arms around herself as she braced herself to read the note. She unfolded the paper and let out a croak when she scanned over the scrawled words.
Next time, it's Karina. I won't be as forgiving with her.
Her baby cousin. The girl who was almost a teenager. The girl who meant everything to her mother. The girl who made up her twin's other half.
The last thing Jasmine wanted was to lose her, especially if it would be entirely her fault.
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I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! Make sure to vote and comment your questions, concerns, and reactions as I'm always replying.
Also, look at this AMAZING cover created by @lushpetals ! Isn't it so beautiful? Thank you, Amara, you're a fantastic human being.
