Secrets

Chapter 6: The Feud of Fire

Secrets

Chapter Six: The Feud of Fire

Jude

"Rest this leg for the entire month. No training, exercise, or other strenuous activities that could cause more damage to your injury. Got it?" I instructed my patient, who sat there in front of me with one leg up the white mattress, absentmindedly nodding his head as I scribbled the prescription down on a legal white doctor's paper before handing it to him, while saying "The first copy is for you and the second one's for your coach. Now if you don't need anything more, I'll call a nurse to help you to your room."

With nothing more said, the nurse, I signaled to come in a few minutes after, came in and helped the patient get on a wheel chair before carefully pushing him out of my office. I sighed from tediousness once I heard the footsteps from outside the door fading away. Massaging my face with both of my hands, I silently wished that that kid was my last patient for the day before I go off duty for the rest of the entire month.

A dreadful feeling shot through my senses when my eyes caught a glimpse of my mother's painted portrait, which seemed to pierce through my disguise every time I got caught by her strict hazel eyes. The truth was I didn't want to go home. Not because I have a grudge towards that town, but because of my mom. She was like a devil, believe me, and no one would dare get on her bad side (not even me, her first born) or else. I shuddered at the thought of the latter, as I was closing the door of my office using a key and a padlock to ensure that no one would barge in during my absence.

"Oh, you're leaving early, Dr. Alen?" I heard a nurse, seated at the small opened office five steps from where I stood, asked me.

A small smile formed at the corner of my lips when I answered, "Yeah, I got a train to catch at nine."

"To your mom's, I presume?" she guessed raising left eyebrow when she waited for my answer.

"You know me too well, Margaret." I complimented her, giving her a small peck on the lips while the coast was clear.

"I'll be back next month. Wait for me?"

"Jude, you know I'll always be yours. Just promise me you'll come back in one piece." She said teasing me with another of her mind blowing touches around my jawline.

I chuckled at her teasing comment and hugged her tightly for the last time before I let her go, waved her a goodbye, and headed towards my car. With a sigh, I drove out of that place. I have a feeling it's going to be a long way home.

Matthew

It's my seventh time to be kicked out and it still felt the same, it has always been numb. I didn't know if it's just me but it always felt that way, like I never had some attachment to the place I kept calling home. Whether it be the first or the last time I'd get thrown out of some place, I doubt anything would change with my unique, solitary, monotone life.

“Ow!” I winced at the sharp pain that hit my forehead.

While rubbing it with my hand, I slowly looked up to see what I hit—a Stop sign post. I must have been too deep in thought to not have noticed that. Ugh…

“Hey, Ash, want to go to the arcade later at five?”

“I can’t, Moe. Got to help out Raine finish her photo essay project.”

Ash…? Moe…?

At the sound of those familiar names, my eyes suddenly grew wide. It was them. Quickly looking around for a place to hide, I was forced to search the trash bin for something to cover myself up. I picked out a folded newspaper inside of it and quickly sat down, cross-legged, while pretending to read the newspaper. Hopefully, they wouldn’t notice me when they pass by.

The laughter of Moe filled my ears causing my hands to involuntarily shake rapidly as anger slowly found its way into my system, but the sound of Ash’s laughter simmered my anger down and replaced it with a fist full of sadness punching my mind back to reality. It was like a huge slap on my face, emphasizing with each laughter he let out, that we were over. We were not best friends anymore, and nothing could ever change that fact. Nothing could ever change the hurt that Moe caused me, that only Ash could understand, but before Ash could even know about it, Moe already stole Ash away from me. Nothing could ever change my undying hatred towards Moe for doing that to me. Nothing could ever bring my family back. Nothing could ever bring me back. I’m a living empty traveler.

As soon as I realized that I was wallowing myself again in deep thoughts, tears betrayed me and slowly seeped down my face. I tried wiping them all with the back of my hand, but it was of no use. They just kept coming down. Laughing sarcastically, I thought to myself, ‘When had I ever been this pathetic and soft?’

“Matthew?” I heard someone whisper, “Is that really you Matthew?”

For a moment there, I was stunned at the sound of his voice. It took me a while to regain my composure and snap myself back to reality the minute I heard Ash coming near me, but before he could even get a good look at me, I forced myself to stand up and run far away from him. I wasn’t going to mess up his life because mine was already wrecked. I may not be his best friend anymore, but to me, he always would be my brother. Nothing could ever change that fact for me, and that was why I ran away from him, ran away from the others, because I didn’t want to be a burden any longer. I didn’t want pity. I didn’t want them getting hurt because of me. I didn’t want to ruin their perfect life. I didn’t want to be known as an imperfection, a dirty speck in the midst of pure white sand.

Maybe I was over thinking all this, but their eyes prove to me otherwise, and that’s why I needed to keep running, so that they could live perfectly without me.

Solen

I gasped and quickly turned my back the second I saw Matthew running towards my direction. Breathing out heavily, I gave out a sigh of relief. He didn’t recognize me, that’s good. That meant I was still safe. A mental picture of Matthew’s face suddenly popped into my mind. Those were tears. I could’ve sworn they were! But why would he be sad? I already left their house, so why would he be disheartened? Unless…was it possible that he missed me already? Was it possible that he felt regret of telling me to get out and leave them all behind?

“…He forcibly held my face tightly into his hand before he brutally pinned me to the wall. I winced at the sudden pain it caused. For a second there, I closed my eyes to wish that none of this was happening, but when I opened my eyes, I realized that this was reality and that Matthew, who extremely despised me, was standing at a close proximity from me.

“You happy now?” he seemed to be exclaiming in a whisper, still hold me within his grasp.

I felt my neck numbing slowly as I cower from the look in his eyes, and then, he suddenly let go of me and threw me to the floor before he turned his back on me and walked to the door, but before he went out, he faced me once again.

“You know what? Just go, and when you do, don’t come back.” He spitted out at me looking at me with disgust and annoyance before he left the room with a stilling silence and a numbing coldness, leaving a deep and painful impression in my mind…”

I shuddered at the flashback and touched the sides of my neck with my hand. The warmth of his hands on my neck was still fresh at the back of my mind, and the coldness of his words was as clear as day and still as sharp as a knife than it was ever a few moments back. My thoughts about him wouldn’t have been the truth. It was impossible for a person to change in a matter of a few hours, especially with a strong-willed and stubborn-headed person like Matthew.

Shaking those thoughts away, I reverted back to my own life and started thinking of ways to survive again. Grabbing my duffel bag, I started walking towards the rising sun and let fate take its toll on me once again.

Where would I go?

I didn’t know…

Where would I stay?

I didn’t know…

Would I miss them?

Maybe someday, I would…when I live through the night.

© WhiteSecrets715 2014.