Letting him Go (short story)

07| Trust

I opened the gate door and stepped inside, but the sight that greeted me made the rage boil up inside me once again. Adam was sitting under the front door, his head hanging low and his brows furrowed with thought.

I clenched my fists as the image of Lucas lying on the hospital bed replayed in my mind. I wanted to scream at him, slap him and throw a tantrum but being the weak-kneed person I am, I couldn't do any of that. I took a step back to run away instead, but the door suddenly creaked and he looked up relieved.

"Paige," he said standing up and taking a step towards me. "I heard your voicemail and I couldn't understand anything you said..."

I quickly passed him and tried to open the front door but he put his hand on the handle, preventing it from opening.

"What's wrong?"

"Stay away from me!" I pushed his hand with all my strength, but I couldn't even get it to move an inch away from the door.

"What?"

"I saw what you did to Luke." I turned to him with a glare.

"What are you talking about? What did I-"

"This is worse than I thought, you're denying it? I thought you came here to apologize!" I poked him in the chest as resentment clouded my thoughts.

"Paige, what happened to your brother?" he asked more sternly.

"You...you don't know? You really didn't do it?" I asked with a frown. "He's lying in a hospital bed with broken arm and ribs. What are the odds that someone else did this to him? What kind of coincidence is it that this happened to him while you're holding a grudge on him?"

"I don't even remember his face right now, and even if I did I wouldn't touch him. All I wanted was to hurt him at first, but I- you changed my mind. I let it go because of you."

My heart thumped in my chest as I saw the look in his eyes, and it wasn't from how much I wanted to go ballistic on him. In fact it was the exact opposite, and the feeling made me nervous. "I'm sorry, I can't... I can't trust you," I said shaking my head, and he let go of the door with a defeated look.

I quickly stepped in and closed the door behind me, leaning my back on it. I was puzzled, not knowing if I should trust him or not.

I heard his footsteps getting further away from the door, and something inside of me broke. I wanted to believe him but wouldn't that be allowing myself to be fooled again?

I went to my room and laid in my bed for a while. But the fact that I hadn't eaten anything today started to bother me, so I went into the kitchen and prepared a sandwich for myself. Despite my loss of appetite, I took a few bites before going back to my room.

I ignored the multiple texts and calls from Zoe and Brook because I didn't feel like explaining what happened. Even if they wouldn't say it out loud, they could blame me for trusting Adam the minute I tell them how we met.

The sun was setting by the time the front door opened, and I jumped off my bed before rushing down the stairs. I saw my dad going into the living room, and I quickly followed him in. "Your mom's staying the night with him. I told her I could do it but she insisted," he informed me before I could even ask anything. "Don't worry, he'll be out in a few days," he added, lying down on the couch with a sigh.

"Uh...should I make dinner?" I asked, prepared to take over Mom's everyday job.

"I don't want anything."

I nodded and turned around to head back to my room, but I wanted to ask him about Luke just to make sure.

"Dad, how did he get hurt?"