Flashbacks

It’s been a few weeks since the whole thing happened. Turns out, I was imagining the whole thing. I thought my dad was him. It’s a form of PTSD, I was told. I was prescribed medicine to help me with it. I also had a therapist I went to see every now and then.

Ever since what happened, Noah’s been distancing himself from me. I don’t know why - I’ve tried apologizing to him numerous times but he always shrugged it off and said it was fine, said I wasn’t in the right state of mind. Still, I knew he was hurt. Every time he and I lock eyes with each other, I see pity. There’s also a weird tension in the room with us. It’s unbearable. I plan to speak to him when I gain the confidence.

“Elle!” I heard Norma scream.

“Norma!” I screamed back as she ran into my arms, giving me a big hug.

“How was school today? And where’s Dominic?”

“Today was fun! We went on a field trip. And Dominic’s at school doing sports,” she answered, twirling her hair around. I lifted a brow up at her strange behavior.

“I can keep a secret…Did anything happen on this school trip?”

Her cheeks turned bright red. “You can’t tell mommy,” she says whilst holding out her pinky.

“I promise.” I linked out pinky’s together.

“My crush kissed me on the cheek today. We held hands, too,” she whispered out, grinning.

I coed. “Is he cute? Tell me everything!”

“He’s really pretty. I got shy so I didn’t want him to hold my hands.”

“Aww, that’s adorable -”

“What are you guys whispering about here, huh?” Arthur asked.

We both giggled. “No,” we said in usion.

He lifted up a brow. “You guys up to something?”

“Maybe,” Norma answered whilst shrugging.

“Mhm, interesting.” He pretended to think before looking over at me. “Norma, honey, I think you have a room to clean. I need to speak to Elle.”

“I don’t want to clean my room,” she complained.

“Well, you have to. Go on now.”

“Fine.” She pouted then walked away.

I chuckled. “Children, am I right?”

He grinned. “Yeah. How have you been?”

Arthur. Again, I wanted to apologize to you for what happened - I can’t believe I thought you

you in the right state of mind. You shouldn’t be apologizing

bi help these past

doesn’t fully understand, she knows you need time to adjust and things as such. She doesn’t feel

smiled. “Thanks for being honest with me, then.

then and there that he looked more tired. The eye bags under his eyes

“You okay?”

of stress because of work.

though, you look exhausted. And don’t worry. I don’t plan on becoming a CEO,” I said. “I think we should

like a great idea. I can go with you to buy the things we need, if you

me. I need to speak to him anyway.” He took the hint and

the car, I’m pretty sure. Here, take my card.” He handed me a

your card. I have

it just in

I took the card then ran out of the house and to the car. I knocked on the window, causing Noah to roll it down. “Yes?” he asked with a

shopping.

“You look happy.”

can you unlock the

“Yeah, sorry. Hop in.”

I closed the door, surprisingly. He

need to talk,” I stated

“About what, Elle?”

you’re still hurt. I

space, that’s all. It’s better

want space,”

to

you say?” he asked, looking

I

a hand through his hair. “I can’t do this right now.” Then he resumed driving as if nothing happened at all. Well,

car and went inside the store. I began looking for all the things I needed as I thought about what happened in the car. I couldn’t believe that I confessed and he told me

steak from one of the fridges, someone

“Sorry, I didn’t -”

“Ellenora? Is that

start shifting uncomfortably. “I’m sorry,

same school together. We rode on the bus everyday and sat next to each other each time, remember? We used to talk all the

why he

about what was going on in my life, though. He looked so different now. He gained more muscle. Back then, he was pretty skinny. Now he was big and

looked away from him, blushing. “No, keep

smacked his arm. “I hate