Emily Rose

10:47 pm

There's this feeling.

It's the kind of feeling in which you can see the destruction in front of you, see it take its place, but you can't do anything to stop it.

All you can do is watch as the dots connect themselves and wait for the explosion of your life.

Numb.

Helpless.

Naive.

And then you think to yourself, "I could've stopped this. Realized it sooner." But the world doesn't work like that. The next thing you know, your world is crashing and there's nothing you can do.

Only watch, like the oblivious, but knowing idiot you are...

Why didn't you connect the dots, Emily? I thought you were smart.

Freezing air hits me; blowing the once certain person away like a shallow but frail, fallen leaf. Puffs of smoke fall from my lungs before appearing in the air before my eyes. Rain soaked clothes clasped onto trembling body like a second skin.

I peered down at my hands. The once beautiful fingernails were now torn; the tips, which at a time were perfectly crafted, now were jagged, sharp edges, causing the milky flesh around them to transform into red swollen mush. Small drops of blood dripped down from my fingertips.

I was destroyed...

I always think I've escaped, or that I can and when I do everything will be the same, back to the blunt innocence it once was. But that's just a pipe dream. For this has been a plan forged even before I found the clues.

I peer at the driver in front; a man whose face was as plump and round as a lumpy pillow. A mask of concern overtook him as he glanced from the windshield and rear view mirror. His thick glasses fell down to his nose as his eyes marked mine. "Are you okay, Miss?"

My mind shook as I lied and nodded to the man.

He cleared his throat, his thick beard brushed the top of his lip, "well then, where do you want to go, Miss?" He asked and I blanked.

Where was I to go?

I had no home, I left all of my friends, and the people who I trusted the most lied to me.

I had nothing. I was back to where I started 5 years ago...

Unshed tears stung my eyes as I told the man the only safe place I could think of.

*****

8:56 pm

As the color slipped back into his face, the corners of Tomas' mouth quirked up as the people he cared about the most surrounded him.

And ironically, I wasn't one of those people.

I stayed in the corner, my arms crossed around my chest. My mind continued to race as I thought about the things I knew and the things I didn't.

The pieces were coming together and the anxious look on Parker's face told me that. I was getting too close to the truth it seemed and he could sense it. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as he took a quick glance at me across the room.

I'm dangerous to him now. I want the truth, and I want it now, but I'm not so sure he's willing to give it.

Camara slid over to me before whispering. "Why aren't you over there?" She waved a quick hand over to the crowd of people and the smiling Tomas, whose face I couldn't help but feel a bit of anger for.

Who is he?

I shook my head at Camara without saying a word. I don't know if she understood me, or not, but she didn't say anything, she just stood beside me.

Tomas' eyes met mine and he flashed me a grin. Man, for a guy who just came out of a coma he sure is happy.

His smile died quickly on his lips when I turned my head away.

Truthfully, I don't know how I feel right now. I'm a mix of emotions, a hurricane ready to swirl in and destroy everything.

"Babe," Tomas called to me as he lifted his hand up reaching to mine.

I glanced around the room to see everyone's eyes on me. I hesitantly pushed myself off the wall, my hands slipping from the comfort of the white rocky material. I made my way over to him before stopping short at his bed not taking his hand.

I cleared my throat before politely speaking. "May we get some alone time please?"

Mutters held over the crowded before they all agreed and began pilling our of the room.

"Parker, stay." The words emerged from my lips as a look of confusion and concern overtook Tomas' face."

Once everyone was gone, except for us 4, of course, I backed away from Tomas before reaching in my pocket and pulling out the locket and the picture. I placed it on the bed in front of Tomas to see the blood drain from his cheeks.

"Explain," I said harshly, not caring anymore. "The truth."

Tomas' shaky hands scooped up the two items in his hands. He took a sharp breath in before blowing it out softly. The room was filled with tense silence as he viewed the pictures. His expression darkened before he spoke. "Where did you find this?" His voice was sharp icicles stabbing themselves into my walls, almost piercing my skin.

Almost.

"Doesn't matter, what matters is the truth," I spoke bravely as I glance around the room to see Parker.

Tomas seemed to notice him, too."You gave her this shit, didn't you?!" He yelled at Parker, who stood in the corner of the room, his arms entangled in front of his chest as his attention was fully placed on the tile ground.

Parker's hands clenched as his jaw tightened, he took a step forward before glaring at Tomas. "She found them herself. Don't blame your problems on me because you can't cover your tracks, dumbass."

Tomas was about to respond, but I interrupted him. "What problems?" I ask and the two men peer at each other before looking at me.

Silence.

Emptiness.

A mirthless laugh falls from my lips, "no one wants to talk now?" My eyes bore into the two men, "fine, I will."

I jab a thumb towards Tomas, "this idiot over here was once friends with Frederick Dixon, the man who was mysteriously killed. I don't know who killed him-," I stopped myself before taking a deep breath and continuing. "But you two do, don't you?"

"Emily-,"

"No." I stop one of them from talking, I don't know which one, but I don't care. My feet began to move for me and I start to pace the floor, my hands instantly began to pick at my nails, a terrible habit I'd thought I'd lost. "Apparently, this has been going on for a long time now. But it stops here now."

My feet began to slow and I glance at the men, whose expressions were clouded. I tried to ignore the pressing tug in my stomach as a part of me warned me to walk away straight out of the room, but I pushed it deep within me and continued. "someone might want to start talking, or I'm going to the police." I threaten them but nothing seems to happen, both stand still.

I wait for what seems like forever before walking towards the door.

"Emily, wait." Parker's voice calls after me.

I turn back around to see Tomas sitting up in his hospital bed. "we have to talk." his brows knitted.

I nodded before taking a seat in the chair farthest from them.

It took a while before Tomas began to speak. "Emily, look. I-i should have told you this a long time ago but... how do I say this?" He runs a frustrated hand through his hair before peering at me, "I did know Frederick, we used to be friends and I betrayed him."

*****

I hope you liked Chapter 23 of The Love That Is Parker Bowmen.

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