Page 55 of Diluted Truths

I don’t know why, but telling him felt safe.

Will wrapped me in his arms and hugged me tight. Being held by him was calming. “Thank you for telling me, sunshine.”

That’s how we stood for a short time in the middle of a cemetery next to one of my favorite writers.

It was in that small moment that I finally accepted that I was falling head over heels for William Bly, and I wasn’t sure if it was a fall I would survive.

Chapter 17Sun Meets Shadow by. AG

Jackie

Istopped to take a breath.

I had been running as fast as possible for so long I lost track of how far I had gone. I couldn’t stop for long. I couldn’t let him catch up, or maybe I had to catch up to him?

I-I couldn’t remember.

Why couldn’t I remember?

I looked around, trying to get my bearings. I was in a forest and couldn’t see past the trees. They were everywhere and towered so high I couldn’t see where they ended. They obscured the sky but the moonlight filtered through the branches, casting shadows on the forest floor.

Fuck, I couldn’t stop.

I needed to keep running.

I took off through the trees. I needed to run as fast as I could. My thighs burned from the exertion but I kept pushing myself. I could hear footsteps. Were they in front or behind me? Was I chasing someone or was someone chasing me? Why couldn’t I remember? My feet ached, why did they hurt so badly? I looked down to see I had no shoes on. Why did I leave without my shoes?

“Jackie!” screamed a voice in the distance. It was definitely in front of me. The voice sounded panicked. I must have been running towards them. That had to be it.

“Hello?” I yelled back. “Where are you?”

“Jackie!” the voice yelled again. They seemed closer but I couldn’t be sure.

“Who are you? Where are you?” I yelled as I ran towards where I thought the voice was coming from.

“Jackie.” The voice sounded right next to me.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

I couldn’t find the source of the voice. Who were they? The voice felt familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on who it was.

“What’s going on? Where are you?” I yelled back. I ended in a clearing within the woods. There was a cabin in the distance that was obviously abandoned. There were no doors, and only windows on the second floor. There was a light in one of the windows, it flickered like a candle and was the only source of light nearby.

“You’re back. Do you remember this time?” A new voice asked. It was coming from inside the cabin that I was suddenly right next to.

“What? Who are you?” I asked, confused by everything that was happening.

The voice sighed disappointingly. “I’m sorry, I’ve explained but you never remember.”

The voice was familiar, very familiar. It made me feel safe and comforted but also hurt so deeply. I didn’t understand why.

“Who are you?” I asked the voice.

“You won’t believe me.”

“What do I call you?”

“Whatever you want, Jack. I’ll answer,” he responded. He sounded to be just on the other side of the wall.