Elena
Instead of taking one more second of my time to keep staring at her, I run upstairs to my room slamming the door hard
“Dad, please this can’t be happening. I can’t leave this house.” I lean back against the door hugging my knees up to my chest, while I let out the tears I couldn’t shed in front of Avera.
Again, I’m reminded of my dad. I feel the pain I can’t bear alone. I can’t breathe. I’m in so much pain. How do I survive living in Mr. Callus’ house? If a man can get his best friend’s wife pregnant then he can do anything. He knows that I hate him.
“Elena, it’s Isabella.” she shouts. Isabella is my wolf. She has not spoken since our mates didn’t believe us about the crime. She’s been mad at them until yesterday when Daniel touched me. It didn’t feel like torture to her, because she likes it. I saw her rejoicing and making me submit to him.
“Elena, I’m sorry. You are not alone, and we are certainly not weak.” she speaks sweetly. She is trying to make me stop crying. She’s comforting me and that’s the most important thing I need right now.
“Do you think I can pull through these, Isabella? My mother is selling this house.” I grumble. She’s sad but I don’t know why she’s giving me this sign that I have no choice but to accept.
We are both still young and we’re not at the stage to leave our parents yet. We can’t challenge her yet, that’s why I hate it so much that dad left me to her.
“Isabella, could it get any worse? How do we cope? Our mates don’t believe us yet either.” I tell her all my discomforts. I can’t bear the pain alone so my wolf has to take over.
“Elena we are not going to give up, we will be fine. We will prove to them whoever framed us.” I sense her anger and it energizes me.
“We could teach our mates a big lesson for not believing us in the end.” Isabella adds again. Good thing those words are coming from her. She should not think of submitting to them because I would never. They are fucking assholes.
“What do we do now?” I ask her.
“Elena you are still young. You will have to follow your mom’s order. I know it hurts but I also know we will be fine,” I want to cry as she’s giving me the courage to move forward. I don’t feel alone anymore. My wolf is with me and we will pull through together.
“Elena, just know that your dad’s memory is not only in this house. It is also in your heart, and forever, he will be there. Come on, be a brave lady for him.” I’m crying now. These are such great words I need to hear every day. This kind of words to heal and be strong.
“That’s fine, I will do as you say. Thank you, Isabella. I love you.” the tears drop on my cheek one more time, as I attempt to wipe my eyes dry.
“You can’t tell how much I love you too, my poor girl.” she laughs, making a little laughter escape my lips as well.
“Bye, I have to go now.” she says. I smile and say the same.
I have some courage to get on my feet now. I walk to my closet and start to pack my clothes into my bags. There’s a photo of dad and me on the shelf. I pick it up and kiss it before putting it gently into my bag.
I pack whatever stuff I need while I dress up to go and meet Avera downstairs. I touch the wall, my father’s wall. I want to feel it for the last time. I want to hug the wall for the last time like I’m hugging my dad. I can’t help the tears rolling down on my cheek.
“Elena, we don’t have much time, we have to go!” I hear her scream from downstairs but I don’t reply. It only makes me cry more when I think of this house being sold.
I leave my bags in my room, running fast into dad’s room. Inside, I see all his stuffs, I see all his pictures and I can’t bring myself to think of it, that all these memories would be lost soon. Daddy, please can’t you stop mom?
I see the pictures he had snap with me at the water, he is smiling, the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. Everything was perfect, until he left. I want to try being strong and not cry, but I’m failing.
My eyes turn to the bed and the chair I saw him sitting on the last day before he died. I’m broken, I fall on my knees holding onto the chair, mom can’t sell this. I don’t move, I stay on the floor until someone comes touching my back. I wouldn’t notice if someone comes because I’m too focused on crying about losing everything that belongs to my father.
“I’m sorry. All I can say, is I’m sorry Elena.” her tone is low and when I turn back, her eyes are red. She’s been crying. Why is she apologizing? Does she think this too is her fault?
“Ella!” I don’t say anything to her. I just fall on her shoulder, holding her. She’s leaving me and I don’t know when I’m going to see her again. The first time she came, I wasn’t happy about it, but now it’s different. I feel hurt that she’s leaving me. She’s the only one that doesn’t make the house feel lonely for me.
“Why are you apologizing, it’s not your fault Ella.” I’m letting the tears fall, I didn’t realize I will miss her this much or it will hurt me this much when she leaves.
“No. I’m sorry, I couldn’t just do anything to help you. I’ve always added to your troubles since I came here. I’m sorry for not protecting you, like a little sister should do.” her nose is running. Fuck, my cries worsens cries when she speaks this way, it’s hurting me.
“Elena, I will be back for you once I’m done with senior year, and I will always call to check on you. Just know you are the best cousin I ever have. The sweet and the protective kind of cousin.” she touches my cheek, trying to force a smile from her dry lips.
She didn’t see this coming too, it hurts her like it hurting me.
“I promise to always give you a call too.” I grab her hands and kiss it.
“Promise, you would be fine. That is all I want to know.” I don’t know if she already knows about Avera’s pregnancy, I have been hiding it from her. She must have known that is why she is apologizing for being insensitive all this time.
I don’t confirm it to her, I won’t. I want to keep it that way, that she already knows. I can see it in her eyes, “I will, it’s a promise.” I smile.
I stop crying now, I turn my back to her and start peeling off the photos of my dad and me from the wall. I take whatever I can carry, and turn off the light before I leave the room.
Goodbye dad, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect this house you own in your name. My heart sinks.