Chapter 4: Echoes of the Past
Clara's POV
Lily's question hung in the air, a sharp, painful echo. "Clara, how could you?"
My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a heavy, accusing drum. I couldn't see her eyes. Shame and guilt burned in my chest, hot and heavy.
"Lily," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I…I don't know what to say."
"Say the truth," she stated, her tone firm. "Explain what's happening with my brother and you."
I looked at Olivia, his complexion white and haggard. He offered me a slight, nearly unnoticed nod. A quiet motivation.
"It's...it's complex," I replied, my voice scarcely heard.
"Complex?" Lily said again, her voice getting louder. "Is that how you refer to it?" Are you deceiving me? "Are you deceiving me?"
"We never intended to hurt you," Olivia stated, his tone calm and even. "However, we cannot ignore what's occurring between us."
"What is going on?" Lily inquired, her eyes brimming with tears. "Are you saying you're having an affair with my brother secretly?"
I recoiled at her words, the intense anguish in her voice piercing me like a blade. "It was not like that," I murmured.
"Now, explain to me what happened," she insisted, her voice trembling. "Share with me how you became attracted to the one individual you knew was forbidden."
I looked at Olivia once more. He extended his hand, grasping mine. His touch was soothing, reassuring.
"We never intended for this to occur," I said, my voice shaking. "It simply...happened."
"Only just did?" Lily echoed, her tone filled with disbelief. "Do you believe that justifies it?"
"No," I replied, my voice trembling. "It's not acceptable." "However, it is the reality."
Lily looked at me, her eyes brimming with a blend of pain and fury. "I can't comprehend," she murmured. "I believed you were my friend."
"I am your friend," I said, my tone imploring. "I truly apologize." "Yet I cannot alter my feelings for Olivia."
Lily nodded negatively, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't want to listen to that," she replied, her voice fractured. "Please...just go."
She pivoted and strode off, her steps slow and burdensome. I saw her leave, my heart breaking into countless fragments.
Olivia held my hand tightly, her grip a quiet solace. "We must allow her some time," he stated, his tone soft.
I nodded, my throat constricted with uncried tears. "I understand," I murmured. "But I'm unsure if she will ever forgive me."
"She will," he stated, his tone resolute. "She cares for you."
"And I love her," I replied, my voice trembling. "However, I am unsure how to resolve this."
He embraced me tightly, keeping me near. "We'll sort it out," he whispered, his tone gentle. "United."
I held onto him, seeking his warmth, his sturdiness. Yet, even in his embrace, I felt untethered, floating in an ocean of remorse and sorrow.
We remained in that position for an extended period, embracing one another in the stillness of the dark. Then, Olivia stepped back, his eyes exploring mine.
"Come over here," he remarked, guiding me to the sofa.
We sat side by side, the silence dense and filled with unexpressed thoughts. The room was softly illuminated, with only the faint light of the city shining through the window.
"Share about yourself and Lily," Olivia said, speaking quietly. "Prior to…prior to this."
I pausingly started to recount my bond with Lily, the time we had together, the secrets exchanged, and the dreams we created. I shared with him that she was the sister I always wanted.
While I spoke, the tension in the room started to diminish, giving way to a gentle closeness.
Olivia focused deeply, not taking his eyes off my eyes.
"You care for her deeply," he remarked, his tone gentle.
"Yeah," I murmured, my voice cracking. "She is my closest friend."
"And you're scared of losing her," he stated, his tone soft.
I nodded, with tears beginning to brim in my eyes. "Above all else," I murmured.
He extended his hand, softly brushing my tears aside. "You won't let her go," he declared, his tone resolute. "However, you need to be truthful with her." "With yourself."
We conversed for hours, exchanging memories, aspirations, and concerns. The quietness shared between us felt relaxed and pleasant.
Then, Olivia got up, raising her arms over her head. "It's getting late," he remarked, his voice raspy. "You ought to return home."
I nodded, feeling my body weighed down by fatigue. I got up, sensing an unusual hesitance to depart.
As I approached the door, Olivia extended her hand, lightly touching mine. A surge of electricity coursed through me, a reminder of the illicit longing that remained shared between us.
He looked at me, his eyes deep and passionate. "Clara," he spoke, his tone muted. "Don't turn your back on me."
I paused, my fingers lingering above the doorknob. His voice resonated in my thoughts, a frantic request, a risky lure.
"I...I'm unsure what to do," I murmured, my voice shaking.
He moved nearer, his body touching against mine. The tension between us was intense, a real energy that seemed ready to engulf us both.
"Wait," he whispered, his tone gruff. "Remain with me."
His words acted like a siren's song, an enticing danger. And for a brief instant, I nearly surrendered. I nearly agreed.
However, I remembered Lily, her tears, her broken voice. I remembered the guilt, the shame, the anxiety about losing her.
"I can't," I murmured, my voice faltering. "I need to leave."
I spun around and ran, my steps echoed through the corridor. I kept running until I was outside, inhaling the fresh night air.
The city's lights shimmered through my tears, a misty radiance in the night. I drove home in a fog, my thoughts swirling with mixed feelings.
I desired Olivia. I desired his caress, his embrace, his form. However, I couldn't betray Lily. I was unable to cross that last boundary.
For the next several days, I drifted in a haze, evading Olivia's calls and dismissing his messages. I was overwhelmed by a wave of guilt and remorse, suffocating under the repercussions of my choices.
One evening, I received a message from an unfamiliar number.
Let's meet. This evening. 9 o'clock in the evening. The nearby park by your apartment.
My heart raced within my chest. Who was this individual? And what was their reason for wanting to meet me?
An unsettling feeling enveloped me, a grim forewarning. Yet, an unusual and compelling curiosity compelled me to consent.
I drove to the park, my hands shaking on the steering wheel. The night was quiet and dark, with the silence interrupted solely by the swaying of leaves in the breeze.
I left my car and strolled to the poorly lit park, my heart racing in my chest. As I ventured deeper into the park, the shadows appeared to thicken, and the silence became more profound.
Next, I spotted a silhouette positioned under a big oak tree, facing away from me. They were large and broad-shouldered, their outline recognizable.
As I walked closer, they turned to face me. And my breath caught in my throat.
It wasn't Olivia. It was Jackson, my former boyfriend. And he had a dark, dangerous look in his eyes.