1. Insane Silence
"Gill…?"
The soft, quiet voice was all too familiar. I'd heard it many times, and yet the village had barely heard it twice. Angela wasn't a vocal person; she preferred to keep to herself, slaving under the burning sun at the crack of dawn.
I placed my pen down beside my work, and looked up at her. Her eyes were brimming with tears, and her nose was red from sniffing. Even I could say she looked terrible. "Angela, why are you crying?" I asked her, gesturing her to sit on a chair.
She peered at me, through her thick lashes. "Your advice…" She whispered, wiping away the tears. "Your advice was wrong…" She finished, wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
My advice? What advice was wrong?
"What did I tell you?" I muttered, rubbing her shoulder reassuringly.
I watched her shoulders slump into the chair, with a frown implanted on her face. "You told me I should tell him how I feel…" She answered, looking at me properly.
My eyes widened, and I remembered encouraging her to do such a thing. "It didn't work out?" I asked, though I was sure I knew the answer already.
She shook her head lightly, and she squeezed her eyes shut, wanting the tears to go away. I couldn't tell what ran through her mind then, she held her emotions locked up inside her heart, where no one could reach it. I knew it wasn't healthy for her to do this; but when it came to this situation, what could you do? It wasn't right to leave her all alone, since I had promised to never abandon her.
--
Since that day, she came to the Town Hall more often. I'd often find her gazing into the dreamy, blue skies when I came in the morning to work, and I'd see her staring at the wall, on the sofa when I was to leave. What she was doing wasn't healthy. She needed to make friends with someone, or she'd go further into her shell, and what worried me most was… that I might not be able to bring her back. I needed to act fast before what worried me came true, because I wouldn't just be worried for her- but for me, and what I would do with myself afterwards.
--
I strolled into the Town Hall, my arms casually swaying as I moved along. But it was all an act. I gazed subtly beside me, looking worriedly at the frail, limp girl that silently stood beside me with an expressionless face. I missed her gentle smile, and the flicker of hope and determination that used to glow in her eye. All she was to me now… was a girl in desperate need of help.
I looked forward at Elli, who was gazing at Angela with pitiful, sympathetic eyes. I glared at her, signalling her to stop with a hand. She turned her head at me, with begging eyes. She wanted the same as I, to have the old Angela back.
I hovered around the sofa, and as usual, she quietly sat down and looked blankly at the wall, her eyes dead, no sign of anything human. She was like a stranger now, and it was my fault. My advice, my stupid advice. And she'd listened to it, happily. Because… it was what she wanted to hear.
I sighed, and too distressed to watch any longer, I made my way to my desk. The one thing that could steal away any trace of the guilt, the one thing that could let me fly away into a comfort zone that held me safe from life's horrible grasp. It was like taking a stress pill for me, it cured me.
As I picked up my pen, I glanced at Elli, who sat working with a permanent grimace. I sighed again and begun writing.
--
"Gill?" I heard a familiar voice call, my head snapped up in an instance, with a frown that always appeared. Elli returned the frown with a small smile, as she glanced warily to the sofa. "It's time to go…"
I watched as Angela automatically stood up, and made way to the door, leaving without a word said throughout the day. Her problem was getting steadily worse…
I nodded, and stood up myself, brushing my clothes down. I grabbed my pile of work, like normal and followed Angela out of the door, when I heard Elli call me faintly. "Gill…?"
I looked at her over my shoulder, my eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "What, Elli?"
"I… need to talk to you…" She whispered, sitting herself exactly where Angela had previously sat. "It's about… Angela."
I didn't need this, I couldn't deal with my problems and her problems, I couldn't handle it, it was driving me insane… I just needed some time; I needed to think it through! But… I'd had plenty of time, hadn't I?
I nodded, and sat silently beside her. The vibe of worry flew through the air, and taunted me with all its might.
We sat in silence, and I watched as Elli bit her lip nervously, obviously uncomfortable about saying anything. She took a deep breath, and gave me a concerned smile. "Gill… You've seen the way Angela is, haven't you?"
My eyes cast down, and I felt her gaze on me even if I couldn't see it. I hesitated, then looked up, glumly. "Yeah…" I agreed, grimacing as I retraced back to moments ago, when I looked into her soulless eyes. It was torture; it wasn't something I could handle anymore.
"When are you going to do something about it?"
My head snapped up, and I glared at her hard, my eyes cold and bitter. "How do you know I can?" I snapped, rubbing my temple frustratedly.
Elli smiled reassuringly at me, "Of course you can, Gill. You're the only one she'll let close, everyone else has given up hope."
"Well, so have I…" I mumbled, frowning down at my lap. "She's gone… and I should have done something sooner."
Elli shook her head, "Don't give up on her, Gill. She needs you, or she'll waste her life like she is now…" She said.
"I… I'll try." I said, hastily standing up. "But there's no guarantee even I can unlock that heart."
--
The next day, when I stood outside the door, I turned to her, with a small smile graced on my lips. "Angela…?" I asked.
She ignored me, staring blankly at the door. Her once shiny and short hair was now dull, and messy, with strands of hair longer than others. She used to look pretty… maybe even beautiful. But now… I couldn't even bring myself to say it.
I frowned, and tried again: "Angela?"
She gazed at me with her wide, brown eyes. Her mouth was in a grim line, and her face showed no emotion, as always. She looked weak, and most importantly, she looked alone…
I snapped my eyes tightly shut, and let out an aggravated sigh. I just needed to hear her, she was tearing me apart, and she didn't even realise it.
"Angela, please!" I cried out, shaving her by her shoulders, with what started gently, was now rough. I pulled my hands away, and looked at her face. Her eyes were brimmed with light tears that dripped innocently down her pale face, and yet mocked me with every little inch that it fell. I was going insane… I needed to hear her, or I'd do something I'd regret.
"Gill…" She whispered, so faint I almost missed it. I looked at her with my eyes wide, had I just imagined it? Her mouth moved so little I could have missed it again. "Gill, why…?" She murmured, and her eyes looked up at me with sad, wanting emotions. Had Angela come back for me… or had I waited too long?
Note: This is an attempt at an emotional fanfiction. Yes, you can mock me if you want. I found the first part of this chapter in my fanfiction folder in 'My Documents'. I must have written it and then assumed it was crap and abandoned it. But… I wanted to write this, since I felt like writing some emotional crap, since that's the area I need to improve in. Review please!