The Love of a Stranger

Ob1MegOb1

Chapter 15

(Erik)

The gravestone was gray, mournful and simple. Suprising considering the lifestyle of Evelyn Antoinette was so grand. But the people present obviously cared less about the gravestone marking the place where the once vibrant person drew breath. Maybe it was just my moronic way of compensating for this sorrow I could not feel. Sure I had gotten to know her and true my heart had felt some kind of sorrow at the sight of her corpse. But when I saw the true sorrow illuminating in their eyes I knew I could never understand it.

The ceremony itself was overall…dull. Only the preacher's monotone voice droned on and on forever. But then something suprising happened. Jasmine let go of her brother's hand turned on her heel and walked away. Her eyes watering up with tears and her body trying to hold back the forthcoming sobs. William watched after her a look of absolute shock on his face.

"Jasmine," Liv said her eyes fuming, "Get back here this instant."

But to my utter amazement Jasmine kept walking one hand out to steady her and keep her from running into anything.

William went to go after her but I grabbed him holding him back. "I'll go," I said simply, "You need to stay here and continue with the ceremony." William looked at his sister concerned but he finally turned towards me and nodded his agreement.

I quickly followed after her, her footsteps quick paced once she heard me following her. "Jasmine wait," I said gently. But she literally took off at a run after that and quickly tried to keep up with her in case she fell. Finally I was in arm's length of her when suddenly there was a drop in the ground and she fell taking me with her. We rolled several feet before finally coming to rough halt at the bottom.

We both lay there very still and her breaths were strong and deep helping me to know that she was okay. But emotionally her face showed otherwise. Her face had become dirty from the fall and the dirt began to form streaks from the tears falling down her face.

"Jasmine?" I asked softly as we both pulled ourselves up, "Are you okay?"

But I could tell from her face that she wasn't and her voice soft and gravelly confirmed it. "Its not fair Erik. Its not fair that she had to die like that…and by someone she loved as well. And not to mention my family has not suffered enough, now we have to see another family member die. My sister isn't talking again and my brother….my brother doesn't know where he stands, and do I blame him? He's never really had a father or any man figure for that matter to look up to. It just seems like my life keeps circling around and around and I can't stop it from spinning out of control. I've just felt so hollow and emotionless that I don't have time to feel. I can't love, I can't feel happy, all I feel is an overwhelming sadness I can't escape. I just wish I could feel again, I want to know what it feels like to be human. I just want to feel human again!"

Her face was scrunched and drenched in tears from all the crying. Her hands were shaking dreadfully and suddenly my heart raced with worry. "Jasmine are you okay?" But she nodded her head confidently. I reached forward grabbing her wrist but she pulled it away.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, "I said I was okay." It was only then I noticed her bloodshot eyes, the trembling hands, and the irritable attitude. I grasped her hand and her pulse was racing. She slapped my hand away and glared in my direction. "What the hell are you doing?"

I only stared at her, "Jasmine how long have you been using."

She jumped up her eyes hurt and resentful, "You think I'm on morphine?"

"Yes I do," I said, "You are not yourself today and I think it is obvious why."

She stepped back from me before jabbing her finger in my face, "I am not myself because the only girl I could ever talk to is gone. And before you ever accuse me of being on morphine again I suggest you find more evidence than my red crying eyes, my shaking scared out of my wits hands, and my irritable attitude at the way men can be so incredibly ignorant."

She got up walking away and I wasn't convinced at all that she wasn't using. True she wasn't herself but she wasn't even close to being herself.

As we headed home Jasmine sat next to William her face as hard as stone. I wondered if I was merely overreacting. But her hands were still shaking, and from something more than fear. Everybody walked into the house and Jasmine pulled William aside, "I need to talk to you," she said softly.

They both walked away and William looked back in my direction confused but I only brushed him away as if it was nothing. I only hoped they were talking about the last few days. Somebody needed to get through to her and if I couldn't get through to her maybe William could.

(Jasmine)

I led William into the forier and sat down. "What's the matter Jas?" William said calling me a nickname I had not heard in a long time. I sighed.

"Will I had a craving today," I muttered. I heard him get quiet and his feet shuffled just like they always did when they got nervous.

"What brought it on Jas, it has almost been a year. We can't be falling into this again."

"I know!" I nearly exclaimed, "And I guess its nobody fault really that I had a craving. I am so messed up today, so messed up Erik thought I was on morphine. After that I had the craving to take it. Have an excuse for why I feel like this. Why I want to feel again. Maybe because I felt like I did then, empty."

I heard the ruffling of the couch as William got up and sat down next to me. He put his arm around me. "Jasmine your not like you were back then believe me I know. Your just upset about Elizabeth and its okay to feel like your in hell. I think….you feel guilty about Elizabeth's death. You tried to warn people and her but they didn't and she…"

"Okay Will," I said putting my hand up, "I don't…I mean I'm not ready for this discussion right now."

He gently rubbed my back, "Okay, I'll accept that answer for now."

I smiled, "How was I so lucky to have such great siblings like you and Becca?"

He put his head on my shoulder, "I don't know. You would think we would be very messed up right now. Always fighting, having arguments with each other…"

I smiled, "We did there for awhile, even when I was off the morphine."

"I think because we now have a new angel in our lives. I think he's helped to heal us all in some way."

I sighed, "Yeah but I still think there is healing to be done."

He lifted his head and gripped my hand, "Do you love him?"

I smiled, "There is something there, but my mind still needs to come to terms with some things and I know he has plenty of scars which need healing."

"You didn't answer my question Jas."

I smiled thinking to myself if I did. Every time I thought about his hands touching mine I always felt so at peace. When he spoke I always felt safe and everything about him enchanted me to the bone. I smiled and turned to him, "Yeah I think I do."

(Sorry such a short chapter I promise will be longer as school gets out! 2 more days!)

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