Chapter 8:

Amanda's Tale

I climbed down from the window, with tears in my eyes. I didn't know what to think or what to feel. Sure, I had heard the story many times, but it seemed like this time it had hit me deeper than before. Once I managed to climb down safely, I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Are you alright, Amanda?" I spun around to see Aragorn. But how did he know that I was there?

I gave him a small smile, hoping he hadn't seen my tears.

"I'm fine, really. I really am," I replied as enthusiastically as I could, but Aragorn frowned deeply.

"No, you aren't. You were crying," he stated simply. My first reaction was to get defensive, which wasn't like me at all.

"I said I was fine, ok? Why can't you just take my word for it?" I cried out.

"Because I can see it in your eyes. Seeing your friend in a mess reminds you of something that happened to you." My eyes widened in shock, but then I murmured, "Mom-Mom."

"What did you say?" Aragorn asked.

"My grandmother died about two months ago. Seeing Belinda's pain reminded me of my own pain. Seeing my grandmother's body in that coffin... it was almost more than I could handle." My voice quavered.

"How close were you to your grandmother?" Aragorn asked, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. Surprisingly, I wasn't angry about his question, or about the fact that he was in my personal space. He seemed almost like a father to all the fellowship, to anyone who needed help or advice.

"Very. My other grandmother died many years ago, so she was the only one I had and she fulfilled everything that a grandmother was about. And then, to go to her viewing and see her in that coffin... it's something that Belinda never truly experienced."

Aragorn looked down on me. "She never lost a family member?"

"Great-grandparents, but still not the same as losing a grandmother so suddenly. But I know that what she went through is truly much worse," I replied.

"Why do you say that?" Aragorn asked curiously.

"When my grandmother died, my world fell apart, but I have been able to put it back together. Once Belinda's world fell apart, it stayed apart until she couldn't take anymore and she almost tried to end it all." I shook my head. I couldn't talk about that now. I just needed to be alone for a while. Seeing Belinda opened up old wounds and I just couldn't take talking about it anymore.

"Listen, Aragorn. I'm tired, I think I'll go to bed," I said, turning away from him. I felt my feet begin to walk away from Aragorn, who called my name once before heading to what appeared to be Belinda's room. I knew that in a matter of minutes, Belinda would be out looking for me.

I didn't know where I was walking nor did I truly care. Now that the memory was back in my mind, I couldn't get it out. Walking in that room, seeing her laid out in that coffin, looking so pale and unmoving. That wasn't the grandmother that I had known, but yet... that was how I remembered her most of the time. It was rare to remember the times that I had with her. And then, seeing Belinda reminded me of how I failed to see her own pain and yet, she could clearly see mine.

What kind of best friend was I?

As that thought went through my head, I began to think that she was better off without me. She needed someone who could support her and keep her from harm and I had failed to do that. The more that I thought about, the more I wanted to just leave. It would be better for everyone.

Before I could go through with the plan, I heard someone calling my name.

"Belinda..."

A/N: The shortness of this chapter is regrettable, but both us authors have been through a lot of stuff lately, with deaths in both families, and hopeless struggles to keep our grades up. Your forgiveness we implore!