My head shot up. Something creaked from downstairs. The front door. Another animal searching for shelter and food, perhaps. My knees scrunched closer to my body, my mind having imagined a monster. I began to shake a little of my moment of being naive.
The creeks continued. Too heavy for a small animal. Too heavy for a slightly larger animal, either. Another person, then.
I shivered, my mind recalling the last time someone had come up here for a look-see. This brought on another tiny tear.
I listened as the footsteps continued, as they stopped occasionally (more likely than not) to examine something. I listened as they climbed up the stairs carefully. As they reached the top of the stairs.
The door opened. The light from the moon shone brightly on my visitor. My eyes sparkled with recognition. A light gasp escaped my lips.
"Hello?" she said, having heard my gasp, but not able to see me. "Is anyone up here?" Her voice seemed... Different somehow. I raised my head to get a better look at her when she spotted me. "Are you okay?" she asked, seemingly concerned. "Who are you?"
Something inside of me deflated. Something became crushed.
I stood, minding again to not cut myself. I advanced a little. "K-kim?" I choked out quietly.
"How do you know my name?" she gasped. She stepped back faintly, not sure what to think. Her breath hitched in her throat when she saw my hands. "Put those down. Don't hurt me," she pleaded, fear overpowering her concern. I stopped moving, keeping them down, twiddling nervously.
"I won't hurt you," I mumbled. My head drooped sadly. I turned to go back to my corner, upset with myself for scaring her. I sat back down, staring at the floor.
"Those are your hands?" She took a few steps closer to me. I looked up, nodding lightly.
"You don't remember me?" I whispered. My voice caught in my throat.
"I've never met you in my life," she responded curiously. This got me. A small whimper escaped my throat and a tear fell down my cheek. I curled back up, accidentally cutting myself in the process. More tears fell from my eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked. I could hear her inching cautiously closer. One of her hands rested on my shoulder, trying to comfort me. I shook my head, not wanting to believe this.
"Edward," I sobbed. "My name is Edward." I looked up at her, knowing my blood was mixing with my tears. I put my head back down, unable to say anything else. I continued to cry. She leaned forward and held me.
"Calm down, Edward. What's wrong?" Her tone went back to that of concern. I sobbed on her shoulder, not knowing what I should say… what I could say. She let me cry as she held me, waiting for me to calm down on my own.
She didn't know anything about me, yet she was helping me. It made no sense, but I did not question it; I welcomed it.
Still sobbing, I cried out, "You left me here. You left me alone with no one but myself. You told me you love me and I never saw you again." Tears continued streaming down my face as I tried to compose myself. I began rocking back and forth lightly as whimpers of sadness escaping my throat.