And despite of everything...

I decided to take a walk to forget all of that. When I got back home, I was opening the door when I saw something happening at Anne's. I got closer to see what was going on. Matt was carrying her, to his car... obviously there was something wrong. I ran towards them, and when I got there he was putting her on the back seat. I stopped beside them, breathless.

"Matt, what's going on? What happened to Anne?"

He looked at me and there was anger in his eyes.

"It's not of your business."

I looked at her, her eyes were closed.

"Did she faint?"

"No, I brought her to sleep in the car. Of course she fainted, are you fucking blind? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you must be thinking this is an acting… now, if you'll excuse me, the next scene is me taking my sister to the hospital."

"Why are you talking to me like that, Matt? I didn't do anything to you! You're gonna defend Anne now?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. For a moment, I thought he was gonna punch me, but he just looked at me and started talking.

"Look David... don't get me wrong, okay? But I don't care about your fight, in fact, when I went after you was to hear what YOU had to say, because being your best friend, I had to listen to your side of the story too, but you didn't even bother to come after me. See, I'm gonna be very clear and try to make you understand. I don't give a damn about who is right or wrong, I have nothing to do with any of that, and I wouldn't want to have to pick a side! But the only thing I know, the only thing I see, is my sister getting worst, she practically doesn't eat, and when she does, she throws everything up. She's getting thinner and paler everyday, crying in the corners... She comes to MY room crying in the middle of the night because she can't sleep, she fainted in front of ME five minutes ago, and I feel like trash because I can't do anything about it! And now I ask you, honestly, do you really think I'd turn my back on her, leave her all alone just because she's wrong? How could I, I would never do that, David! Of course I'm gonna defend Anne, that's obvious! David, I'm not gonna ask you to have mercy and forgive her, I know that her mistake was terrible. If I were you, I probably wouldn't forgive her either, I understand you, I know her suffering is not exactly YOUR fault, she caused all of this. But you have to understand my side too, Dave. Everything happened so fast, I see my sister like that and I can't help thinking you have something to do with that! Look, I'm not mad at you. Really, I'm not... And I'm not against you either, there's no point. You've always been my best friend, almost like a brother, and I really hope things can go back to normal when all this pass… but Anne IS my sister, David… I don't care what she did, I don't care if she's right or wrong... I'm always gonna be on HER side."

The worst part is... he was right.

"Okay, I understand your side Matt, I swear I'm not mad at you for being on her side... but why do you have to be so rude?"

"I'm sorry David, but I expected more when I told you what was going on with Anne... I know you were angry with her, but I never imagined you'd think we had the guts to make this up... I thought you at least would be worried about her!"

Right again. Fuck.

"Okay, I screwed up, but how would I know it was true, there have been so many lies already!"

All of the sudden Anne appeared beside Matt, staring at him, I hadn't noticed she was awake. Had she listened to our talk? I gave her a quick look, and she really was much thinner and paler, she looked kind of sick. I couldn't keep the words from coming out of my mouth.

"Anne, are you okay?"

She was still staring at Matt. By the look on her face, she had heard.

"Matthew, you told him? Why did you do this? I made you promise you wouldn't tell David anything!"

Now, there was no way I couldn't believe that was true.

"I'm sorry Anne, I just couldn't see you like this and not do anything! But there was no point, he didn't believe me anyway!"

He gave me that angry look again. Ok, I confess, I should have believed them.

"You shouldn't have done that, Matt!"

At the same time he was giving me that anger look, he was trying to give her an apology one. I saw her closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, exactly the way Matt had done minutes ago.

"Matt... can you leave me alone with David for a minute?"

Oops.

"But Anne..."

He didn't wanna leave, and I knew why. He was afraid I was gonna yell at her again, and she seemed so fragile she might brake at the slightest touch.

"Please Matt, it's gonna be fast… I'm gonna be okay, I promise."

I tried to promise myself the same thing. I had no idea what to say to her. I considered going home and leaving her there, but curiosity and worry – that I didn't want to feel – won. Matt finally went back inside, and she turned to me. She looked at me for the first time, and there was pain in her eyes.

"Dave... why are you here?"

Ok, nothing too complicated.

"I saw Matt carrying you and I came to see what was going on..."

"You shouldn't have come, David!"

Her tone scared me. All I needed was her saying that was my fault! If she said that, I'd REALLY leave. Her head was low when she continued.

"Look, David... you don't have to worry about me... I don't WANT you to worry about me!"

What? That didn't made much sense… I took a step towards her, I'd have to admit it.

"But I do... damn it! As much as I don't want it, I can't help it, you have always been my best friend, almost like a… sister, even though now we… well, how do you expect me to see you like this and don't be worried?"

I really was an idiot. She took a while to answer.

"You shouldn't Davie... You're making it worst... I'm trying to forget everything that happened, forget about you, and it's already so hard, but seeing you, knowing that you care, the least, about me, it's impossible! I need to be away from you for this to work… at least, make things easier for me, David… I'm gonna be fine, I promise you. Everything is gonna be okay."

She turned around and walked fast, until she gets home. I stood there staring at her, thinking about what she had said, and then, I understood. I had never seen Anne like that, and at the same time, I had never been so sure she was being honest. She was really suffering, and this time she was not acting, trying to touch me or something, it was true. And it was even more obvious because she didn't want me to know… because she knew me well enough to know that, even angry, I'd be worried about her, and she didn't want that. I had no doubts, Anne had really changed this time. Even her eyes were showing that. But that didn't change – almost – anything. It didn't erase what she had done.