Chapter 5
1387 Words
Anastasia’s POV
I didn’t know how long I had been walking.
My feet moved on their own, dragging me forward as my mind replayed everything that had just happened. Jed’s words, his laughter and the way he looked at me like I was crazy.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “I’m not crazy,” I muttered to myself.
But the doubt was there.
What if I really had imagined it? What if the alcohol messed with my head that night? What if…
A car horn snapped me out of my thoughts.
I looked up quickly and saw a car slowing down beside me. The window rolled down, and Uriel leaned slightly out with her brows furrowed in concern.
“Anastasia?” she called. “Are you okay?”
I was surprised to see her. “Yeah… I’m fine,” I said quickly, even though my voice betrayed me.
She didn’t look convinced. “I just saw you back there with that guy. He looked like he was about to run you over.” she said.
I let out a dry laugh. “Would’ve saved me the stress.”
Her face immediately changed. “Hey, don’t say that.”
There was a brief silence before she spoke again.
“Get in, I'll drop you off” she said, unlocking the door.
I hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the road ahead. Going home meant facing my mom, and I wasn’t ready for that.
I opened the door and got in quietly. “Thank you.”
Uriel smiled a little. “Don’t mention it.”
The car started moving, and for a few minutes, neither of us spoke, the silence felt heavy. “So, do you want to talk about it?” she finally said, glancing at me briefly.
I shook my head immediately. “Not really.”
“Okay, we can just sit in silence then.”
I appreciated that, I really did.
We drove for a few more minutes before I spoke again, my voice small. “Actually… can we not go to my house?”
She frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Can we go to yours instead?” I asked, turning to look at her. “Just for a bit.”
Uriel hesitated. “I don’t know, Anastasia… your mom might be worried…”
“I don’t care,” I cut in quickly and sighed before lowering my tone. “Please. I just… I don’t want to go home right now.”
She studied my face for a moment, probably seeing the mess I was trying so hard to hide.
“Alright,” she finally said. “But not too long, okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah… not too long.”
Uriel’s house was warm. That was the first thing I noticed when we got there.
It wasn’t overly big or fancy, but it felt alive in a way mine didn’t anymore. There were soft lights, pictures on the walls and I could hear laughter from inside. It felt like home.
We stepped inside, and immediately, a woman appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Uriel, you’re back…” she paused when she saw me. “Oh, hello.”
“Mum, this is Anastasia,” Uriel said. “She’s a friend from school.”
Her face lit up instantly. “Oh, you’re welcome here, dear.” She walked over and gave me a gentle smile. “I’m Mrs. Walker.”
“Hi,” I said softly, a little nervous.
A man appeared shortly after, probably drawn by the voices. “We have a guest?” he asked, smiling warmly.
“This is Anastasia,” Uriel repeated.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, nodding at me. “I’m Mr. Walker.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I replied.
There was something about them. The way they spoke, the way they looked at Uriel… it felt so natural and loving, it made something inside my chest ache.
“Have you eaten?” Mrs. Walker asked suddenly.
I shook my head. “No, I’m fine…”
“Nonsense. Uriel, take her upstairs. I’ll bring something up for you girls.” she cut in and said.
“You don’t have to…” I started, but she waved me off.
“It’s no trouble at all.” and I didn’t argue again.
Uriel led me upstairs to her room, and the moment the door closed behind us, I felt it fully.
The lump in my throat and the tightness in my chest.
I looked around her room, taking in the little details. Pictures on the wall, books scattered around, two beds.
My eyes lingered on the second bed, perfectly made and untouched.
“That was my sister’s,” Uriel said quietly, following my gaze.
I swallowed hard. “Your twin?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
Silence fell between us and I sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, my hands resting on my lap. “It must be hard.”
“It is,” she admitted. “But… you learn to live with it, I guess.”
Her words hit me harder than I expected because it felt like I was drowning instead.
Before I knew it, tears filled my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but it was useless.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, turning my face away. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”
Uriel sat beside me without saying anything and I let it all out. “I miss him,” I choked out. “I miss my dad so much.”
She pulled me into a hug and I cried even more like I hadn’t allowed myself to since it happened. All the pain, the anger, the confusion, it all came rushing out at once.
“It’s not fair,” I sobbed. “Everything just… everything changed so fast.”
“I know,” she murmured softly. “I know.”
A knock came at the door before it opened and Mrs. Walker stepped in, carrying a tray.
She paused when she saw me crying.
“Oh, sweetheart…” she said, consoled, setting the tray down quickly and walking over to us.
I didn’t even know why, but I leaned into her when she pulled me into another hug.
“It’s okay,” she said softly, rubbing my back. “Let it out.”
Her kindness only made me cry harder.
Mr. Walker appeared shortly after, standing by the door, his face filled with quiet understanding.
I eventually calmed down and time passed without me realizing it.
We talked, laughed a little, and cried some more.
Uriel told me stories about her sister, about how they used to switch places just to confuse people. I told her about my dad, about how he used to make the worst jokes just to make me laugh.
It felt nice and normal
I reached for my phone absentmindedly and my heart dropped in realisation.
Shit! So many missed calls from my mind.
My stomach twisted. “Oh no…”
“What?” Uriel asked.
“I didn’t realize the time,” I said quickly, standing up. “My mom’s been calling me.”
Uriel checked the time and winced. “Yeah… it’s pretty late.”
Panic started to settle in. “I have to go.”
“I’ll tell my parents,” she said, already heading for the door.
Uriel’s parents had insisted on dropping me off, no matter how much I said it was okay. I sat in the backseat with my mind racing with all the possible ways this could go.
And none of them were good.
The car finally stopped in front of the house.
“Thank you,” I said softly as I got out.
“Anytime, dear,” Mrs. Walker replied with a smile.
Uriel gave me a small smile. “Text me when you’re inside.”
I nodded. “I will.”
I turned towards the house, my heart pounding with each step.
The moment I opened the door, my mom was waiting.
She stood in the living room, her arms crossed and her face tight with anger.
“Where have you been?” she demanded and I froze.
- Writer
