ERASED

Chapter Eight

“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you trying to annoy me on purpose?” I yelled at her as soon as we got home.

“I’m not trying to annoy you Liam! You’re trying to embarrass me publicly! You shamelessly hugged that girl, calling the name of a girl we all know is dead!”

“Tiana isn’t dead!”

“Oh Liam, wake up! Wake up to reality, she’s never coming back. It has been fifteen flipping years, move on! Move on! You were just kids, she’s dead, it’s time to move on!”

“You’re pushing my buttons woman!”

“I would push them the more until your eyes become clear for you to see what’s right in front of you. I’m standing right here, right in front of you, but you’re constantly searching for someone who is long gone. What exactly can I do to make you forget Tiana?” She held my wrists while looking me in the eyes. I threw her hands off me and took a step back.

“The grip she has on me can never be taken away.”

“You’re back so soon? I knew I heard voices yelling, what’s the matter? Lunch is almost ready, I know you must be starving and that’s why you’re acting so cranky,”

“Hello Mrs Johnson,” Katrina says hugging my mom, “how are you?”

“I’m fine, how are you? How are your parents? And how was the service?”

“Everything is just great and so were my parents. We met Nancy today, and she has a new neighbor she invited to church,”

“A new neighbor? That’s lovely. At least the poor lady wouldn’t be so lonely.”

“We’re not done talking.” I grab her wrists and pull her but my mother steps in and removes my grip from her,

“Where are your manners? Right in front of me?!”

“I’m sorry mother, we were in the middle of a heated argument before you came in.”

“Why? What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing important,” I say but Katrina jumps in,

“It’s something important. Liam is being delusional once again, and this time, he’s taking it too far.”

“Katrina, that’s enough!”

“Allow me speak! He’s hallucinating again, and this time it’s getting worser, he keeps seeing the dead girl, in his sleep, and even at church!”

“Church? Did something happen at the church today?”

“No mother, Katrina is just running her mouth as usual,” I try pulling her away but she pushes me and stands close to my mother,

“I’m not running my mouth Liam! He hugged a stranger because he thought, he still thinks that she is the dead girl.”

“I’ve told you several times Katrina, Tiana is alive!”

“Tiana…again?”

“Yes! I saw her today, on the threshold of the church.”

“Liam, she wasn’t there,”

“You don’t believe me mother? You think I’m losing my mind?” She shakes her head and walks towards the dining area where she begins to set the table with the plates, Katrina follows begin, “you think I need a therapist?”

“Liam,” she calls my name faintly, dropping the china wares on the table and walking towards me. She places both her hands on my shoulders, the look in her eyes says it all,

“Liam, it has been fifteen solid years. Dead or alive, Tiana is never coming back, she didn’t back then, she wouldn’t now,”

“Says who? You don’t know that, I know who I saw.”

“How?”

“The scar mom. Her scar,”

“Liam..”

“The scar the bastard gave to her, she has it!”

“But she doesn’t know you!” Katrina snapped. “The poor girl doesn’t even know who Tiana is,” she added. I folded my hand into a fist, suppressing every outburst I was about to unleash on Katrina.

“Is what she’s saying the truth?”

“She’s probably forgotten, it’s been fifteen years, anyone could forget,”

“Have you spoken to your therapist recently?” Mother asks but I ignore her question.

“I’ll cut to the chase. I don’t want to go through with this engagement and wedding anymore. I’m calling it off!” I expected their reactions, shocked, speechless,

“What did you just say?”