CHAPTER THIRTY: THE FEAR RETURNS
377 Words
That night, Hailey couldn’t sleep.
She lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
Memories flooding back.
The voices.
The confusion.
The overwhelming noise.
“What if it’s happening again?” she whispered.
Adrian turned toward her.
“What is?”
She sat up.
“Ava,” she said.
He frowned.
“What about her?”
Hailey hesitated.
Then finally said it.
“What if she has… what I had?”
Silence.
Adrian sat up slowly.
“That’s not possible,” he said.
But even as he said it…
He didn’t sound sure.
“She’s asking the same questions I used to,” Hailey continued. “She’s watching people the same way. Adrian… I know this.”
His jaw tightened.
“No,” he said firmly. “We’re not jumping to conclusions.”
“I’m not jumping—I’m recognizing,” she said, her voice rising slightly.
“Or you’re projecting,” he replied.
That hit her.
Hard.
She stared at him.
“You think I’m imagining this?” she asked quietly.
“I think you’re scared,” he said.
“And you’re not?” she shot back.
Silence filled the room.
Because he was.
The tension didn’t go away.
It grew.
Hailey watched Ava more closely.
Too closely.
“Who were you talking to?” she asked one afternoon.
Ava blinked.
“Just my friend.”
“What did she say?”
Ava frowned.
“Mom… why are you asking like that?”
Hailey froze.
“I’m just curious,” she said quickly.
But Ava wasn’t convinced.
And slowly…
A distance began to form.
Meanwhile, Adrian handled things differently.
He acted normal.
Too normal.
“She’s just growing up,” he said one evening.
“She’s not just growing up,” Hailey replied.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do,” she insisted.
He ran a hand through his hair.
“And what do you want me to do?” he asked. “Treat her like something is wrong with her?”
Hailey’s eyes widened.
“That’s not what I’m saying!”
“Then what are you saying?” he pressed.
“That she needs help!” she said.
“With what?” he snapped.
Silence.
Because neither of them had the answer.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
- Writer
