Chapter 88
I veered around the big crowd, annoyed at all the elbowing and shoving. I grimaced in pain as another elbow dug itself against my bruised side. Damn uncivilized baboons. Two can play that game.
I sucked in a sharp breath and dove into the pool of nauseating body odor. I kept my head down and elbowed my way, shoved whoever shoved me even harder. Annoyed Casey is not a very nice acquaintance.
When I finally managed to eject myself from the rest of the crowd, I stopped walking for a while and took my time in catching some needed breath.
The humid air surrounded me, sticking to every part of my exposed limbs, The smell in the air was contaminated with the smoke from car engines and the lit cigar of a near bystander who was leaning on a pole, talking on the phone while smoking on the cigarette he held between his fingers.
The sound of an oncoming train filled the station and people hollered for each other in the midst of the crowd. They hustled their way towards different platforms.
I still had another ten minutes before my train arrived but knowing that this crowd won't dissipate anytime soon, I started moving again. Maneuvering through the crowd with a very heavy backpack is not something that you should try doing anytime soon. Trust me when I say it isn't the easiest or most comfortable thing to do.
When I finally arrived at my train's platform, the train was just arriving.
The second the doors were open, I hopped inside and hurried to my seat. All I wanted was to get this journey over with and see my Nana's bright smile and her trademark warm and soft chocolate chip cookies.
The next hours were filled with the rarest views. The train passed by and through mountains and I drank in every detail of the breath-taking view. The mountains touched the blue sky, clear of any clouds; small villages that ornamented the landscape and lakes that reflected the sun's rays.
It reminded me of the lake in the picture that sat on my bedside table. The clear water that rippled slightly, creating shimmers that weave through the surface of the water. I quietly watched the picturesque scenery and enjoyed the peace and quiet for once before last night's events replayed itself. My head drooped at the sudden wave of exhaustion that came with it.
I could feel my anxiety and trepidation clashing with a slight sense of excitement and joy. I was torn at both the pros and cons of the situation.
He was remembering who I am but what would he say if he finally gathered the pieces and pieced it all together? Would he be angered by the fact that I didn't tell him the truth or reach out to him? Would he be relieved and happy that I left? Would he turn back into the Adam that I lost?
There were so many questions and when I imagined what the answers to each of them could be, I started shrinking away. I would be furious if I was in his shoes; and yet I wouldn't do anything differently if everything was to happen again.
I would understand why he would be furious. The person I trusted kept me in the dark. I wouldn't take the situation lightly either. I would've wanted my memories back as soon as I lost them. I wouldn't blame him for wanting to murder me instead.
"It's weird, he told me you killed her but then I get these flashes of memory that reminds me of what kind of person you are. But I don't understand why he would lie to me; he's my best friend," Adam said in a small voice and I frowned.
Best friend? Jake? I swear if he had somehow backstabbed me after I released him from my wrath for dating Monic, I will skewer him.
"I didn't kill your mom. She was a great woman," I said in a small voice, willing my vocal chords to work. He's going to realize that I had left him and kept him in the dark this whole time sooner than later and it's best that I brace myself for whatever his reaction he was going to give me is starting from now.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "But he told me... He wouldn't lie to me, why would he-?" I shook my head, not understanding anything he was saying. Jake wouldn't do this, would he? Even he was smarter than that. He has got to have some desire to keep on breathing, right?
"Who is ‘he'?"
He met my eyes and with a whisper, said aloud the one name that caused me to see red.
"Dom."
When the train finally arrived at its destination, I jumped onto a bus that took me to the countryside where my nana's barn is. It was in a secluded area surrounded by small hills nearby where the sheep and horses roam around freely.
If you're worrying about the wild animals that may pounce on my nana or her animals, you should know that she always keeps a loaded shotgun within her arm's reach.
Yes, she's that badass nana you'd kill to have.
When I finally got off the bus, I spent a couple of minutes covering the distance between my nana's small house and where the bus dropped me off.
The second I stepped into the small house, the smell of freshly baked cookies hit me and reminded me of the old times when Bryant and I would fight each other for more cookies. Ah, good times.
"Nan..?" I called out, getting a muffled response from where the living room was supposed to be.
I walked further inside, losing the thin jacket I was wearing and hanging it on the coat hanger behind the door. I dropped my bag of clothes on the floor before plopping down the couch beside the old woman.
She had her reading glasses on and a book was turned upside down on her lap. I hugged her quickly, kissing her cheek before grabbing the warm cookie on the coffee table and taking a big bite.
"Hello sweetie. How was your trip?" she asked sweetly, smiling ever so brightly. Her crowfeet were even more visible when she smiled and her wrinkled hands clasped my own.
"Beautiful, as always," I grinned through a mouthful. Disgusted? You should know better by now.
She patted my arm, "Well then, you know where you'll be sleeping. I had George clean the room up for you earlier today so everything should be set."
Nana adopted George when he first appeared on her doorstep, shivering from the harsh wind that winter brought to these areas. He was a kid then and now, he's all grown up and he's helping Nana around the farm along with a few kids that Nana took in under her wing.
There should be at least 4 of them in the house and everyone helps Nana with daily chores. It made me feel more at ease to know that Nana wasn't all alone, living on a land that's practically isolated from society.
George was the youngest and he was a couple of years younger than me. He had dirty blonde hair that reached his earlobes the last time that I saw him and all the other kids were tanned from working under the sun so much.
I laughed, "Alright Nan. I need to step out for a minute and make a few calls, I'll drop by the room to unpack and wash up for dinner right after."
She nodded mindlessly, already picking up her book from her lap; seems like the passion to read runs in the family.
I rose from my seat and walked out through the backdoor, taking out my phone and sending a text to my mom on the subject of arriving safely before calling Preston's cell. It rang thrice before he finally picked up.
