All Chapters of By your Side: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

I did not know how long I had been in the closet, I did not have a watch, a mobile phone, or anything. I was hot, tired, thirsty, and hungry. I wanted to get out so bad, but Cole locked me inside and I did not know how to get out. I hated dark and closed places and now I was being kept in a small dark area. I felt like I was being suffocated, out of breath, and about to die.Other than what I have done to Mila, I was clueless about what I did wrong in my life to deserve all of that. Was karma serving me what I deserved for what I had done to Mila? I could not find any logical explanation for all that I went through in my life but that.I was dead, emotionally dead. I was just a walking body on this Earth, a walking body that only got abused and belittled every single day. I missed feeling safe, I missed feeling happy, I missed my old life. I ruined everything with my own hands, I pushed away true friends and chose snakes over them. I had the opportunity to be friends w

Emma was finally able to have some good sleep after a long day. Her panic attacks wore her out and seeing Cole did not help. She wanted some rest; in fact, she needed it. Unfortunately, Emma's peaceful sleep was interrupted by a violent shake. She jumped up slightly from the forceful touch and opened her eyes, only to find her worst nightmare in front of her."C-Cole..." She looked at him with terror in her. Her heart started to race and her breath became uneasy. His whole presence freaked her out."What did you tell them?" he growled at her, making her cower back."No-nothing... I s-said n-nothing," she whimpered. She kept stealing some quick glances at the door, hoping that somebody would barge in and help her out."Liar," he said, his voice laced with anger."I s-swear, I s-said nothing." She let out a soft cry. Emma was broken, she could not handle any more abuse."Then how did they know about the bruises!?" he almost screamed, but tried

Little seven years old Emma was playing in front of her house, she was all alone. Her parents were at work and her babysitter was an eighteen-year-old girl who barely cared about her, she was busy with her boyfriend inside the house and did not care that a seven-year-old child was all alone outside the house. She gave her Twinkies to eat and let her play in the front yard of the house. Emma had her bicycle with her and some other toys. She had her tiny backpack with her that contained the Twinkies and a watch that was given to her by her babysitter. Emma was a smart child and she understood how watches work. The babysitter gave her one, so she would not ask about the time and told her not to ask for food till it was twelve.Emma's stomach growled in hunger, so she took her Twinkies out of her small backpack that she left on the grass. As she was about to eat, a ten-year-old boy appeared out of nowhere and snatched them from her small hands, making the cute little girl frown.

"I'm good, I wanted to ask you something. Did you happen to send Mila a gift?" My breath caught in my throat and my heart started to beat fast. Cole was right beside me, he knew nothing about the gift. I needed to lie to get myself out of trouble. My weak body could not take any more beating. I have had enough."I d-didn't... w-why w-would I d-do that? I d-don't care about h-her. Please J-Julie, don't m-mention her t-to me a-again." Knives cut through my heart as I told Julie those words, but Cole was right there beside me, I needed to save myself."Okay, bye Emma," Julie said in a hurry. She thought that she hung up, but she did not."It's okay... you didn't know she'd say that." I heard Mila's voice and I suddenly forgot how to breathe. I was on speaker. Mila heard me. Cole snatched the phone out of my hands and ended the call."I d-didn't... send h-her anything." I looked at him with so much fear in my eyes.Cole was silent, his silence was scar

Mila was happy when she returned home; however, her happiness started to fade away once she lay down on her bed. Her mind was bombarded with memories of her previous birthdays with Emma. She remembered how Emma would always wake her up with a birthday cake she baked herself for her best friend. Emma would wake her up with her loud singing and then she would make her blow the candles and give her her gift. At night, they would have a small party at either Mila's house or Emma's house with their friends then after the party was over, they would have a movie night while eating popcorn and candy floss. Mila missed all of that and for a moment, she wanted to pick up her phone and call Emma, but her ego held her back. There was no point in talking to her, and Emma might end up saying something hurtful, but Mila wanted to hear her voice. She fell asleep after hours of tossing and turning mixed with silent tears over the best memories she has ever made in her whole life.Emma was alo