All Chapters of ECHOES OF TRUTH: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Listen, Anna, I know we didn't have the best of starts— she paused, looking down. And it was my fault, entirely. Can't we just start over? she asked, looking up. There was honesty in her eyes. Of course.— I smiled at her. She nodded and left the room. Lyra was strange, but I knew she wasn't a bad person. A very tall doctor entered, his white hair and mustache matching the walls— Good morning, Miss. I'm Dr. Altman, the psychiatrist on call. How are you feeling? Well, a little confused. He gave me such a big smile that made me feel like everything would be okay, “That’s completely normal.” What happened to me? Am I... okay? - I had to ask. Yes, the neurologist has already examined you, ordered some emergency tests, and received the results this morning. You are doing very well; just a little anemic, but nothing that can't be resolved. So... What happened to me? Well, we could know more exactly if you describe to me what happened yourself. I don't know how to explain it; I just

I started my way down the long, silent hallway. I passed doors that looked very different from the ones in our apartment; they looked like thick metal doors. Some had a small square glass window that didn't look easy to break; others didn't even have that window; they were just metal. A cold wind blew through the windows on one side of the hallway. I looked outside, seeing dark clouds and fog. I swallowed hard, scared. It was too lonely out there. The only sounds I could hear were my footsteps. I hugged myself, quickening my pace. I heard something behind me and turned quickly. Nothing... Then I heard a voice, soft, delicate, full of confidence. “Why are you in such a hurry?” Where does that voice come from? I stopped, turning my head to look at the door beside me. “You have nothing to fear; we're safely locked in.” I shouldn't answer him. “Your name is Anna, right?” How the hell does he know that? “Don't be afraid; I can't hurt you.” Curiosity moved my body, and I

I knew they were going to say no, so I opted for another form of pressure. "If I involve the police, they'll surely get a warrant to question him if I tell them he knows something, right?" Both doctors remained silent. “But I don’t want to involve the police because I know he might not want to talk to them or reveal anything to them, and maybe he doesn’t want to tell me. Please, doctors, put yourselves in my place.” "We'll discuss it and let you know the answer at your next appointment," Dr. Altman explained. With a little hope, I walked out of there. Maybe I was crazy to try this, but I had nothing to lose. Something told me that Mason knew something. Back in my room, I crawled under my covers to sleep. I looked at my hands, wishing my parents were here. From the moment I knew they were gone, I felt so miserably alone. My parents made me feel safe, and that was a feeling I missed so much. Even though I was already 18, I felt too young to survive without them, but I knew I ha

His question took me by surprise. "Good." "Your medication?" "Everything's fine," I answered, confused. Anyone would say that you cared about me. Logan looked down and then turned his face toward me, looking me straight in the eyes. "Maybe I do." I stopped breathing, not knowing what to say. He continued, “Have you gotten better at expressing what you feel?” "I think so." "Okay." He ran his hand through his hair, his eyes moving away from me and back to the window. "Ignoring the pain, pretending it's not there will only hurt you more." The mention of that word made my chest tighten. It was in that moment of silence that I realized how big and raw the pain inside me was. "And I know it's easier to hide it," Logan paused, "but sooner or later, it will get to you and devastate you." "You don't know what you're talking about." I clenched my fists in a futile attempt to keep tears from forming in my eyes. Logan started walking in my direction and then stopped next to me.

"Well, I got tired of trying to contact you for the past few weeks. I knew something was wrong; I could feel it, so I came here. I talked to your grandparents, and they told me what happened. I'm so sorry, Anaís.""But you're missing days of school.""School can wait; my best friend can't." She gave me a warm smile. I took her hand and squeezed it."Thanks; I actually feel better after crying so much.""You don't have to thank me," she said, smiling sweetly. "Are you okay? And I want an honest answer.""I don't know.""Do you remember what happened that night?" I shook my head. "Not even a little?""I... I don't want to remember. Every time I think about that night, all I can see is blood." Jasmine gave me a sad look."I know. I can't imagine what you've been through, and I'm sorry I wasn't here before.""No," I interrupted her. "I chose not to tell you. It's not your fault.""Why did you not tell me?""I don't know how to explain it; it was like if you knew, everything would be real.