"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."

The bright green hedges veiled the bottom half of the branched trees behind it. The sun was still centered in the middle of the sky, sending its blazing rays in every shaded spot. The breeze had long left and now only traces of it remained in the hot air. Cars were nowhere to be seen in the abandoned lane.

Not being able to catch a breath, I finally stopped after running for about three hours straight. I panted as I bent my back and placed my hands on my knees. Fatigue has got the best of me. I squatted down next to the hedge, still panting. I had nothing with me, no cellphone, no water, no money. Nothing.

When I was running, I thought about nothing. That's why I didn't want to stop. I looked to the left then to the right and was now sure that I was completely lost. The only living things around, were the plants. No humans.

As I started to calm down and my breathing went back to normal, my mind welcomed back the haunting thought. There were so many things going on. But out of all of it, the only thing I could think of was what happened to Rachel.

Sad as it was, I couldn't keep denying it forever. It happened. It was real. And what hurt the most is that there was nothing I could do about it. The only thing I could do was sit here and shed tears. She didn't deserve this. No girl does. She didn't deserve any of this. It's all my fault, it's all because of me. It's ironic how you can get so attached to someone without even meeting them and how you can be living in the same house with someone, yet have nothing for them. I hid my face in my hands and continued crying. There was no escape from it. It was an inevitable action. I cried. It felt like my heart was about to tear my chest apart from how strong it was pulsating.

The sun was on its way to meet the horizon. It will be getting dark soon and I didn't know the way home. But, even if I did though, would I go home? Go home and just continue living my helpless life like nothing had happened and disappoint Rachel. But, where would I sleep now? My thoughts and feelings were scattered all over the place.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a car approaching. I looked up and saw a car going, obviously, past the speed limit. I stumbled back a little as the bright flashlight struck my eyes. When close enough, a couple of drunk teenage boys stuck their bodies out of the windows and the catcalls began. I felt my heart sinking as i gulped. However, it rose back up when the car didn't stop or slow down.

I couldn't stay here. I had to go home. But, again, how? The sun was far gone and the illuminating moon took its place. I tried to remember how did I come here, initially. I started walking from where I came, hoping that this technique would work. I knew that by now the school would have called father and he's probably steaming from anger right now, yet there seemed to be no other choice.

Flashlights loomed one more time. There was a car coming. I quickly hid behind the hedges feeling like it brought jeopardy. It started to slow down when it got nearer. I could see from the middle of the hedges the size and the color of the car, but not who was inside it. Maybe they're also a couple of drunk guys. It was dark and the lane was deserted. Besides, the news that I read a few hours ago didn't really help.

The car almost came to a stop. However, I could now tell who was inside. I wasn't scared anymore. My eyes widened since I wasn't steeled at all.

'Adam!' I said, getting closer. He looked at me and heaved a sigh. I couldn't tell if it was from relief or from anger. 'How did you find me?'

'We've been looking all over the place! Get into the car, now! Your parents are dead worried.' He yelled and I -automatically- complied.

He drove at the second I closed the back seat's door.

'What the hell were you thinking, Trivina?' he questioned.

'I needed fresh air.'

'Well I hope you got yourself fresh air cause you could've been kidnapped in a place like that. Hope the air was worth the risk.'

Knowing how long this lecture would last, I regretted getting in the car in the first place. 'Look you just don't get it, okay?'

'Don't get what?' he looked at me in the mirror, angry.

'You don't get anything. You don't get why I ran away. You don't know my reasons so please let's just stay silent till we arrive.' I already have a lot to deal with at home, I thought.

The car was quite for a while. I saw him texting my dad, telling him that he found me. Deep down, I was still having a hard time controlling my tears.

'Is it because of what happened to your friend Rachel?' he asked. His tone calm this time.

I raised my eyebrows. 'How did you know about Rachel?'

'It's in the newspapers.'

'Yes, I know it's in the newspaper! I mean how did you know she was my friend?'

'You told me.'

'No I didn't!' I exclaimed, shocked by how he knew that.

'Yes you did.' he insisted.

Suddenly, I recalled that I had actually told him. It was far long ago, one of those times when I tried to start a conversation. I had mentioned that I had a friend from a foreign country named Rachel Smith, but he didn't respond not even with a nod. At that time, I thought that he hadn't heard me.

'Why do you care, anyway?' I asked.

'I don't.' he said 'I was just curious.' His tone still calm.

'Curious about what? About what happened to this poor girl, who's life is completely destroyed? Or about our victory?' I said the last part in a sarcastic tone.

He didn't answer. The car was silent, anew. And his chocolate brown eyes were set on the road.

'You're not alone, you know. Sometimes we think that we're alone in this world and we think that nobody is experiencing what we're experiencing, but this is not the case. This is not the case at all.' He said, almost in a murmur tone, with his eyes still fixed on the road.

I really didn't see this coming. Adam was the last person I expected to hear these words from. Well, actually he was the second last. The last one was my father.

'Are you saying that you also feel this wa-?'

'NO,' he cut in harshly. 'I was saying that there are other people out there who feel like you.'

I was not convinced. This was extremely bizarre. I felt, suddenly, suspicious about Adam. Something was wrong.

And just when I thought that it couldn't get weirder he stopped the car and looked back at me, saying 'listen if you really wanna help... pay attention to the phone, tonight.'

'What do you mean?' I asked confused and more suspicious than ever.

'Now, is not the time for questions, we arrived.'

I looked on my right and saw my house. We really had arrived. 'I'm not going out of this car until you tell me what's going on.'

Note: I missed you, guys♥ sorry, I'm late in updating :") I hope you're having a lovely day♡ and if you're not and feeling like you wanna talk... I'm right here :D

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