Unveiling

Austin

“Nothing’s going to happen to me here. Go, settle things with her. I’ll wait for you. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Olivia’s voice swims in my head as I head towards the woman whom I used to call mother.

She uttered those encouraging words but her eyes told me a completely different story. The hint of panic was there. I saw it when she craned her neck as I slipped out of her room. Every fiber of my being didn’t want to leave her, even for just an hour.

The instinctive need to protect her rages in me. What if something happens to her and I’m not there to take care of her? What if he manages to escape and goes after her again? I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to her again.

As is, I’m not even sure if I have yet to remove the guilt from letting her slip away. He was able to snatch her because I was stupid and useless. I’ll never forget that. And I won’t let it happen again.