Shadows of the past: The hidden truth

move on was gone.I wish I could just crawl into a hole and never come out,I wish I could forever hide from my shameful past.But it's here,it

he thought had lingered on my mind ever since I heard 'the truth'.Anyways,this was the perfect pla

cheating.They were so into the argument that if I decided to drown myself right there they wouldn't even n

then pulling away, over and over, like a quiet invitation. I sat at the edge, knees pulled to my chest, arms wrapped aroun

chest pressed heavier with each passing second, like the lake was

forward, searching. Then it called out - a low, trembling sound that broke the silence

ng this way and that, as if hoping for a reply. But none ca

that was wh

me cracked. The tears came slowly at first, slipping down my cheeks, hot against my cold skin. Then they poured out,

or the swan or for myself. Mayb

its lonely call fading into the darkne

anything, it felt heavier now. Like the lake had seeped

but I barely felt it. My heart pounded, loud and uneven, as if trying to fight agains

und my ankle like a hand. I stepped in deeper, the water rising past my calves. My breath hitc

he water reached my knees now, and I stopped, staring down at the black surface. My reflection was bare

fists. This was the only way. The only choic

the confidence to

e, low and calm, cutting thr

hen d

s. The cold wrapped tighter around me, but it wasn't the wat

ding in the sha

hing me. The lake lapped at my knees, cold and steady, but I couldn't

w and calm. "You're not

ce was hard to make out in the darkness, but his pres

his head slightly, almost curious. "Some wal

wrapping around me like invisible hands. I glan

ered, my voice barely audib

crunching against the wet gravel

wanted to scream at him, tell him to

atching me. The moonlight caught the edges of his face - sharp feat

isn't it?" he said softly. "Th

hut, shaking my head

mocking, but it made my skin crawl. "To b

at my reflection. It quivered on the surface, pal

cut through the darkness. "

r rising in my throat. "W

ere, watching. Waiting. Then, al

been her

ly felt colder. He leaned forward slig

you rem

om fear or something else. My vision blurred. A flash - hands gripping my shoulders

er dragging at my legs. "Who

e. Then, slowly, he st

heart. I sank to my knees, water rushing up to my chest. My hands covered my face as the sobs ca

d up, gasping for ai

lake was

eavy, weighed down by the cold and something else - something I couldn't name. I kept glanci

low across the surface. Maybe I'd imagined him. Maybe I'd imagined everything. But

d around. The couple that had been arguing earlier - they were gone. At some point, they must've left, slip

nt, distant sound cutt

pho

ngers clumsy and cold. The screen glowed in the darkness - Mom. I let it ring. Afte

just felt it - that pull in the air when something was wrong. My thumb hovered over

oved on its o

My voic

hed through the speaker, tight with pa

ake, its dark surface rippling softl

are you do

in my throat. "Can you come get me?" M

my sister's voice, softer but no less u

lap. The cold pressed in around me, but I barely felt it

t I was

etched itself thin, wrapping around me, cold and endless. The lake was quie

pounding against the gravel.

he

g toward me, their faces pale in the moonlight. The moment I saw them, something insid

ding me tightly against her chest, rocking me back and forth. "It's okay. It's okay. We're her

ripping mine, warm and steady. "We've got you," sh

crashed over me, dragging me down until I thought I'd disappear beneath it. The co

e up, their arms steady around me. Slowly, they guided me toward the car, step by step, until I sank into the back

st. No one spoke. The only sounds were the soft hum of the tires against the road and my uneven breaths. I

ired. Bone-deep, soul-crushing tired. I cl

one dared to break the fragile stillness that hung over us. Mom and April knew that

t, the kind of quiet that sinks deep into your bones. The breeze whispered against my s

me, pulling me down. I closed my eyes, and the hum of the car faded into the background. T

when I drift

as she gently shook my shoulder. I blinked, disoriented for a moment

ater. Mom and April followed behind me, their presence quiet but lingering. I could feel it - the weight of their worry. They wan

wasn't

s to crawl into bed and disappear - to lose myself in sleep, or maybe some kind of dream or fantasy where none of th

d to my room, closing t