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“Not yet. I’ll tell him, but I can’t–” I swallow the lump in my throat, and Mason nods, still rummaging through my stuff.
“Can’t breathe because it feels like someone just punched a hole in your chest and ripped your heart out, stomped on it, and then forced it back into the gaping hole?” He offers, and I nod.
“That, but worse.”
Mason helps me grab my things, and just before we leave, I grab the painting.
“One sec,” I tell Mason, as I grab a pen and paper, scribbling out my hope.
Milo, Clay, and Bellamy,
I do love Cooper, please tell him this is all my fault. He won’t understand any of this, make sure he knows he’s not at fault.
I care deeply for all of you. I’ll explain if you’re willing to listen.
Please, just let me tell you everything.
-Yours Dearly, True
I kiss the paper, tears falling down my cheeks, as guilt and sadness eat away at my heart. I’ve never been so broken in my life. I think I understand why Mason went dark side. I can’t imagine how it would feel to have someone you love so completely hurt you this badly intentionally.
14
Clay
Cooper is holding my hand, skipping through the halls as we make our way up to our home.
There’s a tension in the air that I can’t quite identify. I’ve always had a sixth sense when it comes to negative emotions, but this feels… darker.
I open the door and push it open, and smile as my nephew drops his backpack and runs toward True’s room.
“True!” he shouts, and I expect to hear her answer him, but when she doesn’t, he starts knocking on her door. Milo steps out of his room, looking like shit.
“Cooper, come here.” He sighs, and Cooper looks over at his dad and frowns.
“I want to say hi to True first,” the kid says, knocking again. My anxiety spikes, and I think Cooper senses something is wrong because he opens her bedroom door when she doesn’t respond and runs inside. “True?” I hear his soft voice whisper, and a shard of ice pierces my heart. I’ve heard that voice before when Tiffany left him.
I turn to face my brother, who won’t look at me. He just drops to the couch, staring out the window.
“Cooper?” I walk into True’s room and find it empty. Coop has a note in his hand, but the dude can’t read yet.
“What does it say, Uncle Clay?” he asks, and I hold my shaking hand out, so I can take it.
As I read the words, my mind reels. She’s gone? Explain what? I stomp out of the room and head for Milo.
“What the fuck is going on?” I demand, shoving the note into Milo’s hands. He glances at it and then crumples it.
“I’ll explain later. I need to talk to Cooper first.” His tone is flat. Lacking any and all emotion, even though I can tell by the look on his face that something is very wrong.
“Where’s True?” Cooper asks, looking at his dad like he’s the villain in a Bond movie.
“She had to leave, Coop. She wasn’t who we thought she was.” Milo reaches for his son, who darts away.
“No! I want True! She… She wouldn’t leave me…” His broken cry splits me in half, and I can’t even imagine my brother’s pain. “You’re a liar!” Cooper shouts, running to his room and slamming his door.
“Give him space,” I say, holding a hand out when Milo starts to stand. “And explain what the hell happened,” I demand as the front door opens, and Bellamy walks in, frowning.
“What's so important I had to come home in the middle of the day?” Bell asks, and Milo stands.
