1.10 Each Word A Betrayal

Hectically, he looked at his watch. Eleven p.m. How could that have happened? He had called in sick for work, because he had wanted to prepare everything for the move in those few hours. When he had been done, he had decided to take a quick nap before finally leaving this place that had been his home for so long now. Ever since his family had left him in the middle of the night, without leaving much more than a short note, he had been hoping a day like this would come along again. Meeting a woman who loved him, and whom he loved back with all his heart. He had decided to move in with Chuck and his horses to have some company around, because being along had killed him. Chuck had turned out to be one of the best friends you could possibly have. Leaving him was a tough decision, yet it was so easy when he thought about Anna. This woman, with her bright aquamarine eyes, had captivated him within a few minutes, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Nothing could stop him.

He could not understand why he hadn’t woken up when his alarm rang. Usually, it was so loud that even Chuck heard it, and came over to complain. Why was he nowhere to be seen, anyway? He surely had heard the doorbell. And since he should have assumed that Jo was gone by now, there would have been nobody else to open the door. 

For now, all he could do was apologize to Anna, who was standing right in front of him, looking disappointed. Lovingly, he touched her cheek and assured her this had not happened on purpose. She could still count on him, of course, and he was almost completely packed.

They agreed to meet at the house in an hour, until then Jo would have finished packing everything. Anna was relieved that he hadn’t changed his mind, but was still confused about why this has happened. When she left the house, she looked to the right, completely lost in thought. There was Chuck’s window, and she could swear there was a reflection behind it. Somebody was standing there, watching her. When she got a bit closer, the strange person quickly stepped back from the window, and the curtain was slightly moved by the sudden motion. Was this Chuck, checking if Jo was actually leaving? Maybe he even had something to do with the delay in moving. A second later, she chastised herself. Jo was a grown man – how would his friend be able to stop him from moving out? This was stupid.

When she got back, somebody was already waiting for her. A blitheful neighing and a loving snort greeted her at the door step. Freebird, Jo’s horse, apparently had been tired of waiting any longer, and had decided to run to her new home on her own. Anna returned the greeting with a careful hug, then sat in front of her house and waited. Soon, the lights of an approaching car disturbed the peaceful silence that always ruled during nights in Appaloosa Plains. When she got up, being excited and exhausted at the same time, she realized the car was neither Jo’s nor the movers’. Nevertheless, it slowed down, until it was on walking pace. She went towards it, wondering if somebody had a question or needed her help. The window rolled down, and a face appeared in the dark. She couldn’t see much, because the streetlamps hadn’t been working for days now, all she could make out was a shadow, hidden by a huge hat. 

When Jo arrived at the house only a few minutes later, wanting to apologize and tell her that his car had had a flat tire, he found her sobbing on the doorstep. Freebird was standing next to her, helplessly nudging her every few minutes.

Anna and Jo slept until the sun was up, not only because it had taken so long until they finally got to bed. After a long period of consolidation, Jo had managed to stop Anna’s tears from falling down any more. She wouldn't tell him what had happened, only said that she was so glad he was finally here. It confused him not to know the entire truth, but if there was something he had learned about Anna, it was to give her time.

Suddenly being wide awake, Anna sat up in bed. The previous night had bestowed new nightmares upon her, repeating what had happened over and over again. She was forced to relive those moments of terror, the whispering, intimidating voice, the smoke of a cigarette coming from the car, blown into her face. She was scared, and unsure whether she could trust Jo enough to tell him everything. After all, they only had been dating for a year. What was one year compared to her entire past? Only time could tell whether she would take her secrets into her grave in many years.