Broken

Chapter 24

  Ethan

I yawn as I walk out of the house. I'm so tired right now. I really should have slept early last night. But hey, that's what I always say anyways and never comply. I have to meet with Walter at the Café today. The main reason I couldn't sleep properly was because of Zane.

Just the thought of him makes me angrily kick a stone on my path. That idiot! Did he not understand what a good evidence I had found that'll solve the case in a flash? It was literally presented to him on a silver platter! How can he be so dense and think it might have been nothing. Maybe that's just his ego talking but he'll realise I was right once he gets the results from the tech team. I thought lying to him about Walter's call would make me feel better but it didn't have much effect. Well, Walter did say to just let him rest so I guess it was ok. I drank his iced tea too but it still didn't suppress my anger and frustration. Just made me feel pathetic.

I see many puddles as I walk. It gives me a strong urge to splash on them like we used to when we were kids. But hey, can't act like that now in public and also, I'm wearing nice shoes too so don't wanna get them dirty. I remember dad never cared about all that. If I was doing it, he'd just join me no matter who was watching.

"Please! I want that car too!" I hear a little boy yelling in front of a toy store pointing at a big toy car on the display window.

"You already bought a basketball set, let's go." Replies a tall man with a shopping bag in his hand.

"But I want that too!" The boy cries and his father drags him away by the arm as he keeps ignoring his demands.

I smile at that scene. It was the same way with me and my dad. I think I'll visit his grave on my way back home.

I feel my heart start to twist and my lips trembling. I place my hand over my heart. No, stop it! Dad told you to always keep smiling. It's ok. Just smile. You don't want your family to think you're back to your old self again.

Just stay positive...

As soon as I make a turn to another street, I notice a familiar face walking on the sidewalk across the road. Oh, Right! It's that girl who I mistook for morgan! It looks like she's in a good mood smiling and twirling with a spring in her step.

"Hey!" A sound of a kid across the street grabs my attention. A little girl was just pushed to the ground by two other girls her age and now they're walking away from her.

I sigh. kids these days are so ruthless. Bullying others like it's no big deal.

But just as I'm about to cross the road to go over to the kid, that high schooler who I thought was Morgan reaches her first. I can't hear what they're talking about but it looks like she's consoling her and sticking a bandage on her knee. Then she gets closer to the girl's ear and starts saying something while handing her a...
stone? The reason becomes clear to me as she points at the other girls.

She wants her to throw stones at those girls? Is she crazy? I feel like I should step in and stop her....but at the same time, I wanna see what happens.

The kid who was already looking scared runs away from her. This causes me to snicker.

"Scaring kids now, are we?" I finally decide to call out to her.

She makes no effort looking at me with an annoyed expression. Ha! Now, this'll be fun. As I cross the road to get to her, I notice her deep in thought. As I get near her, I'm beginning to see why I mistook her for Morgan. She may look different but her face shape, height and physique are similar to Morgan's.