An Unexpected Connection

Confessions

Y/N stood at the door of her house, staring out at the now empty road that had previously been filled with her curious neighbours and the flashing lights of police cars.

Yes, they had finally done it: her parents were on their way to being locked away forever, and the girl felt relief flooding through her mind.

However, something within her didn't like it. There was a small tug in her heart which begged the girl to run after those cars and plead for her parents to be treated with mercy. She didn't know why she was feeling this way; they had ruined her whole life, and brought guilt crashing down on her already weakened soul.
It was an overwhelming situation, and it had finally gone away just as her parents did.

But why did it leave her feeling empty?

Shaking it off for now, Y/N turned back to the house, which was already filled with boxes and packages containing all sorts of personal items and whatnot. No furniture would be taken except for the mattresses, but everything else had been hauled into a massive jumble of possessions, ones which - although they were remnants of a horrible life - couldn't be left behind.

Sighing heavily, the girl navigated her way through the maze of junk that covered the floor of their small home and came to stand outside on the back porch, a breeze lightly blowing through her loose H/C hair.

Her notebook and pen was the first thing she noticed, left there one day by a girl too distracted from a voice in her head to take it inside again and continue writing.

Y/N smiled at the memory, picking it up and dusting the cobwebs and dirt off the faded cover. How could she have forgotten about this after only a few months? Her life had obviously been more hectic and busy than she realised.

Suddenly, a hand was placed on her shoulder, making the girl flinch and instinctively cower from the touch, even though it was ever so gentle.

She heard a soft chuckle from behind her, relaxing when she recognised the honey smooth voice of Pearce. He had been helping her pack, since Olivia was spending her last few days in school with her friends. Chandler had already gone back home to LA, but he was staying a few weeks longer to allow them to settle.

"Hey Y/N, it's just me", he smiled, his voice quieter than usual.

The girl sighed, shrugging the hand off. "I know, it's just..."

"It's just a natural reaction, I know." He sighed as well, the both of them not wishing to divulge into the memories of the past few days.
They were quiet for a few moments, watching the breeze move through the grass and the few cars passing by on the road, before Pearce spoke up again.

"So, are you...are you doing okay? I mean, with the police and your parents and..."

"I'm fine", she cut him off, forcing a small smile on her face. "I'm just getting used to it, that's all."

There was no need to mention the slight regret that she felt, and definitely no need to talk about what her parents did to deserve being taken away and locked up forever. And there was definitely no need to talk about the sense of lostness still lingering and filling the girl from the inside out, reminding her that she could never truly escape the loneliness and despair she felt throughout her life, no matter how well she hid it from others or no matter how long her parents were locked up for.

Pearce smiled back at her gently, reaching a reassuring hand out to connect with hers, rubbing it in a consoling manner before he spoke once more.

"All right Y/N. Just...lemme know if you need anything, okay?"

And with that he had disappeared, probably going back to do some last minute packing before Olivia got home and started getting in the way. Oh, the excitement of an 11 year old.