Chapter 6

Back in her room, she finally could breathe again. Her whole body ached from the exhaustion of pretending everything was ok.

Minnow grabbed her one photo album from the desk drawer and lay on her stomach on the large bed.

She loved looking through the photos of Saylor and her at the lake under the liquidambar tree. In the album's first photos, the two of them couldn't be more than ten years old. Oh, how they had grown practically adults now.

Minnow's face broke into a heartfelt grin as she glanced at the younger versions of themselves. So happy, innocent and carefree.

Her face soon turned into a frown as the sadness of losing that innocence washed over her. These strange men, these monsters, had stolen something from her that could never be brought back—her virginity and trust in human beings.

Minnow's phone chimed, and she secretly hoped it was Saylor. She could need some of his kind words and cheer up.

She glanced at the display, and curls rolled like waves through her body.

"Oh, no, not Chad", she grumbled nervously.

Chad was kind of her boyfriend. They had been on a few dates that had been nice. But since the attack, she had pretty much ghosted him.

Chad came initially from Australia and looked like a poster child for the faraway land. Tall, tanned, blond and muscular built. Unlike most other young men at her school, he was also kind and caring. 

"I guess I must take the bull and get the horns at some stage. Or, however, you say that phrase." She sighed and pressed the green icon on her mobile phone.

"Um, hello."

"Hey, there you are, finally." Chad's dark voice and the broad Australian accent she loved sounded on the other end. "Where have you been? Why haven't you answered my calls?"

"Um, sorry about that. I have had the flu." She quickly blurted out with a fake cough.

"Ok, are you feeling any better?" 

"Um, yes, I am starting to." Minnow felt terrible for lying, but she hadn't been physical or mentally strong enough to talk to anyone. Moreover, she wouldn't even have spoken to Saylor if he hadn't known her so well.

"Will I be able to see you soon?" his voice sounded insecure like he could sense her unwantedness.

"It will probably be a while." she started, then stopped, inhaled and took the bull by the horns. "I can't see you anymore." Minnow was met with silence and continued softly. "You haven't done anything wrong. You have been great, actually, but I need to be alone at the moment." 

There was a small eternity before he answered.

"I see. I better leave you to it then. Bye Minnow," Chad's voice was low and unsteady. 

Minnow wiped away the tears building up and pouring out onto her flushed cheeks. It was better to let Chad go than to string him on when she didn't know how long it would take for her to feel better again, if ever.

"I am so sorry, " she sobbed as she heard his phone click.

Minnow buried her face in the silky pillows and cried.

All of this was so unfair, how she had to give up on more and more things in her life. Because of the act of two strangers, she could not function like before. Was she ever going to be able to feel like herself again? 

Minnow sat up and stared out the bay window. The sun had begun its decline in the clear blue cloud-free sky.

Her stomach rumbled, and Minnow rolled her eyes at the involuntary sensation. Eating was just another draining task that needed to be done.

Minnow wrapped herself in the handmade cardigan she had got from Ariella and Henry a few Christmases ago. At first glance, Dovie hated the colourful knitted garment, which made Minnow love the generous gift more. 

She left the room and snuck down the grand staircase, tiptoeing through a long corridor toward the kitchen.

The kitchen was bright and warm with its robust scent of fresh coffee and newly baked bread rolls welcoming her in.

The room was designed as a state-of-the-art farmhouse kitchen with two sizable ovens, multiple countertops, and every utility you could dream of lining the large work area.

The room was empty, so Minnow took her time walking up and down the countertops filling a small basket with things she thought she could muster to eat.

She licked her fingers as the thick yellow butter melted on the warm bread rolls after grabbing them from under the tea towel and buttering them. Minnow made two and placed them in the basket next to a couple of cinnamon scrolls and an apple.

Next, Minnow filled her favourite Robert Gordon mug with fresh coffee and frothed almond milk before heading out the soft yellow dutch door.

She followed the stone path alongside the house wall to the garden. The flat stones felt cold under her sock-covered feet. Nevertheless, she had a strange urge to connect to nature in an endeavour to feel anything good again.

The path led to beautiful circular patterns of well-manicured bushes and carved stone benches placed flawlessly across the extensive grounds. 

Minnow continued down to the fence line across the lawn, the short, damp grass soaked through her thin sock fabric. But, then, there was her favourite tree.

After discovering the tree's delicious fruit, the gardener had spared this small crooked apple tree upon Minnow's wishes. Luckily it was far enough away not to annoy her mother's strive for perfection.

Henry had helped Minnow place a small wooden bench next to the tree; from there, she could watch the Okehart town.

She put her basket and the mug of coffee on the seat. Above her on one of the branches hang a silver lantern with a white pillar candle inside. Minnow used the lighter tucked inside the glass box and lit the candle before sitting on the bench.

The crisp air left goosebumps on her skin, and she wrapped the cardigan of many colours firmer around her chest.

Below her, the townspeople were going about their business and were clueless about her watching glare. Sometimes she felt jealous of their simpler lifestyles, and sure she knew she was lucky and had gotten everything she pointed at from a young age.

But after meeting Saylor and his family, who had to work multiple jobs to be able to keep him at the prestige school, they both were enrolled. Minnow had started to look differently at being wealthy, and these days she didn't spend any more money than a regular teenager and was determined to use her money to make good.

She could hear footsteps coming up behind her, and she quickly looked over her shoulder, and her eyes met with Henry, who was also carrying a mug of hot liquid in his hand. 

"Hi, Henry. Has mother finally given you a break?" She smiled and made room for him on the bench. 

"Yes, no more work for this old man tonight." Henry chuckled and sat heavily on the small bench, shaking the wooden seat. 

"What's the matter with you, my dear Minnow? You only come down this way when you have a troubled mind."

Minnow sighed. God, was she an open book? Everyone seemed to know something was up.

She sipped her coffee and bit down on her bread roll to buy herself some time to think. But in the end, she mainly was honest with her answer anyway. 

"I am nervous about my birthday party on Saturday," she said between bites of heavenly bread.

"Ah, I understand! I would be to with half the town coming." He laughed warmly.

"Um, you are not helping" She grinned. It was impossible not to join Henry's contagious laughter. 

"Worrying doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles, but it will take away today's peace." Henry winked.

Minnow loved Henry's wise words that always spoke the truth.

They leaned back and watched the town's light spreading alongside the streets as the sun sunk further behind the dark ragged tree tops in the distance.