Chapter 13.
Miranda hadn’t said a word since she arrived at the police station. She wouldn’t answer anyone’s questions, including the police officer’s or her attorney’s.
Taryn wasn’t surprised. Her friend wasn’t one to talk before all this had happened, and the after effect had made it even worse. Taryn needed to see Miranda. She begged her mother to take her to the police station, and it worked when the fake tears started forming in her eyes. They called the station and asked if it was okay for them to go down, they gladly agreed.
When they arrived, Taryn was nervous. She hadn’t personally talked to Miranda since all of this had happened and wasn’t sure how either of them were going to react. They told the short blonde lady at the desk who they were, and she was surprisingly delighted to see them.
“Miranda will not talk to anyone. We tried everything we could. We were hoping you might be able to talk to her, but that’s only if you want to.” She said.
Taryn wasn’t sure if even she could get Miranda to talk. She felt as if Miranda knew it was Taryn’s fault she was forced into such a terrible situation. The guilt alone made her fear the loss of her best friend.
“Sure. I’ll do my best.” Taryn said, unsure of what she was about to do.
She was hoping so much Miranda would talk to her. Taryn needed the forgiveness she was wanting so badly from the person she hurt so much. She couldn’t believe how she could take so much advantage of such an innocent girl; the person she knew was her best friend.
Taryn followed the lady through the crowded police station. There were so many scummy looking people starring up at her from the cold benches they had been subdued to. She couldn’t help think; what if Miranda was being charged like one of these people? Taryn would have to get her to talk; it was the only way to clear everything up and save her from enduring such a tragedy as the reckless people in front of her were.
The hallway Taryn was in was narrow with dirty, seemingly once, white walls constricting her as if trying to keep her contained. She could feel her heart pound a little faster with every step she took, nearing the room where she would either face a new enemy, or relive a once cherished friendship. The lady led them through a door into a very small room. There was what appeared to be a window looking upon a depressing scene.
The girl Taryn saw was definitely Miranda, but only someone who knew her very well would be able to determine that. Her hair was an array of greasy looking strands resting on her shoulders. The clothes she was wearing were beat up and drooping from her body clearly indicating their size was too big for her figure. Her eyelids sagged very low and had the darkest purple bags below them. Her appearance was a disaster and so was the mood she was giving off.
Taryn felt the smallest tear slide down her cheek and onto her lip. She quickly wiped it off with the back of her hand and felt her mother’s hand rubbing her shoulder in a soothing motion. She took a deep breath and nodded to the blonde lady, signaling she was ready to go in.
Taryn walked into the room and could instantly feel the sorrow enter her body. She felt an uneasy breath escape her lungs and fill the air around her. Miranda must have noticed. She lifted up her head in a slow and tiring motion and looked at Taryn’s face. Her eyebrows creased and her face didn’t seem as depressed as it had moments before. There eyes met and Taryn could feel every thought she had ever had slip away. Miranda looked as if something miraculous had just happened, like she wasn’t ever expecting to see Taryn again.
They held each other’s gaze for a minute longer until Taryn managed to squeeze out a word.
“Hi.” She said.
Miranda paused for a minute. Taryn was sure she wasn’t going to answer. She felt as if this was how it was going to end; her best friend stuck in a police station, not wanting anything to do with her or any of the world for that matter… Finally, Miranda put her thumb nail against her bottom lip and looked down at the table in front of her. Her lips spread apart slowly.
“Hi.” Was all that she managed to croak out.
Chapter 14.
The meeting was awkward and Taryn wasn’t sure what to say or do. She looked around the room and noticed the mirror on the wall. She realized it was the window she had been looking through upon previously entering the room she was now in. She felt the blood rush to her face as she realized the people on the other side must be witnessing the reuniting of her and Miranda.
She turned back to Taryn and noticed her also starring at the mirror.
“They’ve been watching me forever,” Miranda said.
Taryn was surprised and felt herself roll up onto the balls of her feet.
“It must be really nerve wracking,” Taryn said, quietly.
Miranda looked at Taryn and the look on her face was a good enough answer.
“Uhm, Miranda?” Taryn said.
Miranda looked up again and caught Taryn’s glance. Taryn accepted that as an invitation to continue her thought.
“I know this isn’t ever going to be enough, but I wanted to let you know how absolutely sorry I am. What I did was so horrible and I never meant for it to happen. I-,” She was cutoff when Miranda began shaking her head.
“I don’t want an apology; I just want all of this to be over with. I want the gaping whole inside of me to go away. I want all of the terrible memories to be erased from my mind. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this Taryn, I really don’t.” Miranda said, her tired eyes filled with pain.
Taryn walked over to the table and pulled out the chair next to Miranda. She sat down apprehensively and contemplated what she should say next, but stopped when Miranda continued.
“Taryn I will tell you everything that happened and I know they’ll be listening in,” she motioned to the double sided mirror, “but now that you’re here, I’ll do anything I have to to get this over with.”
Taryn nodded and prepared herself for the awful scenes Miranda was about to unfold. She looked at Miranda with sympathetic eyes and let her know she was there for her. Miranda took a few deep breathes and closed her eyes for what seemed like forever. She didn’t reopen them for any of the time she told her story, only pressing them closed tighter when she spoke of the worst parts.
Taryn was disgusted with the things she forced herself to imagine as Miranda relived them. She felt her body shaking after everything had been put out for her to absorb. Tears were streaming down her face and she couldn’t take her eyes off of Miranda as she sat completely still, her eyes still closed.
They sat together for an hour or so more. Taryn tried to understand the pain Miranda would now live with forever, but she couldn’t, and even though Miranda wouldn’t admit it, Taryn convinced herself every last detail was her fault.
When they finally left the room, their parents were waiting for the both of them on the other side. They too had wet faces and swollen eyes. Miranda’s father took her by the shoulders and looked his daughter in the eyes. More tears flowed from his eyes as he told Miranda what he thought he would never be able to.
“I’m so sorry.” He said.
Her body fell limp and he caught her. She steadied herself and Taryn saw Miranda’s face contort, like she was forcing back sobs. Then it happened. Miranda fell into her father’s arms and let out all the emotions she was bottling inside. Her body shook with painful sobs and her breathing was erratic. This was the first time Taryn had seen Miranda cry throughout everything that had happened. Taryn was amazed at what a strong person Miranda was.
No comments:
Post a Comment