I gripped my phone tightly, unable to move an inch. The sound of her voice still ringing in my ear, my heart racing double time.
"There is only so far you can run Amelia".
Two days earlier
I woke up with a smile on my face. It was finally here, the day I would marry the love of my life. I stared at my wardrobe. My beautiful gown glittering as the sun reflected on the little crystals that adorned it.
I picked up my phone, my smile broadening. It was just a single text from him that said, "You ready?"
I loved waking up to text messages from him. He knew I wasn't a fan of phone calls. Infact no one ever called me. I just didn't fancy it as if you got close to me, you'd get used to it.
I got out of my bed and my best friend's, Chloe and Hayden were already in the sitting room arguing on who would walk in front. My eyes caught the picture on my bedside table and I stared, the girl in the middle smiling brightly stared back at me.
I don't exactly know why I kept that picture of the four of us, maybe a reminder that what happened three years ago was not my fault.
The day came and went and officially, I was Amelia Jonas. Derek had planned everything out and the next day we were out of the country for our honeymoon. I didn't grow up with money so all the expensive things were new to me and I was trying to adjust to it.
Two days flew by and I was having the best time of my life with the man I loved.
We had basically spent the whole time in bed but it was eventually time to get out so I dragged myself out to the kitchen to prepare something for us to eat when my phone rang.
It was weird, no one called me. Everyone knew I prefer text messages and I was always with my phone so I never missed anything important.
I checked my screen and it was an unknown number. Perhaps an old college classmate that got my number from Chloe or Hayden to wish me a happy married life?.
I answered.
"Amelia".
Every hair on my body stood. There was no way.
"You are probably in shock but yes it's me, Tasha".
My mind had to be playing a trick on me.
"It's not a mind trick Amelia. I know it's surprising that I'm calling considering you saved yourself and left me to my fate three years ago. I would like to ask you though, why do you keep the picture of the four of us on your stand. To soothe your conscience?".
I swallowed a lump in my throat, "Where are you Tasha?"
She laughed and something sounded off about it, "Don't worry. I won't make a mess of your pretty little house. I wonder what your precious husband would say if he found out what you did".
"It wasn't my fault. I went to get help".
"No, you left me".
"It wasn't my fault", I repeated.
Tasha laughed, "But you pushed me into the ditch Amelia".
I gasped, "That's not what happened".
"I wonder what the charge for attempted murder is. There's only so far you can run".
The line went dead.
We were two college students after the thrill so we joined a scavenger hunt.
It was getting dark and I kept telling her we should turn back but she said she hated to lose and we had to find the rest of the items on the list. Eventually we did and in her haste to b
get back, she slipped and fell into a ditch.
I had tried to get her out but it was of no use so I ran to get help and by the time I got back with some people, sand had filled the ditch and we couldn't find her.
Chloe, Hayden and I had searched for days but we still didn't find her.
I was shaken by the phone call. Derek came out of the bedroom and found me the same way and I told him everything. I called Chloe and Hayden and told them that Tasha was alive and we all had the same question.
If she had been alive. Why now?
I didn't hear from her for two weeks. I tried calling back but my number was blocked from that line.
She started calling again and she would use different numbers. I would pick and she wouldn't say anything, all I heard was breathing.
Source
It happened over and over until Derek got involved, using his connection to track her down. As it turned out, she had escaped from a mental institution. I cried the day they took her back and she screamed and blamed me.
"It wasn't your fault. You went back to get help, you did what you thought was right".
"Maybe if I had just stayed".
"It wouldn't have changed anything".
"I spoke to one of the nurses. She hit her head during the fall and affected her brain. She will get better so she can tell you herself".
He kissed my forehead, "It's not your fault".
I started visiting her with Hayden and Chloe and whenever I couldn't make it I would pick up my phone and call her and after one year she finally ended the call saying, "It was not your fault Amelia".