Carson's P.O.V
I was hesitant and nervous ever since I laid eyes on Addie in the hallway. She looked like she had lost a little weight, not like I had any idea how she looked over the years but, I had imagined her to better off than what she looked before me.
There were deep baggy dark circles under her eyes and her complexion didn't look good either. She was paler than before and maybe even weaker.
Her sobs during our hug, her horrible effort in telling a lie, her desperate attempts at avoiding anything leading to her didn't or rather couldn't go unnoticed by me. Even her teasingly calling me "Benjamin" felt like she was trying so hard to look completely fine. Completely normal. It pained me to look at her like that, especially knowing how bright and lively of a person she is. Her smile would light up the world and make it feel so warm, so soothing but now its all cold.
Confronting her this time had become harder. She was adamant and stubborn but I had faith in her. A faith which I myself was doubting because of how Addie behaved.
Having to wait for Addie was never really a new thing for me but, this time it felt different. It was clearly something very serious. Her behavior, her sudden arrival at Italy without any reasoning was odd.
Nothing could have actually prepared me for what she was about to say.
The mental preparations I had made on my behalf after she called me "Carson" and not her usual "Benjamin or Benjie" were never enough.
My attention was entirely consumed by her until; I heard her speak about Uncle.
"I- I killed him."
It's all she had said. Nothing more but, simply to the point.
My mind went blank. Thinking straight wasn't even an option as I couldn't think anymore. The only thing that played in my mind on repeat were her words. Her voice echoed in my ears, haunting me with the message they held.
Adelaide was sobbing into her arms. She refused to look at me as she hid her face.
There were millions of questions arising in my head that needed an answer and to get my answers I needed to confront her. Taking a deep breath I collected my thoughts before forming then into words.
"Tell me everything. What had happened, how it happened, when... just everything you can tell me."
I refused to believe Adelaide could kill anyone. I could not. Especially so when it concerns Fedir Cicilia. The only family Addie has, or maybe even had, the only person whom she could kill for and also the only person she could never ever kill. Hearing her state such impossible events with her gentle, lost and emotionless empty state broke my heart. Beyond everything, I knew not to just judge a person by what they say. It could not be entirely true right? There has got to be something more than simply that right?
I soon found out that confronting Addie was simply impossible. All she did was cry. Louder and and more painfully by the minute. She was letting all her emotions out leaving me conflicted in choice.
I was confused. Confused whether or not I should confront her right now. She was breaking down in front of me. Something which she has done before but, this time around it felt different. It was different not because she was mourning so heartbreakingly but because, she was crying on her own. Unlike before. She refused to reside in me, her emotions, her thoughts and above all herself. Probably having had done this before, she cried to herself bitterly.
Slowly and extremely carefully I reached out to her.
"Adelaide" -I tried calling out to her in the sweetest voice I could because I neither wanted to scare her nor get her alarmed. I wanted to make my every approach as carefully as one would with a baby. Cautiously and gently.
Calling out to Addie wasn't enough. She was so engrossed in her own grief that she shut her senses out. Her response was making it harder for me to stay rational. I couldn't make up any possible scenario to match her statement. As my frustration grew more and more, I felt impatience as every second passed.
Taking a deep breath, I counted one to ten slowly in my head and then faced Adelaide again. But this time I didn't just simply call out her name. I decided to let her know of my presence, my physical existence right next to her.
Adelaide's P.O.V
Letting Carson know was harder than I had thought. Maybe even more harder on me than him. I couldn't help but squeeze my eyes shut as the image of my dead father crossed my eyes. It was vexing enough to control myself until now but looks like things have gotten worse. Confiding or should I say "speaking the truth"; it was harder than I had ever imagined. I could feel my tears falling on my cheek.
"You killed him." -The voice spoke.
"No, no, no. I- I didn't. I did what Papa wanted. I-"
"It was your fault! You are the reason he is dead!" -I could hear the voice laugh at me. Heartily mocking me as I lost control over myself. I could feel myself shaking and curling into a ball at the end of the bed and crying heavily.
"Go away! Go! I- I left you back home! You were, you were gone with Papa! Leave me alone!" -I didn't even realize I was inaudible until I felt a hand on my shoulder causing me to shudder and look at the person in horror.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
It was a relief to hear Carson's voice.
"Are you alright? Your breathing heavily."
"A-am I?" -I breathed out only to realize that I was actually huffing.
"Should I call a doctor?" -I could sense how worried Carson was, his voice and face showed it all.
"No, I'll be fine. J-just give me a minute please."
"I'm sorry but I can't" -just like that, even before I could reply or question him, I felt his muscular chest on me.
He had engulfed me into his arms just like the waves on the seashore. Only difference being, my waves didn't have any plans on letting go of the shore anytime soon.