As the hours passed, everyone around seemed to loosen up; not without help.
Bottles emptied as the hours passed, new concoctions made and poured.
Light hearted jokes with curses were thrown, well I sat back and observed.
A warm cup in my hand who's stream of smoke shorted and thined as time went on.
Yoon, a sweet gentleman whom I had met on this earthquake of made an offer.
"Hey, Mia" - he smiled, as he always did while talking - "Don't feel obligated to stay there silent all night, if you feel tired at all, you may go lay on the futon we have upstairs"
Giving thanks, as well with a bow like his own from earlier, I accepted his offer with droopy eyes.
------
That night had ended well for everyone.
It now has been a few months since we've been welcomed and offered to stay in the Dallas home.
And seemingly that me nor Carson had a place to live, we accepted.
We both did tasks around the house, always putting a part in when needed.
And that moment Carson and I had experience well meeting the Dallas, turned to no more.
Sly as well as awkward glance were shared, hands occasionally touched for a little to long, being alone for to long resulted in someone running out the room.
But, that all vanished one night. One night I as rudely awaken.
"Mia" a honey voice whispered, luring me out of my deep state.
"Mia"
With puffy eyes and spotting vision, my sight lands upon a beautiful lady with long brown hair and perfect features.
As my vision starts to clear, I notice the look she's giving me; the look I received the first time meeting, the look I receive when ever we are alone.
Her nails dig into my bare arms as she forces me up into a sitting position.
"Cleo?" It comes out more as a yelp of fear then a question.
A finger is placed upon my mouth; silencing me.
"You will do as I say exactly, you will not make a single wrong movement or you die" she stated before continuing to her directions.
"Yoon and Carson are downstairs, you will go down those stairs without saying a word and walk out that door" giving a nod for confirmation, which I return.
"And never return, not for anything" as those words were said, a little remorse glimmer in her eyes before evaporating.
With a look of angered betrayal, "Why?" Is all I push out.
"For reasons left unsaid"
And with that, she lifts herself up and faces herself down the stairs before exiting.
I contemplate many different scenarios, all ending in my death.
In part, I lift myself up, and face myself down those stretching steps as Cleo just had.
And with that and stomping steps, I'm out.
No goodbye, no expression or need, no attempt to hold me back.
A single tear zigzags down my face before turning into rain, which a make no effort to stop.
Why did I listen?
Why didn't I say "goodbye"?
Why didn't I make her look bad?
Were they all in on it?
Was Carson?
All these questions with no answers.
Because in the end, I was, and will always be weak.