Driftwood
a short story by Charlie Taylor

“I’ve tried my best to leave
This all on your machine
But the persistent beat
Sounded thin upon listening”

“I’m sorry.” It was barely a whisper but the distance between us filled with his words, barely reaching me.

“Sorry,” A dry laugh escaped my throat. I was trying my hardest to look him in the eye.

“Taylor,” He said. I looked down at my shoes. It was taking everything inside of me not to cry, “Please.”

“Everything you say is a lie.”

I lifted my head and looked at a picture that hung on the wall above his shoulder, one of my mother and father before she left. I just couldn’t look at him.

“Stop,” I said when he took a step towards me.

“Don’t shut me out,” he said, his voice strained.

My eyes flew to his face, his words giving me the courage to face him.

“I think you should leave,” This voice coming from me was so cold, arctic even, that even I didn’t recognize it. It hurt to speak, and I was too tired to think of being betrayed.

"Why won't you listen to me?"

He stood in the same spot until I finally turned my back to him and pointed to the door. I heard him walk towards the door and open it. I wrapped my arms around myself, shutting my eyes to keep the tears from coming, waiting to hear the final click.

“Taylor,” I heard, “I love you.”

I couldn’t believe what he had said. I spun around to see him in the door, the sunlight surrounding him. This time I didn’t try to hide my tears. You didn’t hurt the people you loved.

“I hate you,” I said. I took all of the pain and agony I’d felt for the past 18 years and shoved them neatly into those three words. I didn’t hate him, I never could; but even I believed it then.

I watched his dark eyebrows draw together, the hurt flicker in his eyes. He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned away.

I walked to the window and watched him get into his car and slam the engine on. I stood there, alone, and watched him quickly fade away.

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Authors Note: Thanks Christina/pantherscheer!! I think that the chapter are growing progressively larger, little by little. I was thinking that when I've finished this story maybe I could rewrite it to be longer and more in depth. I glad you enjoyed it! (and thanks for the grammer comment, I'm always paranoid about that! Mine is far from perfect the first time around.) Thanks for reading!
-charlie