Evangeline: “The last 10 minutes took foreeeeever…”
Camren: “It wasn’t that bad man… Hey at least I got you another ice cream.”
Evangeline: “Thank you Cammy~ It’s still soooo good!”
Camren: “Well glad you’re enjoying it, although it isn’t too healthy…”
Evangeline: “Let me enjoy it! I can’t normally have thi- wait, is that Ms. Han?”
Camren: “??? Oh wait, you’re right! Ms. Han!”
Ms. Han: “Oh my! Good afternoon Camren and Eva! I didn’t expect you guys to have come back this early!”
Camren: “Yeah, we decided to take a break for a bit. What are you doing at my house this early as well?”
Ms. Han: “Oh just stopping by, speaking of which, your brother and your parents are back right now.”
Camren: “Really? That’s weird, why would my parents be back already…”
Ms. Han: “I have no clue myself, however I was just paying them a visit because they let me know they were coming back early.”
Camren: “Well, I guess I’ll go in and say hi real quick. I’m sure they’ll be back to their spots later.”
Ms. Han: “Sounds good! Oh wait!”
Camren: “?”
Ms. Han: “May I have a little chat with Eva real quick? You see, I was thinking perhaps she could accompany me in helping me pick out a gift for you, now that you guys are back for a bit.”
Camren: “O-oh, I guess that’s alright, Eva are you ok with that?”
Evangeline: “Of course! W-why wouldn’t I be? Although I sure would’ve loved to have met your parents finally!”
Camren: “Don’t worry, you’ll see them later anyways, go take a walk with Ms. Han!”
Evangeline: “Y-yeah… That’s true, haha.”
Evangeline: (Cams… don’t leave me alone Camren! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHE'S CAPABLE OF CAMREN!!!)
Camren: “Have fun you guys! I’ll see you soon!”
Ms. Han: “We will see you later Camren! Now then, shall we get going Evangeline?”
Evangeline: “Sure but, m-may I ask you a question?”
Ms. Han: “Of course! Go ahead!”
Evangeline: “W-where do I start… I…”
Ms. Han: “Awe no need to be so nervous my love, I don’t bite that hard haha!”
Evangeline: “... Ms. Han, how did you- how do you know my name?”
Ms. Han: “Hm~ I thought you would have been curious about some other stuff, but I guess there is no need keeping it a secret right~?”
Evangeline: “Trust me, I will ask everything.”
Ms. Han: “Oh? But the clock hasn’t hit 8 just yet!”
Evangeline: “I’m sorry Ms. Han, but things just aren’t matching up. You know my name despite neither Cammy nor I ever telling you, you’ve been everywhere we’ve been today so far, you know how to speak as well, although I guess that’s kind of a given. You had the note Cammy’s brother and sister were supposed to have, and somehow, you knew something about the library despite it being disclosed to the public!”
Ms. Han: “...”
Evangeline: “Tell me! What are you hiding from Camren! Aren’t you close to his family? Aren’t you close with him?”
Ms. Han: “No Eva, unfortunately, you’re wrong.”
Evangeline: “? What-”
Ms. Han: “I’m not close with his family, in fact, I’m all that Camren has left.”
Evangeline: “???”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Ms. Han: “Camren's family… is dead.”
Evangeline: “W-what?”
Ms. Han: “Eva, I need you to listen to me carefully. Camren’s family has been dead, they passed away on this very day, 5 years ago.”
Evangeline: “...”
Ms. Han: “5 years ago, Camren came back from school, but no one was home. He waited for them to come back, but eventually went out to look for them. When he returned home at 8, he found a gift and a note left for him by his parents on the dinner table. The note read,
‘Dear Camren, we hope you had a wonderful birthday! Your mother and I have thought of a wonderful game from now on! Make sure to find us throughout the city before 8, and you’ll receive a wonderful present, not as wonderful as you though! Don’t worry, you’ll see all of us in the morning when you wake up, with a delicious breakfast feast just for you! Lot’s of love, your family!’
But when he woke up, they weren’t there, or, weren't supposed to have been there. Somehow the next morning, he saw them, either out of disbelief or sheer ignorance, but ever since then, he believed that his family was still with him. His delusion only breaks if someone else is present with him, if someone else is there to affect his consciousness.”
Evangeline: “What... happened to his family…”
Ms. Han: “His parents' bodies were found in the park lake, and his grandma, in front of the church at the bottom of the stairs, said to have tripped and hit her head.”
Evangeline: “Oh my God… How…”
Ms. Han: “I know it’s a lot to take in, but don’t worry-”
Evangeline: “What about his siblings? His brother and sister?”
Ms. Han: “That’s… you see, we still don’t know what happened to them. Their bodies were never found.”
Evangeline: “No… NO!”
Ms. Han: “Since we never found their bodies, we couldn’t indicate whether they were dead or alive. Our best hope is that they are still somewhere out there, but…”
Evangeline: “No… Camren…”
Ms. Han: “... I’m sorry for keeping this from you for so long Eva, and for having to put this burden on you.”
Evangeline: “How… How do you know all this? Some of the stuff you said… it doesn’t make sense how you would’ve known about this so well, unless…”
Ms. Han: “Yes, I was there with him through all this.”
Evangeline: “Right, he said you were close with his family.”
Ms. Han: “I was very close with them, in fact my family was the one who helped them get settled into Terrado when they moved here.”
Evangeline: “So you knew him ever since he was born.”
Ms. Han: “Correct, however there’s something else about the note…”
Evangeline: “?”
Ms. Han: “I was the one who wrote that note for him.”
Evangeline: “?!? But I thought…”
Ms. Han: “No… they were found dead early into the day, before Camren found the note. I found out as soon as they found the bodies, and… I didn’t know how to tell him! I know I shouldn’t have tricked him and lied to him, and now, he lives in a lonely world all by himself…”
Evangeline: “...”
Ms. Han: “Because of me… he lives in a lie…”
Evangeline: “Ms. Han, I…”
Ms. Han: “Tell me Eva, did I… do the right thing?”
Evangeline: “...”
Ms. Han: “Did I ruin his life? Did I mess up? What if… what’ll happen when he wakes up from his dream? Would he hate me? Would he lose himself even more? Eva I can’t… I don’t think… I can keep doing this… I-”
*SLAP!
Ms. Han: “E- wha-”
Evangeline: “SNAP OUT OF IT ANNA HAN! DIDN’T YOU TAKE CARE OF HIM FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS??? DIDN’T YOU GIVE HIM A REASON TO LIVE AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED??? HE LOST HIS FAMILY, HE LOST EVERYTHING! BUT YOU WERE THERE FOR HIM WEREN’T YOU?!? WHEN HE NEEDED YOU, YOU THERE FOR HIM, AS A FRIEND, AS A TEACHER, AS A FAMILY!”
Ms. Han: “No… NO! I WAS JUST LYING! I WAS JUST PLAYING A ROLE I TOOK AWAY FROM HIM! I took away his parents from him Eva, I took away his reason for living!”
Evangeline: “THAT’S NOT TRUE! YOU GAVE HIM BACK HIS FAMILY!”
Ms. Han: “STOP IT! THIS DOESN’T EVEN CONCERN YOU! IT’S NOT YOUR ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH!”
Evangeline: “BUT IT DOES INVOLVE YOU! HE NEEDS YOU ANNA!”
Ms. Han: “He… no he-”
Evangeline: “Yes you may have lied to him,”
Ms. Han: “...”
Evangeline: “Yes you may have kept a serious secret from him, you kept his family from him,”
Ms. Han: “That’s right I took them from him! That’s why I-”
Evangeline: “BUT YOU WERE ALSO THE ONLY ONE WHO GAVE IT BACK TO HIM! YOU GAVE HIM THE 5 YEARS HE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD WITHOUT YOU!”
Ms. Han: “That’s not…”
Evangeline: “Camren, is the sweetest boy I’ve ever met. He’s the nicest, the most caring kid, one who’s even willing to take a hit from his own girlfriend to help a random girl he just met! I’ve only known him for a day, but I’ve already gotten to know how much of a kind hearted boy he truly is.”
Ms. Han: “C-Camren…”
Evangeline: “All of this Ms. Han, wouldn’t have been possible without you. Without you, he would have been much, much more lost. You stayed by his side, you didn’t abandon him.”
Ms. Han: “Eva…”
*Hugs
Ms. Han: “I was scared... Sniffle I was scared of losing him. I... Thank you...”
Evangeline: “Thank you Anna, for taking care of such a nice kid.”
Ms. Han: “Thank you... Thank you so much! Oh Eva! I WAS SO SCARED!!!!!”
Evangeline: “I think, you made the best choice.”