Centered

“Averill are you ok?” Farrah asks as she watched him pace around the room. This wasn’t the first time something like this has happened. “Time keeps on slipping or maybe I’m really losing it now”, Averill began to question aloud. His hands holding tightly upon his face while he paces to the bedroom door than back to the kitchen table. “I feel I’m suffocating, sinking deep into shark infested waters with no where else to go”. After the accident about a year ago nothing has been the same, It’s a bit of a sensitive topic so it’s been avoided. Post traumatic stress disorder is quite intense, especially with depression and anxiety worsening. “I can’t go out, I just can’t. please don’t make me go!”

“It’s just a routine visit it won’t take long, Dr. Hugh just wants to be there for you, help you get through this”, Farrah assures him. Without hesitation he yells, “No! Don’t you remember what happen last time? I don’t get these feelings for nothing, no one believes the truth…”. Muttering then, “Does anybody really really care too?” One year and a half has past since the accident that killed Lara and nearly himself. He swore something happened someone else was there, he didn’t drink even though he reeked of it. Honestly the whole town and Lara’s family thinks he was how else would this horrendous act occur. Forest City Colorado doesn’t have a lot transpire in this small town, every body talks so it’s best to just stay in line and go with the flow.

When Averill had that accident the whole town was crushed about Lara. She was sweet as pie and her pies were the best in town. Everyone wanted answers while he was in a coma. Over that week the town folk came up with stories to ease the pain. Simple folk had taken it as facts by the end of that week. Averill awoken from his coma screaming for his life “Lara!” Everyone pushed it off as a bad dream, dreams don’t make you wake up in a sweat screaming every night. They all wanted the truth, but the truth wasn’t an easy truth to hear. No one in town wants to believe someone else was involved. No small town wants a murder, after all who would want to hurt sweet Lara. Averill spoke again, “Dr. Hugh can never understand he won’t accept his son had a hand in hurting Lara. what’s the point of any of this without her? Meanwhile Henley is a free man.”

Lara was a baker like the rest of her family, she lived for the smell of pies it was her niche. Her grand mama would always let her help make meat pies to sell in town. She loved helping her grand mama bake, even at that age she was an expert with flavor. Always adding something extra to each pie which grand mama did not notice each time. When she did catch her adding ingredients she would explore the flavor Lara added, curating her passion to uphold the family baking. She had a special pie for everyone in town, and an even more so for Averill. Since childhood they would play, inseparable they were which was lucky for Averill. All the boys admired Lara but her heart was clearly fit only for him, and envious some had become.

“I love Lara remarkably, a void has filled me in her absence.” Averill cried out falling to his knees hands once’s clenching his face now slam upon the wood floor, what a cruel fate. Set to be married in just a weeks they received a carriage from Henley as a wedding gift. Always a fine craftsman, it did come as a surprise to receive such a fine gift. Henley who previously confessed his love for Lara dispite knowing she was with Averill was not happy about the up coming union. A union which was just a formality tying their bonds so they could have a family together. Which unknowingly to the towns folk Lara was already with child. Averill never had an ill thought pass his mind, that day he was called out of town to fix a well. Had he know the intent of the call he never would have had lovely Lara join him.

“Averill!” Farrah exclaimed, “this is not what Lara would want for you. She would want you to live life for her.” With disgust and disappointment on his face he looks up to Farrah “what would you know about what Lara would want for me?” It would be a long walk but given the new carriage he thought it be nice to take it and Lara to fix the well. A nice day for a picnic he thought to surprise her packing a basket with some food she loved. As they heading out their hearts filled with excitement for Lara had just told Averill he was to be a father. “I lost my love and my child where is my justice, why am I the one being shamed” Averill pleads. Farrah speechless looks away trying to find the words to help him greave finding nothing, only silence. Averill storms out of the house and runs down into the woods. Farrah now sensing that he was speaking with truth the whole time. Her head slumped over looking upon the ground. “Henley Hugh… how could he do such a thing.” A hard struggle to find ones center in a world of chaos.