Page 93 of Shattered Mind

“She’s already gone, Kill. I can’t fight for someone that isn’t here.”

He shakes his head at me in disappointment. “She’s not fucking dead, Grayson. As long as she’s breathing and walking this earth, you can fight for her.”

“I’ve tried contacting her. Her number is dead.” I argue.

He lets out a frustrated breath and stands. “Then try harder. Her best friend lives five minutes from your front porch. Stop fucking hiding like a pussy and do something about it. You’re not going to find the solution to your problems in the bottom of that bottle.”

He turns and walks towards the front door, and I follow him. “Kill?”

He pauses and turns to me. “Yeah?”

“Maybe you should take your own advice. Daisy may have left, but she came back.”

He gives me a tight smile and nods before turning and leaving just as quickly as he entered.

I run the entire conversation through my head again as I try to come up with ways that I can heed his advice andsomehow get my girl back.

CHAPTER 54

OLIVIA

It’s been two and a half weeks since I arrived at my parents’ house and so far, I feel like I have achieved nothing.

I decided to take it easy on myself the first week as I adjusted to being back here, opting to pack away the empty guest room and bathrooms.

Even that was a challenge.

After finding my mums perfume, I made the rookie error of spraying some on myself which promptly led to another epic meltdown.

The second week, Carter and I worked as a team and cleared out the living room and kitchen, boxing up pictures and keepsakes. We’ve kept the furniture for the time being and the new buyers will have the option to keep anything they want. The rest will be sold, donated or thrown out.

I’m yet to make it through a single day without crying and I haven’t even stepped foot in their bedroom. I briefly thought about asking Carter to tackle that room, but Iknow that’s an unfair ask so instead, I have formulated a plan.

All items of clothing will be bagged up for donation and everything of the sentimental kind will be placed into boxes and shipped to Rosewater Creek so I can sort through them at a later date.

That way, I’m not putting too much pressure on myself, and Savannah can be there with me when I undoubtably break down again.

Carter has been a huge help. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without him these past few weeks.

Hell, the past few years.

If it hadn’t been for him, this house would’ve fallen into disrepair years ago. He has kept the place going and respected my mum and dad and their belongings without complaint. I honestly don’t know what I could ever do to repay him.

Today we decided to deal with the attic. If I were to weigh up which room holds the most belongings, it would definitely be this one.

I thought it would be easy enough, considering I’ve never been up here, and never once saw my parents venture up here either, but I was wrong.

Apparently, this is where they stored their collection of photo albums. I’ve also come across a few items that I thought were long gone. Things from my childhood that I threw out as I grew up.

One of them must have been paying attention because there’s a whole box filled with things like the blanket I used to sleep with until I was seven years old. The first teddy I ever owned. My first tooth. I pull item after item out of the box, each one shocking me more than the last.

They kept everything.

I fight hard against the tears threatening to fall. I refuse to cry today. I just want one day where I can be strong enough to get through it.

I close the lid on the box and push it to the side, deciding to move on from that. Carter is sorting through the multitude of work tools my dad kept stored up here but never used.

A large plastic box with the words‘X-mas’scrawled across it catches my eye and I move towards it.

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