Chapter 112 Falling

Chapter 112 Falling
         SETH'S POINT OF VIEW 

I stared at myself in the mirror and smiled.For some reason, I couldn't stop smiling.

I adjusted the sleeves of my hoodie, glanced down at my watch, then looked at my reflection again.I shook my head.

"Come on, Seth."I laughed under my breath.

I couldn't even remember the last time I'd been this excited about something as simple as riding a bike.

Well... maybe I did.I knew exactly why......Zoe.

I pointed at myself through the mirror.

"Did you fall for her?"I paused dramatically then I laughed.

"Of course you did."I shook my head, chuckling as I picked up my perfume and sprayed a little on myself.

"Hold on, Zoe. I'll be with you in a minute."I laughed again.

There was music playing softly from my phone, some upbeat song I'd put on while getting ready, and I couldn't resist moving along with the rhythm.

For a few seconds, I danced around my room like an idiot.Then I stopped and stared at myself again.

. I grabbed my bike keys from the table and headed out of my room.

"Good evening, sir," one of the maids greeted as I walked downstairs.I simply nodded.

"Good evening."I was already thinking about getting to Zoe's house.

I was almost past the living room when I heard my mother's voice.

"You're going out again?"I stopped.

Slowly, I turned around and immediately my excitement faded slightly.Mom was sitting on the couch with a glass in her hand.

I didn't have to be told she'd been drinking.

Her eyes were slightly red, and the way she held the glass told me she'd already had more than enough.

"Yes, Mom. I'm going out."She scoffed.

"I just hope you're not doing something bad, Seth."I sighed.

"Mom, we're not starting this again."

"What do you mean we're not starting this again?"She slowly stood up.

"Where do you go? Where do you always go at night? Are you involved with some kind of cult? Have you joined some bad boys? Are you going to clubs?"

"Mom......."

"What is wrong with you, Seth?"I stared at her.

"I don't even know what you're talking about."She waved the glass in her hand.

"I don't want you going out tonight."I almost laughed.

"You've been drinking."Her eyes narrowed.

"Don't call me drunk."

"I'm not trying to disrespect you."

"You just called your mother drunk."

"Because you are."She stared at me for a moment then she laughed.It wasn't a happy laugh.It was the kind of laugh that made my stomach twist.

She tried taking another step, but she stumbled slightly.I immediately frowned.

"Mom."

"I'm fine."

"You're obviously not fine."

"I'm fine!"I rubbed my forehead.

I was already late.....I had promised Zoe I'd meet her.The last thing I wanted was another argument.

I turned toward the stairs.

"Vera!"A few seconds later, Mom's personal maid appeared.

"Yes, sir?"I pointed toward Mom.

"Please, can you take her upstairs?" mother immediately turned toward Vera.

"You won't dare,Vera."Vera looked at me awkwardly.I sighed.

Before Mom could say anything else, I stepped forward and gently took the glass from her hand.

She slapped my hand away.I froze.

For a moment, neither of us spoke then I looked at her.

"Fine."My voice was quieter this time.

"You can be angry with me."She looked away.

"But I'm not going to stand here and watch you destroy yourself."Her expression changed slightly.

"Mom, look at you."I swallowed hard.

"You're still so young, but you're acting like you've already given up on everything."She didn't answer.

"Do you think I don't notice?"My voice cracked slightly.

"I notice everything."I looked down.

"I notice when you don't eat. I notice when you don't sleep. I notice when you spend your whole day drinking and pretending everything is okay."She stared at me silently.

"I love you."I took a shaky breath.

"But you're making this so hard for me."She lowered her eyes.

"What do you want me to do, Seth?"

"I want you to come back to yourself."My voice softened.

"That's all."She looked at me, but she still didn't speak.I shook my head.

"I don't want to fight with you tonight."I glanced toward the door.

"I've got somewhere to be."For a moment, I thought she would argue again.

Instead, she simply stood there quiet.

I looked at Vera.

"Please take her upstairs."Vera nodded.

"Come on, ma'am."Surprisingly, Mom didn't resist.

She allowed Vera to take her hand.

As they walked toward the stairs, I watched them disappear.

I sighed heavily then I ran my fingers through my hair.

"Great."I shook my head.

"Just great."I stood there for a few seconds then I forced a smile.

"No."I pointed at myself.

"Don't ruin your mood, Seth."I grabbed my bike helmet.

"You're going to see Zoe."I smiled.

"Be happy."I walked outside.

The evening air hit my face as I climbed onto my bike.Before I started riding, I whispered to myself,

"Don't be miserable when you get there."I smiled.

"Zoe will worry."And with that, I pushed off.

\---

The evening traffic wasn't too bad.I enjoyed the breeze as I rode, and little by little, mother's words faded from my mind.

I thought mainly about Zoe.I thought about our bike ride and Ismiled.

But then something caught my attention.A girl was standing near a bridge ahead.

I slowed down.She looked young,maybe around my age.

Her head was lowered, and she kept wiping her face.She looked like she'd been crying for a long time.....I frowned.

I wasn't sure what was wrong, but something about the way she was standing made me uneasy so I stopped my bike.

For a few seconds, I simply watched her.Cars continued passing on the road,Nobody seemed to notice her.I finally stepped off my bike.

"Hey."She didn't respond so I took another step.

"Are you okay?"She turned around.Her makeup was smudged from crying.She looked exhausted.

"Mind your business."I frowned.

"Mind my business?"She looked away.

"Yes."I glanced at her.

"You're crying."

"So?"

"I was just asking if you're okay."

"I'm fine."She clearly wasn't.

I folded my arms.

"You don't look fine."She sighed.

"I said I'm fine."I hesitated.

Then I noticed her standing dangerously close to the edge of the bridge walkway.
My expression changed.

"Hey."She looked at me.

"Maybe you should step away from there."
Her eyes immediately filled with frustration.

"Why?"

"Because it's dangerous."She shook her head.

"Just leave me alone."I took another careful step.

"Look, I don't know what's going on with you."

"Then go."

"But I'm not going to leave while you're standing there like that."She scoffed.

"You don't even know me."

"No."I nodded.

"I don't."I held out my hand.

"But you can still talk to me."She stared at my hand.I smiled gently.

"Come on."She didn't move.

"My name is Seth."She looked at me.

"Why are you telling me your name?"

"So you know who you're talking to."
She remained silent.

"What's yours?"She hesitated. But then......

"Alicia."

"Alicia."I nodded.

"Okay, Alicia."She wiped her cheek.

"You should go."

"I'll go."I nodded toward my bike.

"But first, step away from the edge."
She shook her head.

"I don't want to talk."

"You don't have to tell me everything."I kept my voice calm.

"Just come over here."She looked at me.For a moment, I thought she was going to listen.

Then she suddenly took a step backward.My heart jumped.

"Alicia."She looked down.

"I said I'm fine."

"You're not."I moved closer.

"Please."She shook her head.

"Don't come closer."I stopped immediately.

"Okay."I raised my hands slightly.

"I'm not coming closer."She took another shaky breath.

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore."I swallowed.

"Then don't do anything right now."She looked at me.

"Just stay where you are."She laughed bitterly.

"You don't understand."

"Maybe I don't."I nodded.

"But I can listen."Her eyes filled with tears again.

"I've been trying to hold everything together."Her voice trembled.

"And I'm tired."I didn't know what to say.So I simply stood there.

"I'm listening."She looked at me.Then she suddenly shifted her footing.Her shoe slipped slightly.

"Alicia!"I rushed forward but she lost her balance so I immediately grabbed her hand.

"Hold on!"She gasped.

"I've got you!"I pulled her toward me, but the sudden movement made me lose my own balance and my foot slipped.

Everything happened too quickly,Alicia grabbed onto my arm.I tightened my grip around her hand.

"Don't let go!"

"I'm trying!"We stumbled toward the edge.
My heart slammed against my chest and then.......My footing disappeared.

"Alicia!"The world tilted and suddenly, we were both falling......

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