Noah

I am sitting in this semi-comfortable chair next to Phoebe's bed, trying to come up with a logical answer to her question.

Phoebe has been acting strange since we got home. I hope it's not because of my confession... But also, it could be because of everything else that happened at the Police Station. She barely ate, and I didn't say anything, but I saw her get lightheaded after standing up from the table. By the time I was about to ask her if she was okay... Phoebe was already walking into her room and then into the bathroom.

I look at her, laying in her black silk robe thinking about how beautiful she looks right now. Her long brown hair is falling out of the towel that is wrapped around her head. The bruises on her beautiful face are almost entirely gone.

"Noah?" Phoebe looks at me for a second, pulling me from my thoughts.

"My Mom, she had me when she was 20 years old. She wasn't married to my father, and honestly, she never wanted to be married. But, she never had her Dad growing up." I look into Phoebe's beautiful green eyes, telling her everything she needs to know to trust me. I zone out, staring off in the distance.

"So, when I was two years old, my parents got married at the courthouse. Only my Aunt and my father's best friend were there." I look back at Phoebe's eyes, and they are glazed over, signalling she shouldn't be in pain anymore.

I stand up, grabbing her wrist brace. I walk to her, and I grab her sprained wrist. I expected her to hiss, but she doesn't. I adjust it accordingly and help Phoebe get under the covers.

Once Phoebe is comfortable- I sit down in the chair next to her bed and continue the story of my life. Hopefully, now, she will tell me more about her. What she likes and dislikes. I want to know everything about this incredible woman in front of me.

"Want me to continue?" I ask, and she looks at me and nods her head. The towel is now off her head, and her semi-dry hair is now framing her face.

"After my parents got married, two years later, my sister, Victoria, was born. I was a crazy four-year-old boy who wanted all of the attention I could get. So apparently, according to my Mom, I would refuse to be anywhere near Vicky." I laugh, thinking about how I would have been at that age.

"Vicky and I weren't that close. I mean, she was my annoying little sister. You know the feeling- Vicky had all of the attention- she never got in trouble." I chuckle slightly. "Then, by the time she entered High School, I was shipped overseas. This was when Vicky got into the wrong crowd..." I pause, not sure how to correctly tell this.

"You don't need to tell me." Phoebe's sweet and tired voice brings me out of my heavy thoughts. I lean in, grabbing her small hand. At this moment, I realise I have never told anyone about this...

"My sister is addicted to Opioids... Fentanyl mostly, but also Oxycodone, Vicodin, Codeine, Morphine... Anything she can get her hands on really." I shake my head, "She had an accident in her senior year of high school in cheerleading. They didn't catch her, and it caused her T6 and T8 in her spinal column to fracture."

Phoebe gasps slightly at the unimaginable pain my sister must have been in. Honestly, I've been shot multiple times, and I couldn't imagine fracturing the bones in my spinal column.

"Long story short, the surgeon prescribed painkillers to help her with the pain. That's when Vicky's addiction began. At first, she hid it, but when I came home from the military, I could tell someone was off." I stop talking, remembering that I am the one who discovered her addiction.

I was so furious; I grabbed her stash, flushing them straight down the toilet. Victoria was crying and screaming, on her knees at my feet begging for me not to do it. But I did. I watched as Victoria tried to grab them out of the flushing toilet- It was a horrendous sight...

I flinch, feeling two hands grab onto my face. I look up to see Phoebe's beautiful green eyes piercing into me. I don't say anything as she gently pulls me into a hug. My ear is pressed against her chest, closing my eyes as I wrap my arms around her thin body.

"I'm so sorry." I hear Phoebe whisper to me, as she runs her fingers through my curly hair. I don't say anything, not wanting her to move. But also, I don't want to hurt her in any way. My head is close to her broken ribs as well as her surgical sight. But then I remember that she is completely naked under this thin piece of silk...

"Phoebe?" I inch my head away from her body gently, sliding my hands from her back to her hips. I look up at her, and she moves her hands from my hair to my shoulders. "I- uh. Let's get some sleep." I nod my head, and she takes a step back.

"Yeah. I uh. I agree." She nods her head. Pulling her robe tighter and crossed her arms. She looks down at her feet and stands up, now inches apart.

Phoebe looks up at me with wonder in her eyes, and I felt like I needed to etch every piece of this moment into my brain.

This is the first time I have seen her eyes light up like this, and it's because she is looking at me. Or it could be the drugs in her system... But deep down I hope it's because of me. I give her a small smile, walking to the door.

"Noah?" Phoebe says before I reach the door. I turn my head around, grabbing the doorknob."Where is your sister now?" She asks, looking at me wearily.

"She has been in and out of rehab and jail since that day. Currently, she is in rehab in New Jersey." I answer, and Phoebe nods her head. "We will finish this tomorrow, okay? Goodnight, Phoebe." I leave her alone in her room, hearing her whisper it back.

I go into my room and fall hard onto my bed. I close my eyes and fall asleep...

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Hello! How are you today/tonight?

1. How do you this his past moulded Noah into the person he is today?

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- Anna