#Chapter 46: Running Faster than Death

Cathy

When we returned to the estate, I did not retreat to my bedroom, but the library.

I would reach the entire grand library before I let Alan decompose and disappear forever. Besides Aldrich and Theo, he was the only thing that kept me stable, that made me feel normal. He was the only soul I had everything in common with; good enough to be loved by Aldrich, not good enough for any grand recognition or admiration. Always traveling within Aldrich’s shadow, people’s admiring gazes wandering over our shoulders.

I instantly went to retrieve a book from the section of healing. I climbed up the ladder in a haste, and plucked out a textbook. I moved too quickly, losing my step and clumsily falling from the ladder a couple yards onto the floor. When I landed, I cried; not because the fall hurt, but because I imagined my friend falling more than ten times this, and what he must have felt. I hugged my knees to my chest and cried for a minute.

But I only allowed mys