Inside

A new character is introduced.

Other employees of the store streamed out. “God, NOT AGAIN!” Shouted one that looked like a manager.

         “Someone help him!” I shouted.

         “Call the ambulance.” He said. “Let’s hope it was enough this time.”

         My mind was racing. Why aren’t they afraid? Why aren’t they afraid for him? “What’s going on?” I breathed.

         The manager turned to me. “Honey. He’s gone and overdosed again.” He sneered at the fallen cashier. “Piece of s**t he is.”

         My eyes widened. “Don’t you dare.” I growled. “You don’t know what he goes through.”

         The manager laughed. “You think you do? This kid gets everything handed to him and he throws it all away doing drugs and drinking. He’s worthless. He’s good for nothing. The only reason he has a job here is because his father knows people!” He lit a cigarette and flicked the ashes at me. “Just get out of here.

         I started to back up. Yet another tear fell down my face. “What’s his name?” I asked.

         The manager chuckled. “What WAS his name.” He laughed again to himself. “Easton Fairchild.” I turned and ran.

         I got into my car as the ambulance pulled up. I wrote his name on a slip of paper so I was sure I wouldn’t forget it. I knew I wouldn’t. He was lifted quickly into the ambulance and they busted out of the parking lot. I followed. The hospital wasn’t too far from the grocery. I whirled into the parking lot and jumped out of my car. I paced. This was stupid. I didn’t know the kid. This wasn’t my story. This wasn’t my path. I was here to save Zach. I wasn’t here to be apart of some self-abusive teens life. I need to get out of here. I climbed back into my car, then out again. He’d wanted to help me. I should be there for him. He’s like me. We should stick together. I DON’T KNOW HIM. It doesn’t matter. I have to.

         I trudged up to the hospital entrance. I pulled out from the depths of my body my best acting abilities and went to work. “Easton! Is he here!” I shouted. Tears streamed down my face. My nose ran. “Tell me he’s here. Tell me he’s okay!”

         The woman at the desk looked sad. “One moment. I’ll see if he’s here.” I continued to sob. She typed a few things into her computer. “Last name?”

         I wheezed. “Fairchild. Tell me he’s okay!”

         She frantically typed. “He’s just been checked into the ER. You won’t be able to visit until they have him stabilized.” She paused. “And I don’t know how long that will be.” Again she paused. “Are you family?”

         More tears. Big ones. “I’m his girlfriend. We’ve been together since middle school.” I continued to sob with a frantic edge to it.

         “I’m so sorry.” She said. “Just have a seat over there and I’ll let you know if anything comes up. I can’t tell you how long it will be but I’ll pray for him.” I nodded and headed toward a comfy looking sofa. I sat.

         “Will I be allowed to sleep here?” I questioned in between a sob.

“Of course.” She said instantly.

Thank God. This wasn’t a complete waste of my time after all. I’d have a place to sleep tonight. “Thank you.” I said. I turned my nose to the back of the couch and let my body rest.

 

I woke the next morning unaware. I turned to the room and remembered. “Easton!” I shouted. The receptionist was startled. I stood and ran clumsily to the counter. “My boyfriend, Easton. He came in last night. You told me I’d know if he was okay.”

She looked into my eyes. “Yes. He’s holding on but his parents have come in. They say they’ve never seen you before and that Easton has no girlfriend.”

My eyes feel to the ground. Crap. “They’ve never liked me. I’ve never been good enough for them. I’m sorry.” I said as I turned. “I just wanted to know that he was okay.” I trudged toward the door.

“Wait.” She said. I turned. She had glassy eyes. “I know what that’s like. He’s in room 11A.”

A smile fell across my tear stained face. “Thank you.” I walked through the doors. 11A. What was I doing here? I found it. I walked in. he was hooked to so many machines and his eyes were closed. “Good God, Easton. What did you do?” I walked up to him. He looked frail. I’d thought he was cute and tough when I met him at the grocery, but something was different here. He was so vulnerable, so weak. I knew the way he felt. I knew it all too well.

I placed a hand on his. “You and I are alike.” I smiled a little though I knew he couldn’t see. “Too weak to live but too strong for our own self destruction.” I’d tried before, but Zach had saved me. He always has. No matter what he has been there. He’s saved me from suicide. He’s saved me from abuse. He saved me from myself. I could pass it on.

I pulled up a chair. Though I knew he couldn’t hear I thought I would talk to him. “You know, killing yourself is stupid. Yeah, it seems like such a good idea. It seems like you will rid yourself of all this torture, this awful life, but you won’t. You rid the world of you. You rid yourself of you. You destroy any chance at future happiness. You ruin more lives than your own. You throw everything away for nothing. When has that ever been a good deal? Give away everything in exchange for nothing? Never. So you listen to me. No matter how rough your life is, there are others struggling harder but holding on with everything they have. Others that would give anything to have the life you have. The next time you think you want to kill yourself, think of me. I’ve been suicidal, depressed, my father killed my mother, my father abused me in every way possible, and my best friend murdered him. My best friend is gone, but you know what? I’m still here, and there’s going to have to be a lot worse situation to bring me down. No matter what happens I will always stand tall. I will not fall victim to myself. Ever. You shouldn’t either.” I fell silent. “I don’t really know you but I know you are worth something. I know you belong here. I know you are meant to be something in the world. I just wish you could see it. I wish you could believe it.” Once again I fell silent. I turned inside myself and sat quietly with my thoughts.

“Thank you.” Whispered a cold shallow voice. I looked up. Easton lay with his eyes locked on mine. “Is that what you were crying about? Your friend? Is he dead? Did he kill himself?”

I shook my head. He’d never do something like that. “No. He was shot. Then kidnapped.” I paused. “You know. I don’t want to talk about it. Tell me why you’re here. Why did you overdose?”

He looked away. “I didn’t.” I didn’t look back. “My dad is trying to kill me.”

I sat in silence. “Look into my eyes. The manager tells me your dad thinks you’re perfect.”

He turned and looked me dead in the eyes. “My dad is a liar. He wants me dead. He poisons everything. It started out as the glass of water before bed and has come to my toothpaste bottle.” He closed his eyes. “He doesn’t know I know. I saw him do it. I can’t tell him I know. I’m just afraid that one of these times it’s going to work.”

I turned away from him. “Leave.”

He stayed quiet for a while. “It’s not that easy.”

I turned back. “Please, inform me as to why it’s not that easy?” I took a quick pause. “I’m here. How do you think I got here? I left.”

He shook his head. “You’re dad is dead. All you had to do was leave.”

I shook mine. “You don’t even know. The police blame me for his death. They came to take me away. I had to run. I’m a fugitive. Any second they could come and take me away but I took a risk to save my best friend. It might not be “that easy” but God it’s worth it. Do what you know is right! Don’t let the world put you in your place because these people know nothing! My father raped me and beat me for years but who’s the bad guy? The eighteen-year-old that saved my life. Take a freaking stand. He’s trying to kill you for God’s sake. Just get out of there or you WILL end up dead.” I ran out of breath. I wasn’t sure I was talking about him anymore. I wondered if maybe I was just letting out the anger I felt.

“I have no where to go.” He whispered.

“Do you think I do?” I whispered back.

He shook his head. “He’ll find me. He’ll send out a search party.”

I sat still in thought. “How old are you?”

He was silent. “Why do you care?”

I rolled my eyes. “You look to old to be worried about what your dad wants.”

He huffed. “Yeah. I’m nineteen.” He said quietly. “He won’t let me leave. He wouldn’t let me go to college. He just wants me dead.”

I again stayed lost in thought. “Come with me.” I said without thinking. “We both need to lie low.”

He looked up at me with drooping eyelids. “I can’t do that to you. You’re really on the run.”

I shook my head yes. “Yes but I have to stay here until tomorrow.” I said. “You could help me avoid them.”

His eyebrows knitted together in a confused look. “Why?”

A smile formed on my lips. “Stark Everett.” I paused. “That’s my nest friend.”

He looked at me like I was insane. “Are you crazy?” I was right.

“No, I’m not crazy. His name is Zach Perrier. He was kidnapped and for some insane reason he now sings.” I looked at him. He still thought I was crazy. “Trust me. I think it’s as weird as you, but it’s true.”

He shook his head. “Pretty little Stark Everett is a murderer?” He smiled a little. “Perfect my a*s.”

Even I smiled. “Right. If you knew him the way I do you’d know just how insulting the word perfect would be to him. He HATED perfection. He hated screaming girls. He was so chill. He was so cool. God I miss him.” I said as I tears departed my eyes. “All I do is cry anymore.”

Easton was looking at me with a weird expression. “That was amazing.” He said.

“What?” I questioned.

“The way you talk about him. It lights up your face. He must be something.” Easton said quietly.

“He’s my best friend and my savior. My face better do more than light up when I talk about him.” I laughed plainly.

“Whatever you say.” He smiled. “I just hope that one day someone will talk about me with the same reaction.”

“Yeah.” I said. “I hope I get a reaction like the one you described as well.” We were silent. “When will you get out of here?”

He shrugged. “Probably soon. I think my body is used to it now.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sorry. That’s so awful. That’s your life you’re talking about. I shouldn’t be laughing.”

          He laughed too. “No, that’s okay. It’s pretty messed up.” He shrugged. “I kind of feel like I’m a character in an awful movie.”

         I nodded. “Me too. I’ve felt that way my whole life.” I’d always wondered what it’d be like to be normal. Not live in the horror that I did. I’d always wished I were free. “Anyway. I’ll wait for you until you are released. Then we can both have a chance at freedom.” I turned toward the door. I took a glance back at him. He smiled. Then I walked out. I didn’t know if I was making the right decision. His parents were powerful people and I was running from the police. Actually, I knew I wasn’t. I just couldn’t leave him like this. I couldn’t leave someone like me. He needed a savior and maybe I could be his.

Author's Note

Any help is appreciated!