Teddy, Cat, Daisy and Elijah. My new friends. They were hiding the truth from me this entire time.
I think I’m going to be sick.
I push past them all and push open the bathroom door. I lock it quickly, while my whole world grows dizzy. I fall to my knees with a thud. Bile rises in my throat as my whole body convulses. The acidic taste fills my mouth as each wretch takes my breath away until my stomach feels hollow.
“Noah, let me in. Let me help you,” Teddy says, knocking on the door. I wipe my mouth as I crawl to the door. My back rests against it as the sound of pleading echoes surround my head.
“Noah, please let me in,” Teddy cries. Tears come thick and fast as my whole body starts shaking. I clutch my knees as I rest my head between my legs.
“Go away, Teddy,” I say with a sniff. I can’t wrap my head around what’s going on. The thoughts are running so fast.
“Do you think you were the only one they threatened?” Teddy says through the door. I can hear him sitting down, too. My heart aches in a disgustingly familiar way.
“They thought if I got into a relationship with you, I would tell you who they are. Then you’d go to the police,” he explains while my cries continue.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t.”
“Because they’ll kill me. I just got my life. I have friends, I have you, I have my business. I don’t want this life to burn to the ground. I’ve dreamed of this life for so long,” he whispers.
“Youliedto me,” I whisper between sobs.
None of this is real.
It can’t be.
“I told you I would make sure they were all rotting in jail like they deserve. There were countless opportunities you could have come clean. I was going insane over this, and you let it happen,” I tell him through the door. My breath hitches, and I grip myself tighter. “You’re a fucking liar Teddy. How could you do this to me?” I ask without expecting an answer. But he answers anyway.
“To protect you,” he says quietly as we both fall silent. All that’s left is a deep hollowness in my heart. I’m suddenly a vessel with no soul or feelings. I completely shut down. My thoughts narrow to getting out of this fucking place. I can’t be here anymore.
I unlock the door, and Teddy rises from the floor quickly. He looks me in the eye, his face wet.
“Noah, I,” he begins, putting a hand on my shoulder. I shrug it off.
“If youevercared about me, you’ll let me leave right now.” Teddy takes his hand off me and steps aside. I don’t look back. I just keep on walking. Shards of glass from the vase crunch under my feet as I head for the door. No one stops me.
I make my way out of the door. My legs are carrying me farther and farther away from the house as I pick up speed.
Maybe the universe has it in for me.
Maybe I’m doomed to be alone forever
Maybe I’ll never find the happiness I so desperately crave.
Tears blind me as I run.
As I stare at my best friend’s body, my eyes are wet. I caress his limp hand as if he’s fragile porcelain. He’s connected to so many different machines.
He looks uncomfortable.
“I don’t know what to do, Kai. I need you to wake up. I need you right now,” I whisper, my heart aching. “This is all my fault.”
I hear the slow, monotone beeps from the machine that indicate he’s still alive.
“I miss you. I need you to wake up man,” I plead with him, but he doesn’t wake up. “I can’t do this on my own.”
I hear footsteps approach the door. Elijah appears in the door frame, and double-takes when he sees me sitting next to Kai.
“I can… I can come back,” he mutters, beginning to head away, but I stop him.
