After (Wolves of Mercy Falls Fan Fic)

Chapter 15

The car ride home was terribly lonely and quiet. I messed with a notepad that sat in the glove compartment. I messed with my seatbelt. I messed with the radio. I messed with anything and everything. At one point, Dad had to ask me if I had taken my medicine. I said yes of course but still.

Once we got home, I made a beeline for my room. I stayed there until it was time to get up the next morning. Even that was too soon. I still went to school that day, but I barely did anything. My mind was a million miles away when Honour asked where I was or when Alice asked if I was okay. I just mumbled replies.

I couldn't function without her. The only thing that kept me sain was a book she had left behind. It was her favorite so it was under her pillow instead of in her bookcase when we packed. I read it over and over and over again. I looked it up and that was a sign of depression. Great. Now I was depressed. My grades dropped, my guitar sat in the corner of my room collecting dust, and I wouldn't even go to comfort Scarlet when she was crying.

Mom and Dad tried everything from grounding me to babying me but none of it worked. All I wanted to do was sit in my room and read. All my friends tried to come over to comfort me, but I wasn't interested and sent them home.

Mom walked in my room one day as I lay in bed to talk. She sat on my bed, next to my legs. "We're worried about you, Koby. You're not yourself. You're not eating and you're not taking care of yourself. Please, just talk to us. Tell us what you need."

I didn't say anything. What could I say? I didn't want to lie just to make her feel better because that would help no one. I'd still be depressed and all they'd be was clueless to the fact that I would be faking the whole thing.

"At least eat something. You look so sickly," she touched my check only to jerk her hand back when she found how cold it was. "Koby, say something."

"I'm not hungry." My stomach betrayed me by grumbling loud enough that the cat jumped off the bed and ran to the door, only to find it shut.

"Liar," Mom accused quietly. "I made your favorite. Please, just come eat. You don't have to socialize, but you do have to stay and help me clean up."

I covered the half of my face that was showing with my arm, hooking my hand against the back of my head. I hated this. I hated what I was about to do. "Mom, just.... just go... leave me alone."

"Koby-"

"GO!" I yelled. I didn't uncover my face until I heard the door shut and I was sure she was gone. I sat up and stared at my hands for the longest time. I felt horrible.

My stomach jerked again, but from nerves not hunger. I looked at the cat. It had jumped back up on my back instead of leaving. I picked it up and cuddled it close. It tried to struggle at first until I soothed it by petting it's back.

My days blended together and the only reason they were separated was because of school. And, eventually, even school days began to blur into one big blob of days without her. I couldn't tell you how many times my parents tried to drag me out of bed. Once, they even tried locking me out of my bedroom, but I had a key. Even after they changed the locks, I just picked it and locked it from the inside.

Everything was falling to shit.