―❧Worlds change when eyes meet❧―
Abrielle Miller is an 18-year-old girl who witnessed the death of her family when she was just a little girl. Her aunt took care of her until death knocked on her door, adding grief to Abrielle's broken heart and sha...
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I woke up to the morning sun shining through the curtains and the fresh air blowing gently on my face. The French doors of the balcony were open, rendering the room chilly and I shivered, twisting in the bed, trying to reclose my eyes and fall back into the sweet embrace of sleep. But fate was against me and I rolled over onto my back, recalling the days in my mind.
Something niggled at the back of my brain, jostling for attention and I tugged at it, trying to get it to make sense.
Oh God, I remembered suddenly. Oh my- Today is the anniversary of my parent's death. How could I have forgotten?
Rushing to the bathroom, I stripped and showered quickly, washing my hair with soap and hot water. Once I was finished, I moved to the sink to brush my teeth, then went to my dressing room and slipped a blush-coloured tank top over denim jeans.
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But, as I added a grey cardigan to my outfit and buckled up my black belt, I couldn't stop my hands from shaking. My parents' death. The death of my lovely, sweet, wonderful parents who I loved with all of my heart. Why did they have to be taken from me?
Forcing myself to think positively, I ran a brush through my tangled hair, then left it down, letting the soft curls spill over my shoulders.
At least I could still visit them.
I hurried from the room, snatching up my phone as I went and sending Mason a quick text:
Going to my parents' tombs. Love u x.
With any luck, he'd understand that I needed to be alone.
"Hi, Sean," I mumbled, climbing into the passenger seat of the car that waited for me outside the front of the house. "I need to get to the graveyard. You know, the one that's across the other side of town."
Sean rubbed his eyes, sighed, then revved up the engine. "Sure. I know the one you mean. We'll be there in half an hour."
"Thanks," I said, buckling up my seatbelt.
I spent the majority of the journey checking my phone, scrolling through my messages to check there was nothing from Mason. There wasn't anything.
The greenish blur of the trees raced past me and I leant my head against the window, feeling it vibrate beneath my head. Memories gushed through me and a lone tear splashed down my cheek. I didn't care whether Sean saw me cry.
"Are you okay?" Sean asked worriedly, watching me from the rearview mirror.
I wiped my face on my palm. "Mhmm. I'll be fine."
His frown lessened. "Let me know if you want me to turn around, won't you? We're just about there, but we can always go back if it's too much."
I smiled weakly in reply as the car slowed to a halt. The gravel crunched underneath me as I got out onto the path and made my way through the cemetery gate between the endless graves, occasionally pausing to read a name or glance at a date.
I wondered whether it would be cowardly of me to run back to the car and beg Sean to let me go home. But I carried on walking towards the spot where my parents lay, more tears sliding down my cheeks. It was hard not having them with me. I hated not having them in my life.
"Hey." Reaching the spot, I swiped the dust off of their names carved on the marble, crouching down in the dirt. "I miss you, Mom and Dad. I wish you were here with me. But at least I have Mason to take care of me, even if we do have our fair share of fights and quarrels."
Overcome, I sobbed into my hands, the pain rocking through me. I couldn't breathe, let alone speak. My breath came in gasps, stabbing the cool air around me and I hinged over, wracked with grief.
"I love you." Curling my knees to my chest, I sobbed even harder, too weak to stay on my knees any longer, and, out of nowhere, I felt something solid hit my head.
What the-? I lifted my hand to touch my hair and felt nauseating pain wash over me. What was happening? Blackness prickled at the corners of my eyes and I tried not to gag as I rolled over and failed to get to my feet.
Everything seemed to be fading.
Help! I tried to shout for Sean, for anyone to come and find me, but no words came out. Weak and dizzy, I collapsed once more and felt myself drift into unconsciousness.
The last thought I had as the world numbed to nothing filled me with animal-like terror.
