404

"Onward"

The soft and gentle sound of cotton fabric filled my ears as I speak. My feet filled with static and my hands feeling pierced as I just sit there on my bed with my left foot tucked under my right outstretched leg. Constantly fidgeting with my hands, alternating between crossed arms and palms on my face. Emma sitting on a chair right next to me just rubbing and patting my back repeatedly to ease my agony. My speech slowly slurring with every syllable that leaves my mouth. My lip feeling like it's about to peel at any moment. I breathe in deeply every other sentence as if it were going to negate my head collapsing in on itself. Each time my arms cross, a false sense of security showers upon me before it ultimately gets dulled by the fact that I am my worst enemy. My mind, my own palace, the thing under my control seemingly sabotaging me. The hairs on my back rise as cold tingles pendulates up and down my spine. I cannot bear this.

"I just don't know what to do... I'm lost." I state breathily while I cover my mouth with my fist-shaped right hand while the other holds it in place.

"I- I don't know what to honestly say a- about these dreams you been having. " Emma replies calmly yet with total shock and completely puzzled.

"These dreams, I feel like they're telling something. I- It's not random, there are reoccurring ideas..." I said with the same bewilderment as Emma.

"I know, but I, we don't know what to make of it yet." She states as she subtly freaks out as proof by how she fiddles with her long white sweater sleeves. Ironically enough, the cursive texts on her shirt say 'don't worry about a thing'.

"Is it a metaphor? Is it literal? Is this a warning?..." Emma states with a soft but slowly quickening tone. Her eyes stuck open as she leans forward from which from a thirty-degree angle away from me, elbows on her lap, and pressed together palms covering her lips.

"Emma... I don't wanna freak you to out. It's not like we need to know about this immediately..." I responded as I twist on the bed and put my feet on the ground.

"What do you mean?... This may reveal who you are which gives it utmost importance." She replies as she stands and turns aggressively towards me pointing her right finger slightly towards the ground.

"Emma... As you said, Mr. Alex is doing the best he can. Nothing answers the past than literal proof." I stated calmly as I stand and grab both of Emma's shoulders gently, brushing my thumbs against her sweater slowly to calm her down.

"I guess... It is just a dream... what are we overthinking about?" Emma states while she puts her hands within the pockets of her sweater while looking down.

Looking at her dark brown, straight, not-so-reflective, ponytailed hair, I felt guilty. I have successfully ruined her day by simply involving her in my problems. MY problems. Why should she bear it? 

"What have I done?..." I thought to myself silently as both Emma and I just stand there quietly in defeat.

"How about this Emma... We just go down and eat some Dinner. I'm honestly starving from literally sleeping through lunchtime. Sound good to you?" I asked Emma with a smile as I slightly bend over to look at her face that was still looking down.

"I should be the one asking you that but sure. " Emma replied raising her head up and jokingly speaking.

"That's great then. Let's go get dinner." I said to Emma as I turn her around towards the door.

"Mom is making Friend Chicken. The first one to get to the stairs gets both chicken drum sticks." Emma challenged me as she turns her head towards me.

"Oh, you bet. You've got a deal!" I replied with an exaggerated voice of those TV announcers you hear.

I then stand next to Emma facing towards the door. She did this thing where she bends, touches the ground with her fingertips, and raises her butt, which she said is what people do in races and that I should copy her... and I did.