Meredith's sister

20

Mia's POV

I woke up, the effects of my last hit wearing off, and immediately reached for more. The familiar numbness crept in as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. I missed my friends. I missed Teddy—I still did. I'd been texting her, but she hadn't answered. I missed Callie, too. Last I heard, she moved to New York for Sofia. And now... Derek and Mark were gone. Mark couldn't keep going without Lexie, and Derek died in a car accident. It felt like everyone I loved was either dead or gone. Nothing surprised me anymore. People died all the time at that hospital.

A sudden knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I sighed, dragging myself downstairs.

When I opened the door, my breath hitched.

"Teddy?" I whispered.

She nodded. "Mia... hi."

Before she could say another word, I wrapped my arms around her, gripping her as if she might disappear again. She hugged me back, holding me so close it almost hurt.

"W-what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I came here for you," Teddy said.

"What?" I frowned, stepping back slightly.

Teddy took a deep breath. "Mia, I'm still in love with you. And whatever you're going through right now, I want to help you through it."

No. That couldn't be true. Amelia or Addison must have told her to say that. "No, no, no, someone made you say that," I muttered, shaking my head. "No one cares about me."

Teddy reached for my hand. "I care about you. I promise."

I wanted to believe her. But the darkness inside me told me I didn't deserve to.

I noticed the bracelet on her wrist—the one I gave her the day she left. My heart clenched.

"Please," she whispered. "Let me help you."

I stared at the floor, biting the inside of my cheek.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

I nodded.

We sat down, and Teddy gently took my hand in hers. "Addison and Amelia told me about the drugs," she said softly.

"Of course they did," I muttered, looking away.

Teddy tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and tilted my chin up so I had to meet her eyes. "Mia, we're worried about you."

"By 'we,' who do you mean?" I scoffed. "Because I know Meredith isn't worried. And everyone else is either dead or gone."

"I mean me, Amelia, and Addison," she said firmly.

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening.

"I feel horrible everywhere I go," I admitted. "The drugs help. I'm not addicted. I don't have a problem."

"Mia..."

"No," I cut her off. "You have no idea what I've been going through. You left me. Right after—" My voice cracked. "Right after everything that made me like this."

I stood up, unable to sit there any longer. Teddy's eyes were filled with something that looked like regret, but it was too late for that now.

I turned and stormed upstairs. Moments later, I heard the front door close.

I felt empty.

That night, I went to a club, drowning myself in alcohol until my mind shut off. I called a cab home and passed out the second I hit my bed.