Running up that hill - a mileven texting au

prologue

Fighting to breathe, fighting to survive. You ever struggle to breath, you struggle so much that you want to give up?

Mike Wheeler was diagnosed with asthma when he was seven years old, ever since then he's looked at it as if it was a curse he had been gifted by the universe.

Asthma held him back from doing any sports activities, and it was an easy way for him to get bullied about it around school.

Asthma was hereditary in his family, his father had it at one point, of course now he has it himself. His mother however, well she had passed away when he was eight years old.

The loss of his mother really took a toll on him at such a young age. Being that he was there when she died. They had just came back from the movies. Just a mother and son bonding day, on the way home from the theater an eighteen wheeler collided into them.

His mother died on impact, while Mike was trapped in the back seat, the door squishing him as he fought to breathe, to survive, without his inhaler he had passed out, only to wake up in the hospital hours later only to be told that his mother had died hours prior.

"I think that's maybe when it all started.." Mike said, as he sat in front of his therapist, who was scribbling away at her clipboard.

"So what you're telling me is that your mother's death, is the reason why you're brooding?" She asked.

Mike sighed. "Did you not hear me? Maybe clean out your fucking ears doc." He said angrily.

The woman only shook her head and returned to her clipboard jotting down god knows what.

Mike began to pull away at the rubber bands on his right arm, the bands quickly making contact with his wrist after each smack. His wrist was starting to turn red, but he didn't care. Not one bit.

The alarm on the woman's phone went off as she reached over to snooze it.

"That's all the time we have for today Mr. Wheeler. I'll see you in two weeks, hopefully we can see some improvement." The woman concluded.

"Bite me." Mike said as he sat up from his chair walking out of the office.

*****

"What do you feel like eating tonight? In N Out? Bennys? Your pick." Nancy had asked her little brother as she had her hand on the wheel, keeping her focus on the road.

"Whatever you want nance. I'm not picky." Mike said as he leaned his head on the window.

Nancy could tell by the tone of his voice that he was brooding..like always.

"I take it therapy didn't go well?" Nancy asked.

"What gave it away?" Mike retorted.

"Well your tone did, and you not wanting to eat at Benny's for dinner? I mean come on, you never say no to Benny's." She answered.

"Well there's a first time for everything." Mike replied.

Nancy sighed internally not wanting to pry at her little brothers business.

Nancy had been taking care of her little brother ever since she was 17, their father was in the military, overseas in Kuwait, over a thousand miles away from home.

It was rare when their father came home, when he did he would pass the time sitting around the couch or busying himself with house work, deep down he hated being home because his house was no longer a home ever since he lost his beloved wife.

Nancy had taken over the role of caretaker while he was away. She was Damn good at it too. With the help of her two best friends Steve and Robin she got the job done.

When it came to school Nancy was highly praised by teachers and other staff for being intelligent and having good grades. She had been offered three scholarships her senior year. But she had turned down the college offers to stay and take care of her brother.

Her and Mike were close. Most brother and sister relationships are kind of rocky but not for these two. Mike had a rough time making friends growing up, with his asthma interference. But that didn't stop Nancy from trying to get him to open up more and get him to come out of his shell.

Steve and Robin welcomed Mike with open arms, which he was grateful for. He kept his circle small for many reasons. Reason one being that he didn't want people knowing about him having asthma, he didn't want to be the laughing stock...not again. Reason two being he brooded a lot. Nancy was the only one that put up with it.

Nancy reached a red light, she turned to look at her brother who was watching cars drive by.

"You know I'm always gonna be there for you right?" She asked.

Mike turned to look at her, putting on a fake smile. He nodded.

"I just wanted you to know." She said.

"You tell me this everyday Nance, why should today be any different?" He asked.

"Because I feel like you forget sometimes. You're my little brother, there's nothing I wouldn't do for you." Nancy answered as she ruffled his hair.

The red light turned green, Nancy returned her focus to the road, putting her foot on the pedal she started to make way to the next street over.

A loud screech was heard as a car to her left side was merely a few inches away from her.

Mike saw and immediately put his hands in front of him preparing for the worse.

Nancy swerved, but thankfully the car came to a halt. She rolled down her window. "Watch where you're going next time you fucking asshole!!!!" She yelled at the driver.

Mike shook nervously. Flashbacks from nine years ago making their way into his brain.

"Mike. Mike are you okay?!" She shook him out of his daze.

"Watch where the fuck you're going next time Nancy!!!" Mike yelled at her. Immediately regretting his words, he clutched his chest as he began to pant heavily gasping for air.

"Shit shit shit!!" Nancy screeched as she scurried around her purse looking for his emergency inhaler.

"Hold still." She said as she finally found it, putting the inhaler to his lips she pressed the button to disperse the cool air into his throat.

After inhaling the sweet fresh air Mike began to take deep breaths.

Nancy grabbed his hand intertwining his fingers onto the inhaler for him to hold.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" he was cut off as Nancy hugged him tight. No words were exchanged as Mike wept silently. She understood that he was sorry. She knew how much he hated apologizing even when he meant it, but that didn't matter. She hugged him like there was no tomorrow, she didn't want to let go because Nancy Wheeler almost lost the one thing that mattered most to her.

****

What did you guys think for a first chapter?
Are you prepared for what's to come?
I bet I can make y'all cry with this story.