Chapter 3
The lid to my lap top was now closed after I grew bored of reading different posts on Facebook. I stayed in bed all day with very painful cramps and fresh cuts, not wanting to deal with anything or anyone. I found myself curious and started rummaging through different boxes inside several closets. The very small spaces had an old smell lingering in the air. One box in the hallway closet held my attention. There were strange scribbles of writing covering it and I knew I had never seen it before. I figured that maybe Gabby placed it there and it held her belongings inside. I stayed away from it, not wanting to snoop through another person’s stuff. The boxes I kept opening I found nothing special in which made my hunt seem pointless. I trailed my eyes along the cardboard I had already opened and went through but ended up staring back at the particular box that wasn’t mine. I lifted my foot up and placed my weight on a sturdy box that held no breakable items as I hauled my body up towards it. The box wasn’t very large but it felt heavy in my hands. I swiftly got down and walked back into my bedroom to sit beside Bella. Her fur was softer than my fleece blanket covering my legs, and I loved snuggling beside her.
The box was sat on my lap and I hesitantly peeked inside. It was too dark to see anything so I decided to just open it and see if my curiousness would find anything important. All I saw was stacks of photos. Some were very old and small, others newer and larger. I shuffled through one stack and recognized several of Gabby’s old friends and only a few of me. But then my attention caught something I hadn’t seen before. I carefully picked the photo up and peered at the people on the smooth front. My mom was holding me in her arms while Gabby sat on our fathers lap. All four of us were smiling widely and we were sat very close together. My heart ached, suddenly missing them. I just wanted them to be here with me, even though I knew they were in a better place. I couldn’t control my tears rapidly falling from my eyes. I whined while I stared down at the photo of the family. My beautiful family. I tried to keep my mind off of them whenever possible, but this photo made me feel at home. But my home was taken away from me a long time ago. I screamed through my sobs and knocked the box and its contents on the floor. I held the picture to my chest and lied down beside Bella while I tried to calm myself. My depressed state grew worse at all of the flooding memories.
I was desperate for a break, but I knew Landon would come here tonight. I wanted to just punch him, or maybe even kill him for all he has ever put me through. He was the only thing stable in my life, but it was so unhealthy to be with him. He made me fear the world, instead of enjoy my life in it. I roamed my hands around me searching for my phone. After I found it I quickly dialed the number I need and pressed send.
***
“What’s going on?” Lexi ran out the front door as I already was sprinting towards her. When I reached her I tightly wrapped my arms around her, not wanting to ever let go of one of the only people I truly cared for. “Kam, talk to me.” She spoke quietly. My sobs picked up again as I buried my face into her neck. She slowly ran her hand up and down my back, soothing me as I stayed locked onto her.
“I-I love you.” I stuttered through my cries.
“I love you.” She pulled back and stared into my red swollen eyes. “Now talk to me, what happened? Was it Landon?” My hair was pulled away from my eyes by her finger.
“Kind of.” My voice sounded funny from my nose being plugged.
“Tell me.”
“I found something… A picture, of my parents and sister. I had never seen it before and…” I paused taking in a deep breath. “I miss them so much.” My voice broke on the last word, eyes slamming closed.
“I know you do.” She entwined her fingers with mine and had me follow her up to her bedroom to lie down and relax. She turned the TV on, but we weren’t really watching it. “Kam, do you want to tell me what you’re thinking? How did seeing that photo remind you of Landon?” I looked up at her while my head was resting on a pillow.
