[18]₅

At the Start

Getting up in the morning was hard for Charlie, because he stays up all night painting on his walls. I tell him so many times, but he won't stop. I like to paint too, but I've learned to control my urge to paint. It's a never ending cycle of ideas and colors, that word. Paint. I could paint the word 'paint'.

"Hey Charlie, are you okay? Is everything alright? You haven't moved since I woke you up this morning," I was worried.

"Yeah I'm fine, tired I guess. I'm not in the mood for anything today."

It's like he's asking to be depressed. His gold curls aren't as curly as usual, his green eyes are dull, and his skin is pale. Where was the Charlie that I knew? He's fourteen, his hormones are starting to rage-quit and restart. Maybe I should take him to the doctor... I'll wait a day.

The next morning I awake to find a small tree painted onto Charlie's door, but Charlie still in bed. I called the doctor immediately after seeing my brother still in bed, not doing a thing.

"Hello this is Tracy, how may I help you?"

"Hi, this is Drew Fallon speaking. I would like to make an appointment for my little brother, Charlie."

"Oh Charlie, such a sweet boy. For what day might this appointment be?"

"As soon as possible. I think he might be depressed."

"At such a young age? Hmm, well okay. We have a spot open for four-thirty, think you can make it?"

"We'll be there."

After telling Charlie where we were going, he kind of had a small melt down. He yelled at me that he was fine, that he didn't need help. He slammed the door in my face. At least it was only 10:13 AM. Charlie can't hide in his room forever, can he? I worry too much.

I heard noises coming out from under his door. Voices, to be exact. I opened the door to find Charlie on his phone. I didn't know who was on the line, but judging by Charlie's lack of sociality, it was either Krystin, Seb, or Ross. Krystin Shada was Charlie's first friend back in Kindergarten. She has brunette streaks of silky straight hair and hazelnuts for eyes. She is just over five feet tall. Sebastian (Seb) Bradley is like Charlie, he is super artistic and looks almost like him. The difference is that his hair is brown, not gold, and his eyes are brown, not green. Bradley's freckle pattern is almost identical to Charlie, but he always grows at the same time as him. Ross Shelby is five feet seven inches. He was over just last week. With his flippy hair and brown eyes, Ross makes all girls faint. He has this nerdy charm that makes him irresistible... Wait, I'm not gay.

At 2:45 PM, Ross and Seb came over. Apparently Krystin wasn't available today. But that's not the point. Charlie was just avoiding the doctor. He had to go. He had to get tested. What if there was something really wrong with him!

3:57. We had to leave in three minutes. Ross and Seb haven't left yet. I guess I'll take them home. I grabbed the boys and hopped in the car. After dropping off the boys Charlie and I made our way to the doctor.

All I saw was the bland walls of the waiting room. Grey like the sky outside. I dropped Charlie off to be tested, but I wasn't allowed in his room until the testing was over. Everything in me was the pain and curiosity got the best of me.

"Drew, you have to stay strong. Do not burst through those doors. Control. Charlie will be fine. Don't think about him. He will be fine." I kept repeating that in my head. I wonder what Charlie is going through.