Blank Stars

chapter 10

I woke up alone, the space where Sophia had occupied previously was empty and a surge of fear ran through me. I don’t know why I was scared, but I was. I jumped off of the couch and ran into the kitchen, I relaxed as a startled Sophia stared at me doe eyed. I sighed and let myself fall onto a stool and spread myself out across the surface of the table. Sophia still eyed me, a little shocked at my very abrupt appearance.

“Everything ok there?”

I sighed and looked up at her from the comfort of my own arms, I smiled thinking back to the previous night’s conversation. 

“Yep, I think so.”

She didn’t question anymore, we didn’t need to. Last night we had bonded much more than we had in the many years we have known each other. She stood up, carrying the cereal bowl filled with scattered flakes of food which refused to be caught with her spoon. She plopped the bowl into an already filled basin of warm soapy water before she walked over and hugged me. I relished the contact, which was especially strange for me.

She pulled away and looked down at me, probably just as surprised as me that I accepted the hug, but she didn’t show it. She smiled warmly at me and I did the same in return, she rubbed my arm before walking back to the sink to wash the dishes. I got up and walked beside her, drying the ones that she handed to me, covered in frothy bubbles.

“I was thinking of going over to Alec’s today.”

She paused and looked at me, whether she expected me to say anymore or not I don’t know. I think I had meant to say more but I couldn’t think of what it was. Deciding that I wasn’t going to say anymore she looked down at the bowl in her hand before looking up at me with a warm smile.

“I think that’d be a good idea. I don’t want to see you fighting… I’m rooting for you.”

She nudged me in the side at that and my face flushed red, I gently slapped her arm and she flicked suds in my face. We carried on like that for a while, disregarding all the stress which had consumed our lives for the past few days. I looked up at her and hugged her tightly before brushing the suds out of my hair.

“Thanks”

She gave me a brief hug before shooing me away, I laughed and hopped quickly out of the room. I bounced up the stairs and reached my room, I slumped onto the bed releasing all of the night’s tension. I stared up at the smooth white ceiling and felt a smile creeping across my face. 

I jumped up off of the bed and went over to the Wardrobe, which was now filled with all of my own clothes. I skimmed my fingers across the monotonous fabric, wary to look bland when I went to see Alec considering everything that had happened and might have. I spotted a flash of colour pushed to the side of the wall. I pushed all the other clothes along the rail revealing a bright black and red tartan shirt, a black tank top was tucked under the tartan shirt. I pulled them out and felt the thin material on the shirt, I smiled to myself and quickly changed my shirts.

I walked over to a mirror which sat in the corner of my room, and admired the tight fitting tank contrasting with the long billowy shirt. I grinned in the mirror and returned to the wardrobe, pulling out a pair of black skinny jeans. I changed once again and stared at the girl, now fully transformed, looking back at me in the mirror. I looked so different than I had a few days ago, when despair was all I had to cling onto. Now I had hope to accompany me.

My smile dropped slightly as I grimly remembered all the disasters which had plagued me recently. I thought back to the girl from Marcus’ waiting room, sitting there with her ‘friend’. I knew I was slowly becoming her, in mind at least, I wonder if she would think the same if she were to see me now. I shook my head, promising myself to deal with my messed up mental state after dealing with Alec.