All Too Well [H.S]

One

Lilah Green

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

10:38 P.M.

November 28th, 2024

The floor creaked underneath the pads of my feet as I danced around in the living room to the song 'Apocalypse' by Cigarettes After Sex. It was snowing outside, barely but enough to where you could see it building upon the ground. It was the first fall of snow this winter, and it was glistening. I kept dancing, twirling my hair on my fingertips as I did.

Something felt eerie about what I was doing but safe at the same time. I had been dancing for hours at this point, waiting for Marianne to come over after she finished work. She's my best friend of thirteen years and lives a few floors down from me in my apartment complex. It was my birthday tomorrow, but we haven't exactly decided what we are doing for it.

I bump into my coffee table, almost knocking over the hot cocoa I made hours ago. I took about two sips of it before I started dancing and completely forgot about it. "Shit," I whispered, kneeling and pushing the mug further back to prevent it from falling. I grabbed the napkin placed right next to it and cleaned the small spill I had made.

My phone buzzed in the pocket of my jeans; it must be Marianne. I stand back up and pull it down, looking at my screen. A text from her appeared on my phone, notifying me she would be here in five minutes. Perfect timing.

I walk over to my porch and open the sliding door. She and I sat out here most of the time and talked for hours on end. I prepped the chairs and also grabbed two blankets from inside to keep us warm. I headed over to the kitchen after making her some hot cocoa to keep her extra warm, seeing as she freezes up pretty quickly. Just as the milk is finished in the microwave, there is a soft knock on the door.

"Lilah? It's me." I hear Marianne's angelic voice from behind the door.

"Coming, one second." I pulled out the milk and quickly mixed in the hot cocoa powder before adding marshmallows.

I skip over to the door and open it, seeing Marianne standing there looking lifeless. "Work was rough?" I smile, leaning my head against the door before letting her in. She nods tiredly, walking in the past me and setting her bag down on the kitchen island. "Awful would be more of an answer."

I giggle, walking over to the drink I made her and handing it to her. "Aw, you love me?" She questions, making puppy dog eyes. "What kind of question is that?" I smirk at her, wiggling my eyebrows. She laughs, and I motion her over to the porch, opening up the sliding door.

We both get into our chairs, grabbing the warm blankets and throwing them over our bodies. Marianne takes a few sips of the hot chocolate, admiring the snow in front of her. "First fall of snow, a blessing and a curse." She smiles, looking over at me. Her curly hair looked beautiful, deep chocolate skin, and green eyes. Marianne was stunning, and I always admired her looks.

"isn't it?" I reply, looking at the snow falling softly onto the grass.

"So, big days in a few hours?" She looked down at her drink; something seemed off. I frowned, wondering what was on her mind. I take a deep breath in, "Yeah, why?" I ask suspiciously. She looked over at me, eyebrows furrowed, and hesitation was written all over her face. She tapped her fingers against the mug, looking nervously everywhere but at my face.

"Marianne? What's wrong? Do you have plans? It's fine I don't mind spending it alone-"

I was cut off by her shaking her head no and scolding me, "Lilah, no. It's not that. I just-" She stops speaking and sighs; what could possibly be wrong?