The Patterson Polaroids

The Coincidence

A few days later, school had already started and the hype from the homecoming college campus party had officially died down. Stacie had snuck out of my bedroom before i woke up a few nights ago, she left the pajama's and everything. I hope she got home safe. I was in the middle of getting ready for class, as i tied my hair up into a braided bun and threw on a polyester sweater that was orange. Rolled up skinny jeans and loafers on my feet, one of my favorite pairs of shoes. And placed a barrette in my hair, wasn't too big on jewelry but i didn't mind some sort of bling in my crown of hair. Grabbed my bag of supplies and then headed down stairs for some breakfast. 

"How's school going? you haven't said much about it since you started a couple days ago. Should we be worried?" mom said, as she sat with her reading glasses on at the breakfast table. "No, why would you need to be worried? everything's fine mom, stop worrying" i said, as i grabbed the bagels from the cabinet and the cream cheese from the fridge. "Hey, dad was asleep on the couch again the other night, should i be worried?" i asked, as i looked over at my mom who was in the middle of paying bills. She looked over at the couch and then at me, before shuffling the papers in front of her and punching numbers into a calculator. 

"Okay then.." i said, under my breath, as i made my bagel and then took a bite out of it. "Morning my beautiful ladies" dad said, as he walked cheerfully through the kitchen. "Morning dad" i said, as i gave him a smile while he side hugged me. I watched as he kissed my mother on the cheek, but she didn't pull her eyes away from the papers. That was when i overheard the news on the small TV in front of us, on the counter. "Can you turn that up please" i said, as my dad grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. "Five students from Yale, Tyler Turgenev, Callie and Hallie Foster, Maggie London, and Marco Mallovoy. Were found dead in their own homes, over the course of the last five days. Sources say they don't know what caused it, only that these students were found unconscious on their bedroom floors with no trace of a heart beat. If you or someone you know, knows anything at all regarding the tragic death of these students please call the number on the screen. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends that are grieving during this time." the man said, as the screen then went to commercial. 

All i know was that i couldn't breathe, i couldn't move, i couldn't do anything. I felt my bagel slip out of my hand, as i stumbled backward, trying to catch my balance on the counter. "Paige oh my god" my mom said, as she rushed over to me and hugged me. "I am so sorry, Marco and Maggie? weren't they at the party that night? i can't believe that was the last time you saw them." my dad said, as he group hugged my mom and i. There were too many thoughts going through my head, i was trying to catch up, but feeling overwhelmed with so many emotions. Tears spilled out my eyes, as i could tell i was shaking. "I'm gonna be late for class" i croaked, as my parents looked at me. "Honey maybe you shouldn't go, you need to grieve" mom said, as i shook my head. "No, i'm okay" i said, as i grabbed my bagel off the floor and threw it in the garbage before taking the keys off the counter and hopping in the car outside. 

And then i just let it all out, crying and grieving every single person that i had just lost in the blink of an eye. Of course i was no longer in love with Marco, but i still cared about him. Maggie and i  weren't really friends obviously, but that never meant that i wished death upon her. These people didn't deserve to die. It just didn't make any sense to me? they were all just found unconscious in their bedrooms? was it suicide? was it murder? i hated that i had so many questions but no could answer them. I then started the car, and pulled out of the driveway so my parents wouldn't see me. The police should be questioning people at the party, since that was the last time these students were seen alive, probably. And since i was there, they might question me, at least that way i can get some of my questions answered. 

Why would they die within the last five days? this can't be a coincidence, something was definitely going on here, and i needed to get to the bottom of it. I then slammed on the breaks, "Stacie" i said, as i realized everyone else at the party that i had taken a photo of was now dead. She wasn't. Her name was never said. Wait a minute. Every one at the party that i had taken a photo of was now dead? it can't be a coincidence. it just can't be, something was wrong.