The Day Dreamer

Chapter 1

                                                                         "To whatever end."

My name is Elora. It means 'shining light'. It does match my personality. People often say I'm like a ray of sunshine, that I'm always happy. I always have so much energy, like a kinetic ball. It's exhausting.

I am an optimist, that much is true. I always try to be a 'shining light' for everyone, because I don't want anyone to feel sad, lonely, or cold. The only problem with being a source of warmth for everyone is that they don't see that I can feel lonely and cold too.

I smile constantly. I never cry. I never complain. I never feel sad. At least not when other people are around. That's why I have my books, they keep me happy. Tales of epic adventures and true love. Lives full of fascination and wonder.

I try to fill my life with as much fascination and wonder as I can. It proves to be difficult, but I manage.

As an example, whenever I feel weak, I just pretend I'm the pirate king's daughter or that I'm an assassin, or a spy, a witch, maybe a rebel. Usually, it works, and I don't feel weak anymore.

No amount of imagining will keep me from feeling this. Betrayal.

I'll tell you what happened.

Luca. My best friend. I trusted him with my life. His family was like a second to mine. I was his younger brother's favorite 'Luca friend'. We walked around the school together, we went bowling, he read my favorite books (because I forced him). He was one of the two people who knew about my imagining. Every day he would ask 'Who are you today, Elora?'. I thought we would be best friends forever. But nothing lasts.

Two terms ago he told me he liked Natalie Davie. I didn't think much of it at that point. These things happen and we can't control these things. At the time he didn't know what Natalie had done to me. A few weeks later he found me crying. I had just heard that Layla was going into hospital again and it brought all those memories back.

Luca asked for the whole story, and I told him. I told him about Natalie. He nodded his head and seemed like he understood or tried to. He didn't understand, Luca had never been alone, everyone loved Luca, he always had friends. Luca had never been bullied, he had never felt worthless and like he had to prove his worth to the world. Luca was smart, funny, and good-looking, everyone knew that. Luca never had a best friend knock on death's door and have death almost answer it. Luca didn't understand.

That showed when he asked Natalie out on a date. She said yes. They have been dating for a week. I've been avoiding Luca for three weeks. One of Luca's friends told me he was planning to ask her out. I held everything bottled up until I got home.

Once I got home I cried, I cried until my eyes were sore. For me it felt like Natalie had already stolen so many things from me, my childhood, because of her I grew up so quickly, she stole my confidence, my self-esteem, and now Luca.

I also was mad at Luca. I was mad that he didn't tell me his plans and that he would do such a thing.

But, most of all, I felt abandoned.

I knew that if I saw them together it would feel like a knife piercing through my heart. I decided to avoid Luca. If he talked to me I would answer, but I would not reach out to him.

I constantly told myself that it wasn't like last time. I had a friend this time. I had Rachel. I wasn't alone.

Then I got a text from Layla.

"Hey! Just got out from a reeeally long doctor's appointment. Turns out the fever wasn't just the flu, I have to stay in the hospital for a few days, but nothing to worry about. Could you bring me the schoolwork from today? Thanks!"

One week Natalie and Luca have been dating and now Layla is back in the hospital. The irony.

I knocked on room 221 and Madeline answered the door.

"Hi Madeline," I said politely.

"Hello Elora," I had never been fond of Layla's mum, she had always been extremely strict, but that was understandable. I always made an effort to be polite.

"Hey," I smile brightly at Layla, channeling all of my sunshine.

I smack the folder onto Layla's lap and she reaches for it with her right hand. Her left is attached to an IV.

"How bad is it?" I asked.

"They say I'll be fine, but I saw my doctor talking to my mum, it's bad. They just won't tell me," I reach for her hand and squeeze it tightly in my own.

"You've survived worse, you'll be fine," I lock eyes with her and she smiles.

"Thanks, promise you'll stay the night?" Hospital sleepovers were something we did since I was seven, but only when she was healthy enough.

"Sure."

"Promise, to stay with me?" Layla tried to sound brave but I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

"To whatever end," I whisper.