TOO YOUNG TO BE SO SAD(ECCEDENTESIAST)

FIVE

The night was still young, and the breeze held a chill that seeped into my skin, yet I paid it no heed. Lost in the frigid forest of my thoughts, I hunted for elusive answers. My head felt as heavy as stone, my mind too fragile to roam freely. I submerged my face in the river of hopes, yearning for hope to submerge me in its depths, but instead, it buoyed me up.

Moving onward, I tread upon the thorns of worry, traversed the fires of depression, and battled against inner voices screaming 'surrender.' Insomnia gnawed at my eyes, casting shadows in the form of dark circles. Anger consumed my heart, leaving behind nothing but smoldering embers. The agony pierced my soul, rendering it hollow. Even my tear ducts, which should have wept, betrayed me by yielding no tears when I needed them most. I was left with an empty void.

Huddled beneath my sheets, my face buried into the pillow, I released a primal scream that emerged as a double-edged howl. A pause, and then silence. I steeled myself for another scream, only for an even louder one from elsewhere to jolt me out of bed.

"Izzy!!!" I yelled, my feet carrying me in the direction of the sound that led straight to my sister's room.
"Izzy! Isabelle!!"
"Izzy!! It's me, open up, please!" I implored, knocking and fumbling with the lock, but there was no response until the scream resounded once more. With no other recourse, I had to force the door open. Employing a hairpin, I deftly unlocked it.

"Isabelle!!" I scanned the room, panic clawing at my chest, but she was nowhere to be found. Rushing into her bathroom, my heart sank as I spotted her lying on the floor, writhing in agony as she clutched her stomach. Her face was ashen, and her breaths came in feeble gasps. My vision blurred, and the image of a monster wielding a baseball bat loomed in my mind. Dread engulfed me, the thought of our father assaulting her gripping my thoughts. No, it can't be real—it's all in my head. I immediately wrestled control over my thoughts and crouched down beside her.

"Izzy! Please, open your eyes," I beseeched. But she remained unresponsive, her breaths growing fainter. Scooping her up, I dashed downstairs to the car, my voice pleading with her not to give in.

I raced to the nearest hospital, where they promptly admitted her and began attending to her. Trembling, I waited for news from the doctors, grappling with what had gone awry. She couldn't have been hurt, right? My father wasn't even home at the time. What I witnessed wasn't real. It was a mere mirage, a trick of my mind.

"Are you Miss Isabelle Harrison's guardian?" A young female doctor inquired.
"Y-Yes," I stammered, my anxiety palpable. She regarded me for a moment before motioning for me to follow her.
"Please come with me." I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding since the car ride and trailed her to her office.

"Is she alive?!" I blurted out, my first concern bursting forth.
"Indeed she is. Your sister has what's known as appendicitis. It's..."
"I'm familiar with appendicitis, doctor," I interjected, impatiently cutting her off.
"Very well. The appendix has been ruptured inside her for a day now. Frankly, I'm surprised she made it through yesterday. That aside, she's fortunate that she was brought here promptly. She'll need surgery, which will cost you fifteen hundred dollars. But before we proceed, we require the consent of a legal guardian."
"Why would we need the consent of a guardian when I brought her here myself without one?"
"It's a hospital policy," she paused, her gaze filled with sympathy. "Time is of the essence. Your sister's life rests in your hands."

Exiting the office, my thoughts were a storm of worry. I entered the ICU to find my sister lying there, her breath aided by an oxygen mask. Watching her in that state, my heart fractured into countless pieces. She was all I had, and if I continued to wallow in despair without seeking solutions, I might lose her. I know what you're thinking, but I can't call him either. He won't listen to me...

I left the hospital, driving aimlessly without any destination in mind. My thoughts spiraled out of control, my vision blurred with tears, and the weight in my heart made breathing a struggle. Eventually, I pulled over and allowed my emotions to wash over me. I felt utterly powerless; there seemed to be nothing I could do for my sister. The sense of helplessness was suffocating.

A knock on the car window jolted me back to reality. I rolled down the window to see the tall guy from the rooftop standing there. Confusion engulfed me—where was I, and why was he here? My gaze shifted ahead, and I realized I was parked in front of Max's house. I glanced between the house and the boy, my mind racing. What on earth was he doing here? Did he know Max? It was well past midnight; he couldn't possibly live here. And yet, there he stood, with a bag of trash and dressed in sleepwear.

"Rooftop! Wha-what... what are you doing here?" I stammered, taken aback by his unexpected appearance.
"I should be asking you that, sulky face," he retorted, raising one eyebrow quizzically. "Sulky what?!" I quickly wiped away my tears and cleared my throat. Wait a minute, why did I end up driving all the way here? I can't possibly ask someone like Max, a drug dealer, to come to the hospital and act as an adult witness for my sister's surgery consent... But then again, he might be able to lend me some money. Nice move, Star.

I stepped out of the car and hurried toward the house, the rooftop guy following close behind. Flinging open the door, a wave of the distinct scent of narcotics enveloped me. It felt strangely like home. The entire place was hazy, enveloped in the cloud of a Stoners night. No doubt about it.

"Max!!" My voice trembled, and the sound of a gun being cocked echoed through the air.
"Max... Max, it's... it's me, Star," I gasped for breath, my heart pounding.

"Code," his husky voice demanded.
"Crystal F, Star girl 2016," I replied, my words unlocking the door with a distinct rifle sound. The door swung open, granting me entry.

He scrutinized me from head to toe, took a slow drag, and gestured for me to take a seat.
"¿Qué problema hay?" He inquired in Spanish.
"My... my sister is very ill and—" my breath was ragged, my emotions spiraling out of control. Noticing my unease, he called out,
"Camello!" The rooftop guy entered the room.
"Nerve tips, please," Max directed, and the guy nodded before leaving. I accepted the pills he brought and after a few moments, my breathing steadied. I began explaining the reason behind my disheveled appearance in their house.

"You want me to lend you money or accompany you as an adult, huh?"
"I need the money. I'll double the repayment, I promise."
"You know I don't mess around with my earnings, right?"
"Yes."
"You'll have to pay me back in a week, buddy. One week, do we have a deal?"

I deliberated for a moment, the weight of the situation sinking in. If I failed to repay him, the consequences could be deadly. I hadn't even secured a corner to sell yet. I had a week to find a spot on the streets to sell. It was one of those times when skipping school seemed like a logical choice.

"Yeah, man, one week, I promise," I agreed. He signaled for the rooftop guy, who fetched the money.
"Two grand," Max announced, placing it on the table. I picked it up, embracing the wad of cash as I expressed my gratitude.

"What are you going to do about the adult thing? Do you want me to come?" he inquired.

"I'll be fine. I don't want you to put yourself at risk. Thanks, Max," I replied with a grateful smile. For someone known to deal with lost kids in need, this gesture was remarkably humane. As I was about to take my leave, he detained me once more. After a brief exchange with the rooftop guy, he came over to me and offered to accompany me to the hospital.

"He's a teenager," I informed Max, who merely laughed and waved us off. Who on earth is this enigmatic rooftop guy who seems to have the audacity to argue with the imposing Max? The mystery surrounding him piqued my curiosity further.

We walked to my car, and he requested my keys. I arched an eyebrow at him. "If we're going together, I'll be the one driving. I won't have a girl chauffeuring me around."

I couldn't help but release a bemused chuckle. "You're welcome to head back to the rooftop, you know. I never asked you to join me. If you'll excuse me, I have a sister to save." With a light shove, I sidestepped him and climbed into the driver's seat. I ignited the engine and honked at him.

"Are you coming or not?!" I called out impatiently. He muttered something under his breath and hopped into the car.

"I'll be making a quick stop at my place. I need to grab a few things," I informed him.