Fire Meets Gasoline

Chapter Fourteen : Agony

Chapter Fourteen : Agony

JOHN'S DIARY : After the awkward silence between Mike and I throughout the trip, Mike pointed at the sign that said "Gravetown Valley" and said we finally reached our location.

We stopped at the sign and took a little break since we were on the road for a while. I breathed in the dry air and exhaled to the best of my abilities. Mike held his water bottle then threw it into my direction so I could catch it, which I didn't. I took the last sip of it before putting the bottle inside my backpack. As I closed my backpack, Mike stared at the sign for a long minute, it was like a lot of memories were reaching him all at once, and I only could imagine how much that must have hurt.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

He continued to stare at the sign.

"Mike?" I alerted him, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am..."

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked him again

"Somebody is calling you," Mike pointed out to my beg.

I took the phone off my beg and saw my grandma's phone number.

I stared at the phone for a long minute before answering it, the sound of both lines connecting gave me chills. The line connected and the sound of a young woman got closer to my ears, I stepped away from the motorcycle and Mike. I held my fist tight as I held the phone firmly with my other hand.

"Johnny-?" She asked. I was shocked by her weak voice.

"Grandma? Grandma?!" I shouted as the phone beeped twice and finished the call.

Mike ran towards me and held me as I got down into the ground, I even scratched my knees. I held the phone as if I was holding onto grandma. A wave of guilt and sadness washed over me and threw me into the distance. I went back and forth and cried for minutes until I had no tears left to cry. Mike would whisper "it will be okay" even though he had no idea of what was going on. I finally calmed down and stopped crying.

I looked at my phone and turned it off completely. It was better this way since I knew people would still call me as soon as the news of my grandma would reach their phone. I got up and so did Mike, he looked so innocent without knowing what was going on, he was just there, standing and waiting for me to speak. I put my phone back into the backpack and threw it on my back.

"She died..." I sobbed "My grandma, she died."

Mike got closer to me and held my hand.

"I'm so, so sorry John..." He comforted me in the most basic way. .

"A-and you know what's the worst part-" I said while hugging him in the middle of the road

"What is it?" Mike asked, yet again so innocent.

"She died without seeing me, because I was stupid enough to follow with this plan" My words slipped without consent.

"What?"

"I-I didn't mean that" I tried to recover fast from what I've said.

Mike dissolved his hug and stepped away from me.

"But you did!" He rebelled.

"Mike I didn't look I am sorry-"

"No you're not sorry, I can tell!"
"Well of course not-" I completely had given up to my anger "-I just said that so you wouldn't feel bad!"

"Feel bad? What do you mean?"

"That's all I do for you!" I continued without answering his question "I hide my feelings, my opinions in fear of you turning away from me!"