Monochromatic

Chapter 22

Libia

Rave was gone for hours, and I was left alone pacing in worry hoping that he didn't get himself killed with that poor memory of his. He was never the safe type, but he knew when to back down, hopefully that part of him still stuck. As every second passed I regret letting Rave stay in that hospital. Rave wasn't one to die so easily, how gullible could I be to take a doctor's word for a boy I knew my whole life! Something had flipped inside him, and it wasn't amnesia. Maybe it was the pills? A withdrawal symptom may be severe memory loss. After all, they weren't technically a legal prescription. To think about it, I never knew much about those pills my brother took. I asked about them from time to time but Rave always dodged the question. I never pushed him for answers too hard though, I knew he meant well. That had to be it! He barely takes his pills anymore, making him more hostile towards others. He wouldn't treat me like that, he wouldn't treat anyone like that unless something was wrong.

At last, the heavenly sound of the door unlocking and creaking open occurred , and in came my elder brother, worn out and jaded.

"How did you get back in?" Rave groaned, not bothering to look at me

"I have a key, it's the one you made me."

He didn't argue with me about it, he was too exhausted to care.

"Just go home, I'm too tired for this."

"Where have you been all this time?"

"That's none of your concern. Don't you have school tomorrow or something? Why are you bothering me?"

"Because I care! Okay?"

"Okay, I'm a thief, it's my job and I've been training all day. I'm going to return to work shortly after I gather some stuff."

My heart ached. My Rave wouldn't dare return to that era of his life. He couldn't steal a pencil without returning it the next day. He'd be the one to get stuff back to people, not take it away. Not anymore, not him! I watched as my brother walked into the restroom, holding his lids open and dripping his eye drops in. He popped two pills in his mouth, swallowing it without any water and moved on to his hair. That ponytail of his was getting rather messy, and he must have cared a little about it, because he decided to quickly brush it out and braid it, tying it down with that elastic band he had for his ponytail. Rave moved out, slipping into his bedroom and disappearing into the closet, quickly coming back out ignoring how I followed him.

"Rave please, don't do this! You'll get hurt-"

"I'm not a kid Libia, I can take care of myself!"

"This isn't like you, listen to me! Something terrible will happen if you go back there! You're not thinking straight, just stay here and I can help you with this! We can look for a better job together like we planned, you don't have to go back down that road!"

"Just shut up okay! Who do you think you are anyway!"

"I-"

"No, don't answer that, I'm leaving."

I blocked the door before he could.

"I'm your little sister, Rave. Nothing you say or do can prove me wrong! You may not remember me or any of the things we've done together, but that doesn't mean we are any less related to each other. I'm not here to control you, nor am I here to treat you like a little kid. However, you've helped me time and time again, and now I must help you. You're not stable, not without your memory of what happened and why."

"I know what happened now let me through!"

"No!"

He lost it, pushing me out the way forcefully and reaching for the door knob.