Ghost Town

Maggie - 2

My head spins to a stop. It sounds weird, I know, but there really isn't any other way to explain it. It's like I was unconsciously trying to do everything I possibly could to cause myself pain, but the engine broke down. It's odd, but I'm not complaining. 

The sudden quiet was starting to feel almost uncomfortable, as the ringing in my head had all silence filled. But unfortunately, good things never last, and rapid footsteps could be heard. I instantly recognized the thudding. It was Jackie, my 13 year old little brother. You could be halfway across the world, and I promise you, you could still hear him coming.

"Maggie! Incoming!" He yelled, at the top of his lungs.

He burst through the door, eyes shut, and pounced on my bed with a sound that was a little bit like a plane and a cheetah in sync. He giggles hysterically.

Jackie is ridiculously popular at school. Katie has a little sister in his grade and she tells us all about him when we're at her house. Apparently he's had 4, week-long relationships with 5 different girls. No, you didn't read the numbers wrong. I don't really understand it either. But anyways, he really only shows his dorkie side to the family.

"Did you see how I flew? I mean, I didn't see myself, but I could feel it, y'know?" He says, laying on his back with his eyes still closed. Then he rolls over, rubbing his eyes like he just woke up, smiling like a 5-year-old who got a new bike for Christmas. I can see why he pulls so many girls. (A/N: don't take it in an incestuous way, please. It's just a sister acknowledging the smile he has.)

And then he opens his eyes.

I can read my brother like a book, but only because I've seen his every emotion hundreds of times. But this time, you could be a stranger and still see the fear in his eyes.

"Maggie?" He asks. His eyes are looking straight at me, but it feels like he's seeing through me, almost like he knows the general direction of where I am, but he still needs to look for me. "Maggie, get up."

"Maggie. I'm serious! Stop playing around." He repeats, with fear in his voice. "Maggie? I'm sorry for jumping on your bed! I didn't mean to make you mad. Just talk to me!"

He shakes my frame violently, occasionally mixing in some face slaps.

"Mom! Maggie isn't waking up!" He screamed.

I hate seeing my brother like this. I hate seeing him so afraid. I want to hug him and tell him it'll be okay. That I'm still here. But I'm not and I can't. And for some reason, I've got a feeling that nothing's ever going to be the same again.