Bad Influence

11.

"Daddy?" Karsen whispered as she ran to his lifeless form.

"He suffered a heart attack. We tried to revive him but I'm sorry ma'am. Your father is dead," the doctor told her apologetically.

"No, no, no, nooo," Jessica cried in a chair right beside the hospital bed.

"Why? " Karsen sobbed onto her father's lap. I rubbed her back trying to calm her.

"It's alright baby. You have to let him go," a nurse put a sheet over his face but Karsen stayed attached to his arm.

"NO!" she screamed as I tried to pull her away, "NO!"

"Take her home, Ash. You two's home," Jessica said softly.

"I'm so sorry for your loss Jessica," I held onto Karsen as she screamed and screamed. We finally made it to the car and I sat her in the back. She sprawled across the seat on her stomach and cried some more.

By the time I was parked at the our home she had stopped crying. I opened her door and she just sat there emotionless. "Come on baby we're home," I got her into the condo and tucked her into bed. It was already 2 am and she quickly fell asleep.

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Three days. Three days Karsen blocked the rest of the world out. We went to her father's funeral for an hour but as soon as we got home she drifted back into her dark hole. She didn't move, she didn't speak, and she refused to eat more than what I could get her to swallow. Jessica had come by before she went back to the facility she attending to check on her and talk to me about Karsen and mine's "sneaky relationship." Ollip had come by to try to get her to respond to something also, but nothing happened. It was like she wasn't alive, just there.

"Karsen," I moved to her side of the bed. She didn't budge, she just stared at the wall across the room. " Karsen please come back to me," I laid on top of her and rested my head on her chest. "Do you remember at the beach house when we promised each other we wouldn't leave? Please keep that promise Karsen. Please," I squeezed her waist tighter.

As the time went by without a response from her, I fell asleep where I was. When I woke up I was still there but Karsen's fingers were moving through my hair. "Goodmorning love," I yawned. "Wait Karsen you're moving!"

She gave a shy smile," Good morning Ash." I buried my face in her breast. "Ashhh," she giggled.

"Please don't ever do that again, Karsen," I looked at her seriously.

"I'm sorry Ash, but lets not talk about that," she looked from my face.

"I love you Karsen," I kissed her gently.

"I love you too Ash," she held my face in her hands with her eyes shut.

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"Come on!" Karsen yelled. "I swear you'll be late for your own funeral."

"I'm coming woman, damn," I picked up the keys and followed her out the door.

Once we were in the car, Karsen looked as if she had something on her mind. "What are you thinking about like that baby?"

"I want you to go back to school," she blurted out. I sighed.

"Karsen I didn't drop out. I just finished early."

"What?"

"I finished early. I took cour-," she cut me off.