Different sides

Chapter 4 Love + Mickey = pain

RILEY
"Hello Riley Dean speaking?" I answer. It's the end of my first school day. I loved it.
"Come home. Now." Mum demands
"Umm OK," I say "why?"
"Caitlin is going through hell" she says and hangs up. What? I stand alone on the bus home. Worried. Frightened. Tragic thoughts swirl around in my mind, confusing me. The bus stops right after too long, I get off and walk to the front door. Mentally preparing myself. I have a feeling this is going to ruin my perfect day.

CAITLIN
The pain ripped through me, tearing every part of my body. Especially my heart. Tears spilled out of my eyes and rolled down my cheeks, tear after tear. It hurt to open my eyes, I did not want to see the terrible reality my life was. Riley attempts to put her arm around me for comfort. I shook her off forcefully, mum is hovering above me. I'm sitting down because it hurts to stand up. I scream and shout and wail. But most of all, I cry. I cry and cry and cry till I've got no more tears or energy. Riley is hurt because I won't let her touch me. I'm hurt because it scary she's not trying harder. Mum is hurt because I'm hurt. I'm hurt because I've never felt this much pain. Honestly, I wanted to curl up under a rock and die.

RILEY
"Wha-? What? Why?" I stutter. I could feel water welling up in my eyes.
"Mickey" Mum whispers though I can barely hear her over caitlins cries.
"MICKEY?" I practically shout. Mum nods. Crying. Mickey was Caitlins cat, black with white ears and a quirky personality. Caitlin loved Mickey more than anything in the world. I can only imagine the pain she must be going through, but whatever I imagine, it's probably ten times worse. On the rare occasion where Caitlin opens her eyes, they're still brown, but you can see she's utterly and completely broken. Her blonde hair dangled carelessly in front of her face. And her mouth was open and slobbery, curved downward in pain. I liked Mickey, I think the whole family did. Micky is the reason I always wear think bright blue socks in the house. Mickey, for some reason thought toes are some sort of edible treat. Mickey. Gone. And never coming back.

"Where's Dad?" I ask mum. Yesterday we buried Mickey. It sucked. Way too sad for my liking. "Dunno" mum says, trying to be cool. She waves my off as I walk to the bus stop. Oliver is there. "Hey" he says. I don't know why, but I burst out crying.