Orbit

A sticky situation

edited 10/8/23
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Breathe in

Breathe out

In out.... in out...

That's it Orbit, you can do this.

I look down at my plate of food and gripped my fork, my knuckles faintly turning to a subtle white as I listen to the chattering at the table.

My vision blurs

In out, in and out

My breathing shortens as the sound of arguing began to arouse.

"Orbit.."

Huh that's funny

"Orbit... joking"

Joking about what?

"Stop sleeping"

But I'm awake?

I open my eyes to be greeted face down into my plate of food, as the nickering voice of someone speaks to me in a panicked tone. The sounds of my environment was blurred, I groaned. Lifting my head, I look around, my vision obscured by the food that was stuck on my face that begins to fall as I brought my hand to my face and wipe it off. My brother seemed to be the one who shook me awake, a worried expression on his face says it all as he offered me a napkin. I look down, seeing the ruined cold dinner as my thoughts ran rampant. I swallowed my saliva, taking the napkin from my brother as I look around. It was dead silent.

My mom and her boyfriend who were previously arguing just stared at me, my mom seeming to be distraught as my brother gives me a look of sympathy; the toddler babbles from the highchair she's on as if shes motioning to something.

God this is embarrassing.

My mom speaks as I interrupted her, I stood up from the table. "Excuse me..." I muttered, getting out of the chair before pushing it in. Kyle stares at me with a forlorn look as I glanced at him, a weird feeling anchors in my gut as I stared at my older brother. I walked out of the dining area; trying to keep my breathing steady as my throat closed in while hot embarrassment courses throughout my body. Ignoring my mothers calls from downstairs, I closed the door and slid down, hearing the commotion that continues downstairs. I leaned my body weight onto the door as I slumped down. Covering my face with my hands, I sighed as I observed my room through the cracks of my fingers. I looked to the side, seeing the familiar sight of the stuffed animal that sat on my office chair, I smiled.

"Mittens, do you know where your brothers have ran off to? Or my things, everything seemed to have went missing as of late."

Mittens only stared at me back in response, not able to respond as I sighed. I tilted my head back as I look at the popcorn like ceiling as I thought to myself. "I don't deal well with stress," I muttered to myself, taking in a deep breath as I fiddled with my hands.

I hear the patters of someones footsteps climbing the stairs as I held in my breath, listening to determine who it is. The steps were heavy but light when raising their foot, I blinked, It was Kyle. I felt the knock reverberate on the door on my back as soon as he arrived. Feeling the constant staccato like notes hit the wood as he let his presence known. I let out a loud sigh, feeling the crusted mashed potatoes on my face crunch together with my facial muscles as I put my hands down to the ground to push myself up. Opening the door, I looked at the nearly six foot man who smiles at me somberly as a water bottle was held in his hand.

The male spoke, "I thought you'd want to have some water to calm yourself down, and some consoling, you don't seem too well Orbit." His voice was laced with concern as he stares at me, an expecting look shown as he waits for my response. I sniffled, wiping off the crusted remains on my face as I took the water and wearily smiled at him in response as thanks. "Thank you, I appreciate it," I opened my door to let him in, allowing him to enter my room and console me on whatever he thinks I'm having trouble with.

Kyle walked to my office chair and thew Mittens on my bed, making himself comfortable on my bed as I stared at him. Trying to ignore the maltreatment of my stuffed animal, I closed my door and sat on my bed, placing Mittens on my bed next to her siblings as I stared at Kyle. "So what is there to talk about?" I spoke, my voice plain and monotone as I stared at my brother. He raised his dark brown brows as his eyes seemed to soften even more as he licked his lips.

"Well, how are you feeling? Do you feel faint?" I stared at him as he continued to qurie me with more questions as I sighed. I twisted the cap on the plastic bottle as I stared at the contents inside before bringing it to my lips to consume. I swallowed the liquid before responding, looking at him as I cleared my throat.

"I feel.... Okay, fine wouldn't be the appropriate answer but I don't feel the best. I wouldn't say I'd feel the worst either, I'm not neutral either but I can say that I feel shitty. To clairfy your second question, no, I do not. I just freaked out, that's all. Thank you for checking on me." I thanked him as I took another sip from the plastic retainer, liking the taste of the water as I listening to Kyles not so satisfied response.

"What do you mean that you're not faint? You fucking passed out and practically dropped dead on the table, your plate especially, mom freaked out and screamed at me to wake you up." I glanced at him as he spoke, surprised by the use of the foul word he said, it seemed that he was serious.

"So? I didn't pass out earlier when I was walking home from work, and also I didn't feel the best today that's all." I twisted the cap back on the bottle, securing it to the vessel before throwing it on the end of my bed. Falling back on the mattress as I listened to Kyles frustrated response.

"Orbit, you have to tell us this! Your hypotension is no joke and if you pass out it may result in a coma or death because of your little body!" Kyle moved closer to the foot my bed, nearly three feet away from me. "Your constitution is weak and you act like its not! You never take yourself seriously! Ever since you attempted to take your life you were like this... please care for yourself more." Kyle pleads, his voice weak and mellow as he dropped to his knees, his dark brown hair shielding his face from me as his curls bounce. I swallow my saliva, not really know how to respond.

"Kyle.. why did mom send you up here when she could've came up here herself?" I spoke, looking back at the familiar popcorn ceiling as rubbed the fabric of my duvet between my index and thumb. I glanced to the side again, seeing my desperated brother staring at me. He looked at me with confusion, his voice clear and confident.

"Mom didn't send me up here, I came up at my own obliviation, I was concerned, but why are you ignoring my questions?" He asked, his eyes stared at my figure intently as he waited for his answer, I took in another breath, staring into his brown orbs as I spoke.

"Why should I care for a body thats destined to die in a few years?"