The Chosen.

Mia

Day by day it's becoming easier to maneuver these bricks i once called my feet. My body becomes lighter and more painless for me to carry as i start keeping food down more often. Sleep has still been my best friend, of course besides Mia. I feel like nothing can make up for the way i've treated her in the past. Her unwavering loyalty and support even though my words may not have always been kind, has meant more to me than she will ever know.

"Mia?" i ask as i feel her breathing drift off, her arms wrapped around me.

"Hmm?" she hums as i awaken her from her half slumber.

"I love you. Thank you."

"I love you too, Junie." she whispers before drifting off back to sleep.

Breakfast seems, i hate to say it, to bring a sense or normalcy back for us. A part of me feels like i need to let go of my hurt and move on to save myself but the other part of me feels it's not fair to leave my love behind. I want to dwell on his death. i want to feel the agony of the absence of his love for me, but i know if i want to ever want a chance at recovering, i can't.

Gathered around the little breakfast nook, my friends and I eat our food enjoying the feeling of a routine together. i observe Tom closely, watching how frequently he takes sips of his drink. I know in my mind he's drinking that much too quickly for it to be anything but alcohol. I understand he's desperately searching for an escape of reality with out his brother but to destroy his body and sanity to do it is something i can not stand for.

Out of the corner of my eye, i catch a glance between Mia and Zeke. Surely they're thinking the same thing about Tom as i am, right? Wrong, i see their gaze meet again, there is definitely something else going on. I can't decide if these are looks of longing or looks of codependency. They have been spending an awful lot of time together considering Tom and i have neither been mentally present for the past two weeks. Maybe they've found comfort in each others company, or maybe they've found something else.

Abruptly, Tom shoves himself from the table, turning and dashing off. His quickness leaving no time for any of us to react.

"What just happened?" i ask. My brain is still fuzzy so sudden movements take me a moment to register.

"Uhh.. Uhm.. I'm not sure, exactly." Mia seems flustered. "I'll go check." she leaves Zeke and i at the table alone. Before she leaves her eyes slip him one more glance.

"Is there something going on?" i murmur as i play with my remaining food on my plate with a heavy silver fork.

"I think he's just still upset, I don't-"

"You know that's not what i meant." I say as our eyes connect, my utensil still scraping against the porcelain plate.

"No, June. We're just closer now. That's all."

"I'm just saying Zeke. Just pointing out what it looks like." I sassily quote him from the night he figured out about Tom and I's connection.

"That's not fair. It's not like i want to hide it, also i don't owe him loyalty... she does." he spits bitterly at me

"So there is something to hide?" i ask blankly refusing to sugar coat things anymore. I don't actually fully care, i just want to aggravate him a little like he did me. He was so quick to judge but now on the other side of things, he wants mercy.

"Leave it June, I did... now you have to too."

I throw my hands up in the air, suggesting i surrender and that i will leave it at that. The corners of my mouth tug slightly in a smile. Zeke never seems to do anything wrong, by the beads of sweat on his forehead i can tell this is all so new to him. 

"She does seem happier." I whisper admittedly as i see her returning to the table, hips swaying as she walks.