Parallel Hearts

Chapter 1 - Poppy

In Kara's plant store I find myself looking at all the items that I love and also collect. To my left I spy a shelf full of antique bottles, one looks exactly like the one I found in my porch ceiling. It's an old glass soda bottle with big bold lettering in red reading Gem Cola. I also see hanging on the wall a poster of all the National Parks in a checklist form. Then out of the corner of my eye I see movement.

Kara approach's and starts explaining where she found all the items I see. "I got this while Elliott, and I were backpacking across America. We had such a fun adventure seeing all the National Parks, I knew I just had to have this poster for my shop."

Funny thing is I don't think Kara has any idea who I am.

I walk toward a shelf where a collection of bourbon sits on the bookshelf. Various sized bottles that all still have amber liquid inside. I grab the closest bottle; it has a cork top and gold lettering on the label.

Watching my dad, Travis, have a bourbon and diet every night after work left me with a raging bourbon obsession into adulthood. It's the only alcohol I drink really. In the beginning I only drank it because I wanted to run from my emotions... Now it seems I drink it to feel nothing at all.

As I open the lid, the scent fills my nose. Bright and sharp my eyes stings from the alcohol content. Then it slowly settles into a sweet scent I could pick up anywhere, almost reminiscent of vanilla or is that.... mmm cinnamon.

Caught off guard by the sudden presence of Elliott, I nearly drop the bottle of Bourbon in my hand.

"Maybe I'll finish these. I really do need to get rid of them." he says.

I stare blankly but notice Kara's eye as she glares at Elliott like she's ready to spit fire. After what felt like way too awkward of a silence, Kara through clenched teeth breathes "Elliott, you can't be serious?".

Elliott goes to reply but I can't help in asking him.

"Are you sober?", Elliott faces me and his eye show me all I need to know.

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Suddenly I'm ripped from this dream and all I can feel is how dry my mouth is. Then I'm aware or the fan oscillating on the floor. I continue experiencing my body stirring and reality crashes around me... I am indeed not in Kara's shop but I am in bed... with my husband. Why does this keep happening?

As I lay in bed contemplating what I just experienced in dreamland, the memories flood me.

I remember that night so clearly. My sister, Kennedy, asked me to go to a popular bar in "The Circle", which is the historic downtown of The Town of Porter. In 2016, Kennedy had such bad anxiety attacks... I'll get into that another time. If there's one thing I miss about those days most though, it's how much fun it was living with my sister.

Kennedy is my complete opposite. I have curly hair and Kennedy has straight hair. I'm tall and curvy, while Kennedy is short and petite. Being younger, but taller and heavier always made me insecure. Not in a dark way but in the way that you just kind of always know it to be true. Everyone always swears it's not that big of a difference, but we all know they just say that to make me feel better.

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In April of 2016, Kennedy came barreling into my room,

"We really need to go out and have some fun Poppy. We deserve it! Come on, pleaseeee?"

I sit up contemplating her request as she plops down on my bed and barely makes it move.

"We have work tomorrow and I'd have do my makeup!"

"So?? Don't be fucking lazy!" Kennedy hops off my bed as she's laughing

"Get dressed, we're going to The Circle!"

In the car on the way, I open my phone while Kennedy is belting some random song and I look at myself in Snapchat.

I don't look half bad.

Kennedy glances at me from the driver seat and says "You look adorable, just post it!"

So without another thought I just let my fingers take over "When in Porter, you go to The Circle!" clicking 'post to story' and then putting my phone down.

You see when I post to my Snapchat, if I check right away to see who is viewing my story, I always end up disappointed. Truth be told I really only cared if Elliott looked.

"Jealousyyyyy, turning saints into the sea! Swimming through sick lullabies. Choking on our alibis!" For Kennedy and I pregaming was more about song choice than it is getting 'pre drunk'. Nothing will ever feel as good as scream singing Mr. Brightside at 9:00pm on a Thursday night with your sister while going 70 down a backroad!

Grabbing my phone from the middle console cubby my eyes immediately see his name.

Elliot has sent you a Snap