Tainted Pages

Unforgettable Friends

"Sweetheart, dinner is ready, come eat!" My mother called from downstairs.

"Coming!" I called back.

Quickly I stuffed my toys in my closet and ran downstairs. I pulled up a chair and sat down, my mother setting a bowl down for me. Today we were having potato soup. I loved potato soup. I dug in quickly after my father arrived and finished it all, soon asking for seconds.

"Sweetie, I have a surprise for you when you're finished eating, okay?" My mother told me.

I was immediately excited and downed the rest of my food in less than a minute. I raced into the living room where my mother presented me with a brown cardboard box, my father sitting on the couch watching closely. I opened the box happily and was met with the fluffiest creature I had ever seen. It was a cat! I was so happy, so overjoyed I couldn't contain my excitement.

He was a gray cat with white on the tips of his ears and white markings on his face. He had the prettiest blue eyes I had ever seen on a cat. He looked so cute.

"Do you like him?" She asked.

"Yes! I love him!" I squealed with excitement.

"What are you going to name him?"

I thought for a moment.

"He'll be General Fluffbutt!" I answered enthusiastically.

My mother and father simply laughed.

From then on General Fluffbutt was my best friend. I did everything with him. Whenever I snuck into my mom's makeup I would apply some on his face and make him look pretty. He didn't like it but would deal with it for me. I would get into my father's tools and let him play with them. I nicknamed him Gen because his name was already very long.

I was around 18 when I moved into dorms with a friend. I was unable to get the dean to approve my request to bring General Fluffbutt with me but I would visit him on the weekends so I figured it was fine.

I had been going through a hard time, but whenever I visited General Fluffbutt I would feel all better. He was my little General who chased all the bad thoughts away whenever he was near.

I sat in my bathtub, blood dripping from my wrists. Maybe I cut myself a little more deep than intended but who cares, it's already too late. I felt my eyes glaze over when I went to slit my throat. The blood felt cold but soothing at the same time. The pain was unbearable but comforting. I liked it and hated it.

My phone buzzed next to me but I ignored it, not wanting to regret my decision. I felt myself fading into nothingness. Suddenly I heard shouting outside and someone broke into the bathroom. Their screams filled the room. I was carried outside, barely conscious at this point. Quickly, I was rushed to the hospital. I awoke a few hours later, completely in a daze. I looked over my shoulder at my roommate. My father and mother were there too.

My mother came over to embrace me first. Tears made their way down her cheeks and she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Baby, are you okay?" She managed.

I nodded my head slowly, still processing things. I reached for my neck and felt a bandage tightly wound around it. My eyes widened as realization hit me. I was alive.

"Mom...I'm sorry." I said, attempting to hug her back.

The pain in my arms was too much so I laid back down, regretting my decision.

"Dad-"

"Don't talk. You need to rest, doctors orders." He snapped.

My heart broke. Had I just made the worst decision ever?