Submerge

R U I N

I woke up in a hospital bed, my body aching and my head throbbing from the beating I took. The sterile smell of antiseptics filled the air, and the beeping of machines played a dissonant symphony. I tried to sit up, but the pain made me wince. My thoughts were muddled, but the memory of the fight and the aftermath came flooding back. I had wanted to feel something, and now I was feeling the full consequence of my actions.

Nathan was sitting beside my bed, his arms crossed, his expression a mixture of anger and worry. He looked like he hadn't slept, his eyes bloodshot and his jaw clenched. As soon as he saw I was awake, he stood up, his voice sharp with barely contained fury.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded, his words cutting through the haze in my mind. "Do you have any idea what you put us through?"

I didn't answer, my gaze fixed on the ceiling. The silent treatment seemed the best way to avoid the storm brewing in Nathan's eyes. I knew he had every right to be angry, but I wasn't ready for the confrontation. I didn't want to explain why I had sought out the fight, why I needed the pain.

Nathan's anger grew with my silence. "Mason, this isn't a game! You could have died! Do you even care about what that would do to the rest of us? To me?" His voice was loud, echoing in the sterile hospital room.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out his words. I knew he was right, but I didn't want to face it. I didn't want to admit that I had been reckless, that I had put myself in danger without considering the consequences for those who cared about me.

Nathan took a deep breath, his tone softening just a little. "Mason, we care about you. We just want you to be okay. But you have to meet us halfway. You have to talk to us, to let us help you."

But I wasn't ready to open up. I felt like a raw nerve, exposed and vulnerable. The weight of guilt, the loss of Emma, and the overwhelming sense of despair were too much to share with anyone, even Nathan. So I stayed silent, hoping he would give up and leave me alone.

Nathan sighed, his frustration palpable. "Fine, if you don't want to talk, then don't. But this has to stop. You can't keep doing this. You can't keep hurting yourself and everyone around you." He turned and left the room, the door closing with a heavy thud.

I was alone again, the sterile silence of the hospital room surrounding me. 

--

The following day, I was discharged from the hospital. Nathan drove me home in silence, the air between us thick with unresolved tension. Back at his apartment, I retreated to the guest room, feeling the weight of Nathan's disappointment like a physical burden.

Later that evening, there was a knock on my door. I braced myself for another confrontation, but it was my mom standing there, her face tight with barely contained anger.

"Can I come in?" she asked, though it wasn't really a question.

I nodded, swallowing hard. She closed the door behind her and stood there, arms crossed

She sighed, her facade of concern dropping. "Mason, what were you thinking? Do you have any idea how much stress you're causing this family?"

"I didn't mean to..." I started, but she cut me off.

"Didn't mean to?" she snapped. "You never mean to, but you always end up causing trouble. If you weren't so selfish, maybe Emma would still be here."

Her words were like a punch to the gut. I had always suspected she blamed me, but hearing it out loud was devastating.

"I... I'm sorry," I stammered, feeling the familiar weight of guilt settle over me.

"Sorry?" she snapped. "Sorry doesn't cut it. You think you can just keep making these reckless decisions and we'll all just keep picking up the pieces? Your sister's death was your fault, Mason. If you had been faster, if you had been paying attention, she would still be here."

Her words hit me like a physical blow, and I felt myself shrinking under her gaze. "I know," I whispered. "I know it's my fault."

She sighed, shaking her head. "You need to get it together, Mason. You're tearing this family apart. you tore one apart already! Nathan can't keep babysitting you. You're not a child anymore."

I looked up at her, searching for any sign of the mother I used to know. But all I saw was anger and resentment.

"I don't know how," I said, my voice breaking. "I don't know how to get it together."

"Figure it out," she said coldly. "Because I'm done with this. I'm done with you dragging us all down."

She turned and left the room, closing the door behind her with a finality that echoed in the silence. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, her words reverberating in my mind.

Hi.. Um so plz comment ur thoughts cuz I kinda lost passion for finishing this story..