The Day I Started Living

Seven

I spun around as best as I could. And was faced by the striking blue eyes of Parker. My body visibly relaxed at the sight of him. But it didn't last long once I saw the look on his face. He was furious. He harshly yanked me away from behind the crates, and into an adjoining room. Before I could say anything, he held finger to his lips to signal to me to be quiet. He gently heaved the door shut and locked the deadbolt. Judging by what happened next, I was hoping the room was sound proof.

"What was that?!?" He screamed.

"I-I just..." I sputtered out.

"You what??"

"I wanted to make sure you were ok!!"

"Make sure I was ok?? Are you crazy?! I have been handling a gun since I was 13 years old, and you wanted to make sure I was ok?!?!"

"I thought you were mad at me..." I muttered under my breath.

"Come again?"

"I thought you were mad at me," I said a little louder that time.

"Of course I'm mad!! I risk my life to save yours, and you can't stay out of trouble for 7 minutes!!"

"I never asked you to save my life!!"

"Excuse me?!"

"You're the one who risked your life!! I was perfectly content with dying, but you had to go off and be a hero!!!"

"Well not all of us are constantly brooding nobodies, some of us have a life ahead of us!!"

I was shocked. I can't believe he really said that. I wasn't a person who cried a lot, in fact, I could count the number of times I have cried on my fingers. But I could already feel the tears pooling in my eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, I was just mad, I'm sorry..... Isandra?"

I shook my head as I tried to blink away the tears. "N- No, you're right, I am just a constantly broo...." I stopped as a lump formed in my throat. I already felt the sobs wracking my body, as seventeen years of depression and misery all crashed down on me at once. I could already feel the steady flow of tears down face. I mentally cursed myself as I reached up to wipe away the tears, but that only brought on another round of sobs.

"Isandra..." Parker said in a gentle voice, his arms reaching out toward me.

"No." I choked out as I took a step backward. Parker sighed, guilt evident in his eyes.

"Come here," he coaxed, his voice slightly more demanding. As an after thought, he added, "please." He walked closer, cautiously. But this time, I didn't step away. He wrapped his long arms around me, and pulled my head to his chest.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered into my hair over and over again. I slipped my arms loosely around his waist, and let myself melt into him.

"No." I declared suddenly.

Parker stepped back, a look of surprise and hurt on his face.

I wiped at my eyes one more time before talking. "I'm done brooding and moping around. It is the day after my Death Day, and I am alive. You risked your life, and god knows what else so I could live. I may have been dead my whole life, but I am alive now. Today is the day I start living."