[COMPLETED BUT WONT LET ME PRESS THE COMPLETED BUTTON AHAHHA]
Aurora Lockheart was once the sunshine girl-bright, kind, and full of life. But one night changed everything, leaving her a shadow of who she used to be.
A year later, just as she's be...
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I didn't know what time it was, but the darkness outside suggested it was late. All I knew was that I'd been out cold for at least a few hours, sprawled out on some dingy bed that wasn't mine. My thoughts were hazy, and everything felt... wrong. I'd somewhat sobered up from whatever I'd snorted earlier, but the fog in my brain was thick, like a heavy weight pressing down.
Jesus Christ, my head was pounding, a deep, throbbing ache that pulsed with every beat of my heart. I'd done this before obviously,been high countless times, but never had it hit me like this. Never. Something was off.
Had the coke been laced? Maybe. I didn't have a clue, but my gut twisted at the thought. Jesus. The taste of metal still lingered in my mouth, and the aftertaste of regret wasn't far behind.
I grabbed my bag, fumbling as I slung it over my shoulder. My vision flickered in and out, the edges blurred like some fever dream. When I stepped outside, the harsh fluorescent streetlights stabbed at my eyes, making me wince. The world around me spun, disorienting me further as I stumbled onto the cracked sidewalk, unsure where to go, or where I even was.
The cold night air bit at my skin, but my mind was too scattered to care. I found a bench nearby, the hard surface grounding me for a moment. I needed a second to breathe, to think, to figure out what the hell just happened.
That moment didn't last long.
A car pulled up, tires screeching softly against the pavement. The headlights flooded my vision, blinding me completely. The world behind the light was nothing but a blur, and I could barely make out the shape of the vehicle or who was inside. Panic surged through me, cutting through the haze, as I squinted against the glare, my heart pounding faster.
The car engine cut off, and I heard the door creak open. The sound of footsteps approached, but my head was still spinning.
"Aurora?"
I blinked, trying to focus. "I'm a teeny bit out of it at the minute, who is it?" I rubbed my eyes, the blinding lights from earlier still dancing in my vision.
"Jesus Christ," the voice muttered under its breath. "It's Johnny—are you high?"
"Hi," I grinned, a small, unintentional chuckle escaping me as Johnny sat down next to me on the bench.
His face was a mix of frustration and concern. "Why're you out this late? It's..." He pulled his phone from his jacket pocket, glancing at the screen. "5:35 in the morning."
My eyes widened. "I've been out ten hours?"
Johnny's eyebrows furrowed. "Out of what?"
"Nothing," I mumbled, quickly dismissing his question as I stumbled to my feet. "I need to get home."
"Jesus, you can't be going home like this, Aurora." He stood up as well, steadying me when I swayed slightly. "C'mon, you can stay at mine tonight."
"No—no, it's fine. I'll just get a taxi," I protested, already fumbling with my phone, though I wasn't sure I could even focus enough to type in the right address.
