The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die (GirlXGirl)

Chapter: Morning After

I awoke to the blinding rays of sunlight streaming through my window, slicing through the haze of sleep like a hot knife through butter. I squinted against the brightness, disoriented, and the memories of the previous night came rushing back like a wave crashing onto the shore. Prom. The kiss with Marie. The whirlwind of emotions that had coursed through me. It all felt like a dream, something too perfect to be real. But the remnants of that magic were still there, echoing in my chest.

As I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I noticed the stillness in the house. It felt different, almost empty. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the cool floor sending a shiver up my spine. It was then that I realized something was off. The house was eerily quiet, devoid of the usual sounds that accompanied my father's early mornings—his muffled footsteps, the clang of pans, the radio blaring its annoying tunes. I held my breath for a moment, straining to hear anything, but there was nothing. Just silence.

I pushed myself up and walked cautiously down the hallway, glancing into the living room. It was devoid of life, the air heavy with an unsettling stillness. My heart began to race as I approached my father's bedroom, a strange mixture of dread and curiosity bubbling within me. What was going on? I knocked softly on the door, half-expecting to hear his gruff voice calling me in. But nothing. No response.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside, and the sight that greeted me left my breath hanging in my throat. His room was a shell of its former self, stripped bare as if a tornado had torn through it. The bed was unmade, and the sheets lay in disarray, but the space felt emptier than usual. All his belongings—clothes, books, the collection of random odds and ends he never threw away—were gone. I stood there, frozen, trying to process what this meant.

He had left.

The realization hit me like a slap to the face, and I felt a rush of mixed emotions swirling within me. Relief washed over me first, a wave of liberation that I hadn't expected. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. No more waking up to his angry shouts, no more dodging his drunken rants, no more feeling like a prisoner in my own home. It felt like I could finally breathe. The thought of not having to tiptoe around him filled me with an intoxicating sense of freedom.

But as the relief settled in, it was quickly followed by a pang of sadness. What did this mean for me? For us? I had spent so much of my life hoping he would change, wishing he could be the father I wanted him to be. But now, he was gone, and I was left with the wreckage of our relationship—an absence that felt simultaneously freeing and lonely.

I wandered back into the living room, glancing at the untouched remnants of breakfast on the table from the previous day. A plate with dried-up eggs and a half-empty coffee cup sat abandoned, a reminder of the tension that had filled the air before the prom. It was funny how quickly things could change, how everything could flip on its head in the blink of an eye. Just last night, I had been dancing, laughing, and feeling alive, and now I was left to navigate the aftermath of my father's departure.

I took a seat on the couch, resting my elbows on my knees and staring into the emptiness. The sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating dust particles floating lazily in the air. It felt surreal, like I was trapped in a moment that didn't quite belong to me. A part of me wanted to pick up my phone and call Marie, to share this bizarre turn of events, to hear her voice and find comfort in her understanding. But another part of me knew I needed to process this alone, to sit with the chaos of my emotions without clouding them with someone else's.

He was gone, and in the twisted labyrinth of my mind, I found myself questioning everything. Had I wanted him to leave? Would things be better now? I could feel the echoes of his presence still clinging to the walls, memories of all the times he had screamed and broken things, the nights I had cried myself to sleep, hoping he would wake up and be different. I'd spent too long waiting for change, for the day he would become someone I could look up to rather than fear. But that day had never come, and now, as I sat alone in this empty house, I felt both victorious and hollow.

The truth was, I was relieved he was gone. I wanted to be angry at myself for feeling that way, for not mourning his absence the way a daughter should, but I couldn't. It was as if I had been living in a storm cloud for years, and now the sun was finally breaking through. I allowed myself to smile for a brief moment before the guilt crept in. How could I be so cruel? After all, he was still my father, despite everything. But the truth was, he hadn't been much of a father to me for a long time.

My phone buzzed on the table, jolting me from my thoughts. I grabbed it, my heart quickening when I saw Marie's name flashing on the screen. I opened the message, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"Hey, how did you sleep? You're still alive, right?"

I chuckled softly at her words. It was just the distraction I needed. I quickly typed back, "Barely. But I think I made it out alive. A little too much excitement last night, maybe."

"You better not be lying. I'm coming over in a bit. Don't think you can escape my celebratory breakfast."

I felt a warmth spread through me at the thought of her. Marie had this way of making everything feel lighter, like she was the antidote to all the darkness I had been wading through. "Can't wait. Bring pancakes!"

"On it!"

I paused for a moment, weighing the thought of sharing my current reality with her. But something about Marie's unwavering support made me feel safe. I could tell her everything. I didn't want to hide anymore. "I also need to tell you something, but you might not like what you hear."

"Trust me, I can handle it. I'm tougher than I look."

I laughed, feeling a flicker of hope. I knew she was right; she was tougher than anyone I had ever met. I felt a sense of gratitude wash over me for her presence in my life, for her ability to make the unbearable seem manageable. The thought of seeing her brought a sense of anticipation.

As I waited for her arrival, I began to tidy up the living room, the act grounding me amidst the whirlwind of emotions swirling in my chest. I straightened the cushions on the couch, picked up stray socks, and tossed the remnants of last night's dinner into the trash. Each small task felt like a step toward reclaiming my space, my life.

After a while, I heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. My heart raced at the thought of seeing her. I rushed to the door, flinging it open just as she was about to knock.

"Hey, you," she greeted, her bright smile lighting up the gloomy morning.

"Hey," I replied, stepping aside to let her in. The smell of pancakes wafted through the air, and I couldn't help but grin. "You really brought pancakes!"

"Of course! I'm not a monster," she said, rolling her eyes playfully as she set the stack down on the kitchen counter. "So, let's hear it. What's the story behind the empty house?"

I took a deep breath, suddenly aware of how much I needed to share. As I opened up to her about my father's departure, I could feel the weight of his absence transforming into something lighter. The truth poured out in a way I hadn't anticipated, and with each word, I felt a little more liberated.

Marie listened intently, her expression shifting from concern to understanding. When I finished, she wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight. I could feel her warmth and strength enveloping me like a shield against the uncertainty of the future.

"Whatever happens next, we'll face it together," she said softly. "I'm here. and I'm not going anywhere."

In that moment, the heaviness in my chest lifted just a little. I was no longer navigating this life alone. The sun was shining outside, and I could almost hear the promise of a new day. As we sat down to enjoy the pancakes she had brought, I realized I was ready to take on whatever came next, with Marie by my side.

"So, you ready to kick some ass today?"

I grinned, feeling a flicker of the girl I was starting to become. "You have no idea."