The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side (NOT FINISHED)

Chapter 6

I wake up to yelling. Someone, I don't know who, but it sounds like someone's in pain. I run to follow the sound and it leads me to the living room, where everyone is gathered around. There is complete silence. No one seems to be in pain. They're just sitting there, staring right at me.

"So... You may be wondering what this is all about." Chris starts.

"Yeah... I am, believe it or not." I reply.

Chris lets out a little chuckle. It turns into a light cry, but he's still trying to hold it in. The crying wasn't noticeable to anyone else. But I can tell when he's about to burst. Something in his eyes tells me something's really wrong, and I try to understand but fail miserably because I can't read facial emotions or cues really well.

"Something traumatic has happened, and I'm sorry to be the one to deliver it."

I nod along, just trying to motivate him to get to the point.

"I don't know how to say this."

"What?! This again? We had this same conversation last week, when you told me about Tobias and Sarah. Is that what this is? 'Oh Katie by the way Tobias and Sarah are getting married! Oh blah blah blah'-" I am babbling. But I can't help it. I feel like everything inside of me is sinking and I have no control over what I'm saying.

"Katie. Your dad passed away when he was travelling to see you." Chris says.

That was the last straw for him. It wasn't even his parents, but I could tell that he really cared. He couldn't hide it anymore. He just let it all out.

"Me? Oh, I am just fine." I say quietly. I pause. "I can't-" I fall to the floor in tears before I can even think to ask questions. Like, how did they know before me? Or who told them before they thought that I should know?

Tobias and Carathea run to my side as Chris shoves his face into his palms, Sam comforting him.

"I'm so sorry." Tobias says, also crying. But it doesn't seem like the kind of cry that he would express if he actually felt bad. Not that he doesn't feel bad, or that he doesn't care, but he just looks lost. Like he doesn't know what to say. And neither do I, if I'm being completely honest. How do I recover from this? What should I do? How should I act? I have too many questions.

Before I get the chance to do anything, Tobias lifts me up and I fall into his arms.

I can't think straight.

Where am I?

I can't breathe.

I need air.

I've never felt this before. It's weird. I feel like I'm dying. I don't know what that would feel like, but this is my best guess.

I roll out of his arms onto the hard floor, but I can't feel anything. I've lost sense of everything except one thought.

I need to breathe.

"Woah Kates, are you okay?!" Tobias yells.

I try to respond, but the most I can do is grunt. I use all my strength to lift my hand and grab his arm.

"Guys! I need help!" He yells it so loud, so certain that I need help. He doesn't know what to do, but I can tell he really wants to.

I feel like I've been punched multiple times. The corners of my eyes go black. I feel sweat drip down my face. But barely. It's just a little tickle. I see footsteps running towards me but I feel too weak to react.

I'm going to die. This is how I die.

I'm able to push out a couple words. "Tobias..." I pause, shaking. "I'm scared." I say this as my vision disappears and all I can hear is a high pitched ringing. It hurts, it's everywhere.