Far Away

Chapter Two

As I heard her put the phone down onto the kitchen table, I rose to my feet and retreated back into my bedroom without creating any noise. I didn't want them to become overprotective of me again. After Kian had died they kept me wrapped up in cotton wool, not trusting me to do anything by myself anymore. I no longer walked to school, instead getting a lift with Dad on his way to work down at the Harbour.

I had never got angry at them for doing it, as I knew they only wanted to keep me safe, but at times it sure as hell was frustrating. Sometimes I just wanted things to be how they used to be, with everyone happy again. Those times were much easier.

I made sure that my phone was charging before I headed into my bathroom, turning on the water and starting to strip off as I waited for it to warm up, a thick layer of steam settling on the mirror. My back ached from sleeping on the sand the previous night and I just felt grimy and horrible, just as Mom had said. She was usually right about things like that, and I didn't have the energy or willpower to argue with her.

By the time I was fully naked the water was warm enough, and as I stepped underneath the jet even more sand washed off my skin and pooled around my feet. Closing my eyes, I started to relax, feeling the pain in my spine melting away down the plug hole. Soon enough, my hair laid flat on my head after being washed and my body felt a lot cleaner.

When I was out of the shower I dried myself off quickly, bundling the sand ridden clothes into my wash basket so I could sort through them later. With the towel wrapped around my waist I stumbled from the bathroom, feeling my eyelids growing heavy and my movements becoming sluggish. That nightmare had really knocked it out of me; it had been a long time since I'd had one that vivid and life-like. Each time I had it, everything was exactly the same. The same words were spoken, the same things happened, everyone had the exact same facial expressions as they had had on that fateful day last summer. I got to see Kian and my friends again, and the dream was great until the odd landing that prematurely ended his life.

By the time that it came to getting dressed, I even struggled to pull on a pair of boxers, collapsing back onto the softness of my bed, wriggling around as I pulled them up to my hips so I wasn't quite as naked as before. The towel lay discarded on the floor beside my bed, completely forgotten as I curled up on top of the covers, wrapping my arms around my pillow and drifting off.

This time when I slept there were no dreams. Instead, I awoke a few hours later, well rested and glad that Mom had suggested I take a nap. One of my parents must've come in to check on me as I was now laid beneath the covers and a glass of chilled water rested on my bedside cabinet beside my now fully charged phone. I rubbed my eyes with the tips of my fingers and reached over for the drink, downing the whole glass in seconds.

Ping!

My phone sounded from beside me and I frowned slightly. Who would want to message me? I pulled it towards me by the cord and pressed the lock button, looking closer at the notification that lit up.

Skylar Aitken: Hey, I saw your Dad last night and he said you'd gone walkabout. Are you back home now? x

Kian's sister. She hadn't messaged me in months. Skye was a year younger than me, just starting her Freshman year at high school when her brother had died. I'd always liked Skye, she was fun and always up for a good laugh, just like he was.

Sitting up in bed, I started to type a reply. I woke up on the beach this morning. Back home now though. Thanks for messaging. x