Picking up the Pieces (Sequel to "Forsaken") [A Niall Horan Fanfic]

Chapter One

When something tragic happens to you, you forget many things. You forget the world continues to turn at the same pace it did five seconds ago. You forget the birds chirping outside will continue to chirp. You forget that people will still go about their daily lives, too busy to stop and think about anything other than their own problems. But most importantly, you forget that 99% of the world's population is not going to stop what they're doing and mourn with you, no matter how big or small the issue may be, unless it personally effects them, too. So, venting your problems to people isn't very easy. Nobody cares to listen. Nobody has the time to listen. They've got somewhere to go, they've got somebody else to see and ignore, and move right along from. What makes them stop and listen, is if they're involved; is if it concerns them and their lives.

Bottling up my problems hasn't been much use either. I've sort of lost control a bit. Most nights I can't sleep. I'm kept awake with only my thoughts to accompany me; thoughts that aren't too polite. My life for the past year has just been that feeling where you feel completely alone in a crowded room. I've been surrounded by people, but not one has bothered to ask how I've been doing. Not one has bothered to ask if I'll be okay. Even my own best friends have admitted to getting tired of hearing me complain. They say I need to get over it, and move on.

The thing is, I feel like I have moved on. But it's confusing. I'd be up for meeting someone new, 100%. But at the same time, I feel like I'll never meet anybody quite the same. And maybe that's the point; that I shouldn't be looking for somebody that's even close to being the same, but there was just something about him that kept me hooked, wanting more, even though he cheated on me.

If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, the answer is no, we haven't spoken since that day. Which I think is the hardest part. I thought maybe he would've called and fought for me. But he didn't.

"Mia, I'm heading out to get some breakfast. Want anything... a bagel... maybe some orange juice?" Anna asks, grabbing her keys from the kitchen table.

I sit up from the couch as my stomach begins to growl furiously.

"I'll take that as a yes?" Anna chuckles.

I crack a smile. "Yeah, I'll have a bagel, I guess. If they have coffee I'll have that too." I rub my eyes as I begin to focus back into realty. And this is the reality of it. I'm living on the couch in my best friends' apartment and I have been for a year now.

"Alright, I'll be back." She waves goodbye and I do the same, then I get up and start my day.

After brushing my teeth and all that, I turn on the news.

"Two men shot on the spot after threatening a police officer..."

"Child abducted from birthday party yesterday afternoon..."

Man, the news can really be depressing. I flipped through channels and eventually it landed on a movie that I didn't mind. Anna returned shortly, handing me my bagel and coffee. I thanked her as I lowered the volume of the movie.

"So. How'd you sleep?" She asks, taking a bite of her own bagel on the chair next to my couch.

I shrug. "Not great. My mind is at it again, what's new?"

Anna looks down. I can tell she feels bad for me, but at the same time, I know she's annoyed that I do nothing but complain these days.

"Mia, I'm going to say this in the nicest way possible." She starts, making eye contact with me. "You need to start going to that therapist I recommended. If you talk it out--"

"Anna, don't you get it?" I interrupt. "Talking it out won't change anything."

She pauses, sighing. "I just hate seeing you like this. You haven't been happy at all since that day. It's been over a year, Mia. You need to talk to somebody about this."