For Her, Embrel

Chapter One

I have been sulking in my bed all day. In one hour I have to go to Confirmation class (church class). It's not that I hate going it's just that my anthropophobia consumes me like a falcon to its prey. You see, I have social anxiety and if someone talks to me, I'm lucky if I don't pass out. My name is Embrel by the way; Embrel Anastasia Wade. It's not every single person freaks me out, though. I've been more open to my church classmates. Some are very nice, and some don't make an effort, oh well.

"EmAnna, it's time to get up and get ready. You don't want to be late" My sister Felicia chokes out with coughs. She's been sick for the past couple of days, so she will not be attending. Felicia is not my only sibling. I have a brother, but some people beg to differ. They would say that I had a brother. I am one of three triplets. Felicia, Elias, and I were inseparable, until that night.

That night; September 22nd, 2014. My mom was driving my brother to tennis practice. The leaves were starting to change and the air started to get more crisp. My mom was going at a speed of 45 towards the intersection. Then the unexpected happened; a semi came around the corner, just a little too fast. My sister and I were at home, playing our instruments; her the cello, and I the piano. Our dad had just been arrested a short week before. My brother ended up dying right then and there. My mother is still in a coma at St. Sebastian's hospital downtown. Felicia and still visit her once or twice a week, depending on her busy schedule.

"Embrel? Earth to Em! Did you hear me?" Felicia questioned between sniffles.

"Yes. Yes, I heard you Fel. I'm going. I'm going to shower then I'll leave. By the way, I'm walking so you can use the car if you need to" I answer giving her a weak smile.

I hop in the shower, letting the scorching water burn my skin. My scars become red from the warm water. I wash my hair and hop back out so I can get dressed. I get dressed in yoga pants and a white tank that says "Save me" in purple cursive lettering. I don't apply makeup and let my dirty blond hair fall past the small of my back to my knees. I give Felicia some more medicine, for her headache and chest pain.

"Do you still want me to go Leecy? I can stay home and we can watch movies." I say hoping that she'll agree with me.

"No Em, you're going. You need to get closer to the girls there. I'll be better by next week. Have fun and be safe" she whispers. I give her a kiss on the forehead, and walk out.

The church isn't that far away from the cottage. I grabbed my coat and my mittens since it's mid-November and because I don't want to get sick like my sister. I walk as the crisp air starts to numb my hands. I wonder if we have to do inverse groups tonight I say to myself. I enter the building and I can here the faint voices of laughter as I get closer to the room.

"Hey, Embrel. How's it going?" Francesca asks me. Francesca is one of my small groups leaders. In my small group there's me, Sia, Cia, Chloe, Helen, Tulip, and our leaders are Francesca and Jade. There's also a guys group. The guys are Jax, John, Spencer, Reed, Blake Bryce, and the leaders are Nick and Eli.

"Fine" I mumble trying to make my voice as warm as possible. I feel like someone is suffocating the life out of me. My breathing starts to become abnormal, and I feel like I am going to faint.

"Great job Nick, you're scaring her" Eli says, his voice rigid.

"I just wanted to give her a hello hug. I didn't mean to scare the poor thing" Nick responds.

"I'm fine, are we d-d-doing i-inverse tod-day" I ask Nick and Eli hoping for the right answer.

"Yeah we are, but we're going to do it a little different this time. Since Helen is not here, it'll just be you and I tonight. Nickers will have Sia, Cia, and Tulip. Then we'll all come back together for adoration and evening prayer" Eli explains. I mumble an "okay" and we all start class with a prayer.