Increase the Medication

My Way Home Is Through.. Your Soul?

The light didn't wake me up in the morning, but the sound of Iron Maiden playing softly from Gerard's stereo did.

I sat up for a moment to look around. Gerard wasn't next to me anymore, and his pyjamas from last night were on the floor. The basement stairs creaked with weight, and he emerged from the staircase.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," he chuckled, bringing a coffee mug to his lips. He had my clothes under his other arm.

I laid back down and pulled the duvet over my head. "Too early," I mumbled.

"Well, your clothes are here on the table whenever you're ready to get up," Gerard said. "Oh, and there's coffee upstairs. Fresh. Mikey just made it."

I tossed the duvet away and got out of the bed. I slowly made my way upstairs to the kitchen to pour myself a cup of that sweet caffeine.

"Faye, you look like death," Mikey laughed.

"Dude, shut up," I croaked.

He handed me a plan white mug and pointed to where the coffee machine was.

I poured the hot black liquid into the mug, tossing just a pinch of sugar into it. I stirred it with the spoon atop the coffee machine and went back to Gerard's dark fortress.

He was busy at work, sketching and shading a picture. I placed a hand on his shoulder as I got closer to peek at his masterpiece.

Setting the mug of coffee on a clear space of the table, I grabbed my messily folded clothes an brought them to the bed. I let the shirt and boxers drop to the carpeted floor and pulled my own clothes back onto my body. I ran a hand through my hair a few times, doing a sort of head bang motion so it fell and parted itself the way it normally did.

"Hope you weren't looking," I chuckled.

"I think I only saw one pasty white ass cheek, you're fine," Gerard joked, handing me my coffee. He pulled a hidden flask from underneath the table and poured whiskey into his coffee.

I shook my head. I could do nothing to help him. All I could do was hope he would stop destroying himself.

"I'm gonna finish this and head home, alright?"

"That's fine. I'll see you tomorrow at school."

Gerard stood up and gave me hug.

"Sorry about yesterday," he said quietly.

"Can we have a do-over?" I asked softly.

"Just don't call me a pussy this time," he smiled, leaning in to kiss me

A warm feeling spread across my lips and through my body as he pulled away. Gerard smiled at me again and sat back down to finish drawing.

I downed the rest of the coffee, jogging up the stairs and setting it in the kitchen sink.

Mikey was seated at the kitchen table with his mom, who was reading the newspaper.

"Remember what I told you, Faye. I'll see you later," he said, looking at me over his glasses.

"Yeah, I remember, Mikey."

I grabbed my bag from the living room and patted my pocket where I had tucked my smokes the night before. I walked out the kitchen door and into the late dim and grey morning. I lit a cigarette and made my way home.

When I arrived home, my mom was sitting on the sofa, smoking a cigarette. I knew she heard the front door, but she didn't turn to greet me.

"Where the hell where you last night?" she asked, her voice monotonous.