Reality

Chapter Three

    After my short day with Jackson, I go
home, just in time for dinner.

    Before I know it, it's already a few weeks past my day with Jackson. My friend Nemesis had been hospitalized after severely suffering from pneumonia. I decide to visit her today, because it's Saturday.

     *                             *                            *

   "Hey Nemesis! How are you feeling?" I ask her quietly.

     "Not too good, to be honest-" she gags and coughs. I hug her gently.

    "Don't worry, it'll be okay," I assure her.

     Though at this point, I'm not sure what the difference between okay and life threatening is.

    *                           *                           *

    The next day I visit Nemesis. I eventually learn to make it a part of my schedule, visiting her daily and doing everything I can with her. The doctors had told me her chances of survival are drastically getting smaller by day.

     That worries me terribly.

     "Nemesis?" I question her.

     "Yeah Pace?" I can't help but tell how pale her face is, how soft her voice is.

     "You're my best friend. Forever," I say.

      "That's relieving. Thank you, Pace," she responds softly.

     The doctors come in.

    "It's almost time," a lady tells us.

     "Pace, I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry," she whispers, tears streaming down her face.

      "Whatever you think is best for you," I whisper, tears hinting to stream.

    I watch her carefully, watch as she coughs up more and more blood. It's terrible. I want to look away, but I can't. I force myself to take in this moment, to never forget my best friend.

       I squeeze her hand.

     "I'll never forget you, Nemesis. You're my best friend. Forever," I weakly finish, and start to cry the hardest I've ever cried in my life, as the steady beep beep beep slows and finally stops.

     The next few days I call off school just so I can cry all 4 days.

     "Why her? Why?" I cry to myself, screaming in the middle of the night.

    I have dramatically lost weight since Nemesis' death. I never leave my room unless I am forced to.

     I have also noticed my parents constant fighting. I've heard door slams so often that I am now used to it.

   My mom walks in.

   "Hey, Pace," she says quietly. I can already tell she is upset. Great, I think to myself.

    "I'm really sorry about Nemesis. Also, we have another small problem. I hate to do this to you, but your father and I have-" she inhales sharply, " that we can't- we- we can't be together anymore. Pace, me and your father are getting divorced." She sighs with relief. I can tell she'd been dreading this moment. I'm upset, but I've never really liked my dad too much.

     "I get it, mom," I reply softly.

     My friend had died, and now I will have no dad.

                   Is this reality?