Follow The Rain

Eighteen

A month had passed since Matthew and I's first date, meaning it was now the beginning of June. Just over a month ago, I would never have believed that I could ever feel happiness again. But now that I was slowly going off the drugs and my heart was finally starting to heal, I felt the best I'd felt in six months.

I wished I could say the same for Matthew. He had grown increasingly anxious for his sister, India, who was experiencing bullying at school. It only reminded me of Camryn and what she had gone through, but at least Matthew knew about it and could try to help her. I hadn't known a thing until Camryn left forever.

I tried to be there for him but some things were out of my control. I couldn't help but feel as if the tables had somehow turned; as soon as I was happy, Matthew wasn't completely fine. It was either one or the other and as much as I wished it didn't have to be that way, it just happened.

Two weeks ago, my mother enrolled me in Hillford, a school for the blind. I was to learn Braille before continuing my studies and also received weekly therapy to help me adapt to living while blind. I had already met so many people and I was overwhelmed at how positive everyone was despite their disability. It not only surprised me, but encouraged me to lead a more optimistic lifestyle than I was used to.

Chloe and Jordan had been dating for about a month and even though they had yet to put a label on it, everyone knew that they were together. It still thrilled me to know that I had helped my two friends find each other and just the thought of them together made me happy. And even though nothing was perfect right now and I still had a long way to go, I knew I really was happy.

"Aren't you cold?" Matthew asked as we walked along the damp sand of the beach early in the evening. I was barefoot, for a reason I did not know, and wearing a navy blue halter neck dress that I hadn't worn since before Camryn committed suicide. I was aware that I had lost a significant amount of weight in the past six months which showed when the dress hung limply on my body.

"To be honest, yes. But I don't really care right now."

"Well, I'm giving you my jacket anyway because I don't want you dying of hypothermia," came his response and I felt the fabric around my shoulders. I reluctantly slipped my arms through the sleeves as we continued along the beach. The cool breeze ruffled my hair. I nearly shrieked in surprise when my toes came into contact with the icy sea water.

"That's why you wear shoes in weather like this," said Matthew, laughing at me. My foot was slowly growing numb and I huffed in irritation at his lack of sympathy.

We carried on further and Matthew was very focused on describing a song he'd recently heard when I started to edge closer to my left where the water was. I ignored the freezing water surrounding my ankles and slowly crouched down, pretending to be listening to him.

"And then the guitar just did this solo and it - Kayla, what are you doing?"

I took this as my opportunity to scoop up water in my hand and hope it was sent in his direction. A loud shriek from Matthew proved me successful.

"What was that for? It's freezing!" he cried.

"It's for laughing at my pain," I retorted but received a cold splash of water in return. "Hey!"

Matthew laughed and sent more of the droplets of sea my way. My dress was dipped in the water as I tried to run away but instead headed deeper into the waves. I splashed him back by kicking up the foam and the material of my dress was covered in moisture. Then I found myself back on dry land just as Matthew's cell phone started ringing.