The Black Box Disease

Ignorance is NOT key

This is Sam. Okay, hope you enjoy. Comment, share and like!

I opened my eyes slowly, I felt groggy and weak. I pushed myself up off the couch. My shoulder hurt, and could feel the blood soaking through the bandage. I ran upstairs, and slowly opened the door. Adri was wrapped in James's arms and I winced. Then I looked over at the other bed and it was empty. Hmm? I peeked in the bathroom to make sure he wasn't in there. Nope. I walked in the bathroom and pulled a roll of bandage out of the emergency bag. I took off the old ones, placing them in the garbage, and began wrapping my shoulder.

I walked downstairs, still no sign of Ethan. I kind of miss him. No Crystal, you have to stay focused, your mad at him. Right? What am I even mad at him about? Oh yeah, him babying me. But, he was just trying to help. I don't need help. Or do I? I debated wether or not I should be mad at Ethan for a while before everyone came downstairs. I looked at everyone, but Sam wasn't there. I ask Lydia, "Where is Sam?" She said he was still asleep. About an hour later, I walked upstairs to go check on Sam. I quietly opened the door to his room, peeking my head inside, I see Sam lying on his bed. I walk over to him, shaking him lightly. "Hey Sam, do you want breakfast?" I ask. He doesn't move or reply. "Sam?" Oh no! "Lydia! Get the boys!" I yell, feeling his neck for a pulse. Nothing. Lydia ran into the room with the boys on her tail, right as I began CPR.

It had been 4 hours since I got up, 3 since I couldn't find Ethan, and 2 since Sam died. I've been sitting on the couch, next to Lydia, rubbing her back. She keeps saying she's fine, but I can see she's not. She's already gone through two boxes of tissues. Everyone else is sitting in the living room, just staring at each other. Ethan still hasn't come back. I got up and went to put my shoes on. "Where you going Crystal?" Adri asked. "Just for a walk." I say walking out the front door.

The woods were quiet, peaceful. I felt like I could relax, but also I knew I couldn't. Boxers roamed the woods. I had to stay hidden. I was hiding behind a tree, staring at the leaf of a nearby bush, when I saw something. No, someone. I saw a handsome, brown haired boy with his back turned to me. Ethan. "Ethan!" I shouted. He turned to look at me and smiled. Then I saw a boxer behind him. "Look out!" I screamed. He spun around quickly, killing the boxer. He then looked at me, pulled an arrow out of his bag and put it in his bow. "Ethan. What are you doing." I say as I see him release the bow.

I closed my eyes. I heard a 'thud' from behind me. I slowly open my eyes, and look behind me to see a boxer lying on the ground. I look back and see Ethan running towards me. I run and hug him, feeling warm in his arms. "Where did you go?" I say looking up at him, but only seeing him looking down at me. "I, I didn't understand why you were upset with me. I needed to think." He says resting his chin on top of my head. I snuggle closer into his chest. A tear fell down my cheek, Ethan noticed. "What's wrong?" He asked, lifting up my chin to look at him. "Sam... Sam's dead." I say crushing him to my chest. Ethan told me the other night, he has known James and Sam since they were 3 years old.

We started walking back to the cabin in silence, be we didn't let go of each other. Ethan carried me on his back. I played with his hair. When we reached the cabin, Ethan set me down but still held my hand. We walked inside the cabin, it was dark and quiet. No one was here. They must be upstairs. I sat on the couch, staring at Ethan. He hadn't spoken a word since I told him about Sam.

That night we were all sitting at the dinning table, eating dinner. It was quiet. Adri tried to strike up conversation. "This is really good Jonah, what is it?" She asked eating the food sitting on our plates. I had been poking at it for the last twenty minutes. "It's my homemade raccoon stew." He says, as I dropped my fork. I scooted my chair back and ran into the bathroom.

My stomach was still churning as I sat on the bathroom floor, next to the toilet. My hand over my mouth. Ethan was holding a wet cloth to my forehead. Ethan is still quite. I grabbed the rag from his hand, and wiped my mouth. I stood up and reached into the bathroom drawer and grabbed a toothbrush and toothpaste. I squeezed a huge glob of toothpaste on my toothbrush, and began vigorously brushing my teeth.

That night, after I had showered and gotten ready for bed, I walked outside and sat on the grass out front. Jonah built a barbed-wire fence so we don't have to worry about boxers getting close. I laid down staring at the stars. I remember when I was younger, I would go to the park with Miranda and we would stay late and gaze at the stars. A tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away as someone laid down next to me.

Ethan laid down, I rolled on my side, facing him. Ethan had started talking again after dinner. I missed his voice. "Are you okay?" He asked, grabbing my hand and rubbing my knuckles. I nodded, but then instantly broke down. Ethan crushed me to his chest. "This sucks." I said, in between the tears. "I know, and I feel like I am babying you too much." He said, rubbing the back of my head. "No." I said, shaking my head. "I was just afraid, afraid of being babied because I've really never been helped. And I know that everyone who has been there for me, has died or left me and... I just can't lose you. I love you and you're all I have left." I say soaking his shirt in tears. Ethan lifts my chin up, and kisses me.

A kiss. The true meaning of love. Other than a peck on the cheek to my family, I had never been kissed. Fireworks exploded in my head, and I'd never felt more alive. Ethan. Ethan, I love him. Our kiss lasted for what seemed like eternity, but when we were done, Ethan looked me in the eyes and said, "Crystal, you are beautiful and amazing. Ever since I first saw you I feel in love. The more I got to know you, the deeper I fell. You are a great leader, but everyone needs help. I just want you to be safe. I love you Crystal Woods, more than my own life." He says as I snuggle closer into his chest. "And I love you more than my life, Ethan Phillips." I say as we lay together, I in Ethan's arms, gazing at the stars.