Time Limit

Chapter 1: Stressed

A.N: the P.O.V will always be Marie unless I say so ^•^

The next few months were torture. I had turned 18 that next week but no one noticed and I didn't care. All I, or anyone, could think about was my Dad's death.

Nobody blamed me but I blame myself.

"Mom, here's your soup. Please eat." I told my mom as I laid the tray next to her bed.

My mother was once a beautiful woman, bursting with healthy beauty and excitement for the world. Now, she was frail and weak and could barely stand up without needing help. All she did was stare at the photograph of my Dad as a kid and sigh.

"Thank you, Marie, but I think I'll take a nap." She said, weakly.
I nodded and kissed her forehead. "Good night, Mom."

I closed her door slowly and sighed. I headed back into the kitchen where my Aunt Vanessa was.

"Hey, sweetie. Did she eat?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
"No." I said.
"Oh...would you like some then?" She asked.
"No thanks. I'm going up to my room." I said.
"Oh ok. See you later." She said.

As I walked upstairs, I made a sharp turn into the TV room. As I thought, I found my cousin, Thomas, sitting on the bay window with a sketchbook, a pencil, his phone, and headphones.

"Hey, Thomas." I said.
He turned to me and moved his legs so I could sit. "Hey, Marie."

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I was just thinking while he was drawing whatever he drew. He never let me see except for when he gave me a picture of my Dad at the funeral. It was beautiful and it was worn out after a week because of how I folded it up so preciously into my pocket.

"I'm tired, Thomas." I declared.
"Then go to sleep." He said.
"No, not that kind of tired. I mean I'm tired of being surrounded by depression and seeing everyone walk on eggshells around me. I'm especially tired of seeing Mom so weak. She was the most amazing woman I had ever known..." I sighed and curled my knees up to my face to hide the tears that wouldn't stop falling.

Thomas handed me a tissue. "Then do something about it."
"Like what?" I asked.
"You could take up a hobby. Didn't our Dads' make toy cars as kids." He suggested, still looking at his sketchbook.
"Maybe..." I sighed at the thought of Dad and guilt washed over me.

Thomas finally looked up at me and sighed. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?" I asked.
"You're blaming yourself." He replied.
"Because it was my fault."
"It was not. Stop thinking that. You know Mom and Dad get worried about you when you do that."
"Well, I can't help that it's true! I wasn't careful enough!" I exclaimed.
"It was a drunk driver. Not your fault."
"If I had looked more closely or not gone to get the stupid basketball at all, Dad might still be alive!"
"Stop thinking about if's. He's gone. It's time to move on."
"Shut up, Thomas! I wish you were dead instead of my Dad!" I screamed.

I immediately felt guilty for that. I didn't really want Thomas dead. He was my best friend. I was just tired and wanted my Dad.

"Thomas, I-"
"Forget it, Marie. You're upset. I know that." Thomas pushed my hand away and went back to staring at his drawings.

Thomas wasn't as good at hiding his feelings like his Dad was and I saw a bit of hurt in his eyes.

I sighed. He was going to forgive me, we both knew that, but he was still hurt right now and didn't want me near.

"Marie! Thomas!" We heard his Mom's scream and we ran to the stairway where we could see the first floor.

"Call an ambulance and Ferb! Isabella is on the floor and she's coughing up blood!" She shouted and ran back into Mom's room.

I stopped breathing as I thought of losing another parents. I started having a panic attack and I was crying and hyperventilating. I had started doing that since Dad died.

"Marie, it'll be ok." Thomas held me in his arms and got me to stop crying.

My breathing returned to normal and the spots in my eyes went away.

I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

"Hello, this is 911. State your emergency." The lady answered.
"I need an ambulance. My mom is on the floor and she's weak and she's coughing up blood." I explained.
"Ok, don't worry, sweetheart. An ambulance is already on the way. Stay calm. Are you alright?" She asked.
"I'm fine." I answered.
"Good. Now is there anyone else with you?" She asked.
"My Aunt Vanessa and my cousin, Thomas." I replied.
"Ok, good. Just stay calm. The ambulance will be there in five minutes."

I hung up and stared at my phone.

"Mare, you wanna go see your mom?" Thomas asked.
"Sure..." I whispered.

He helped me to my feet. When we got to her room, I stopped. I didn't want to see my Mom like that. So vulnerable and fragile.

The doorbell rang and I ran to get it.

"Hello. Where is your mom?" The guy asked.

I pointed in the direction of her room and he and two other guys came in with a stretcher.

I closed my eyes as they came back with my Mom on it.

"Marie, do you want to come?" Aunt Vanessa asked.
"Not really..." I muttered.
"Oh, ok, well there's soup on the table if you guys get hungry. Ferb should be here in an hour if you guys need anything."

We waved to her as she got into the ambulance and they rushed Mom to the hospital.

"Mare, do you want to....play some video games or something?" He asked.

I watched the ambulance disappear and suddenly all the depression came crashing down on me.

I fell to the floor and started sobbing. "It's my fault! I killed him! I killed him!"

Thomas was shouting at me and trying to hug me but I kept hitting him.

I escaped his grasp and I ran towards the basement. Thomas was following me but I didn't care.

I searched for Dad's old inventions and finally found the one I was looking for. I pulled back the blue tarp and saw the gleaming machine.

The time machine

Dad had always said not to use it unless he or Uncle Ferb was there but he wasn't here and I need him back.

I jumped into the seats and pulled the lever.

"Bring me back to when Dad was alive!" I screamed.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thomas reach for me.

And then I blacked out.

Yikes too dramatic? Lol anyways I was gonna finish a story before I started this one but whatever I liked the idea and I usually forget stuff so here you go