You're Just A Daydream Away

Like You Needed Anymore Attention

I sighed and excused myself to answer the phone. It wasn't that I was enjoying the conversation with Flyzik, I just didn't have the energy to talk to anyone else. It's too early and I haven't had my coffee yet. I feel so old, it's almost as if the last three days have aged me 30 years. The stress of this situation is enough to put me into an early retirement, like that'll ever happen.

I didn't bother checking the caller ID, I rarely do.

"Hello?" I answered, trying not to sound too annoyed.

"Hello, Mr. Gaskarth?" the woman on the other end asked.

"Yes, this is he," I answered hesitantly, knowing that nothing good comes from official sounding phonecalls like this.

"I'm calling from Mercy Hospital East," she said, instantly catching my attention, "Mr. Barakat has requested your presence as soon as possible."

"I- uh, yeah," I stuttered, "I'll be there soon."

I hastily ended the phonecall after that, trying to keep myself from freaking out. I could feel my heart rate quicking with every second that passed. Every second I wasn't with him was a second he wanted me to be.

I didn't say anything to Matt as I ran out of the room. I'm thankful, yet a bit surprised he didn't follow. He must of just known that I didn't want his company at the moment. That's one of the things I like about Matt, he's practically psychic when it comes to the All Time Low family.

The taxi ride to the hospital was the longest 15 minutes of my life. If it was a perfect world I'd be able to snap my fingers and be by his side. But sadly, life doesn't work that way.

As I blankly stared out the window, I allowed my mind to wander. I observed the early morning joggers, dressed in their athletic wear; completely oblivious to the world around them. I saw two small children, both clinging desperately to their mother's hand. It was cute how innocent they were, how they were blissfully ignorant to the cruelties happening in the world they fantasize about.

It's an innocence I hope to god they never lose. To spend their lives cloaked in a vail of happiness. Never questioning what was going on around them; just accepting and finding the good.

I looked down at the tattoo on my hand, remembering a time when I too had been blissfully ignorant.

"Hey Alex!" my older brother Tom playfully shrieked, "Come here I want to show you something!"

"But Tom!" I whined, "I'm watching Spongebob!"

"Le-ex!" he nagged, "It'll only take a second!"

"Fine," I sighed, as it was the biggest deal in the world. But hey, to my 6 year old self, it was.

I looked up to my brother, he was my role model. If that's what could call it at my young age. He was such a cool 8 year old, he always made sure to include me when he played with his friends. Which was a huge deal, especially when his friends with younger siblings all ignored them. But Tom never ignored me, he was the best.

"Today in art I learned how to draw a pretty flower," Tom explained when I sat down next to him.

My brother was always very detail orientated. Even when he was young he noticed the smaller things that other boys his age would miss. Like flowers for instance, Tom would always appreciate them when he was alone or with me. He had once told me not to bring up his love for flowers around his friends because it would make him look girly.

I raised me eyebrows at him excitedly, "I wanna see!" I didn't exactly share my brother's love for them, but I knew it would make him happy if I pretended.