Unknown Waters

Secrets

I laid on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I was feeling guilty for lying to all of them, but I had to do it for her. I thought back to the time at the hospital. My bed was next to hers. We were both paralyzed; unable to speak, unable to move. Even though we never interacted with each other, we formed a bond through our presence. Both of us were suffering through the same thing, but we weren't alone. We had each other. A tear slipped my eye as I remembered that unfortunate day.

When the nurses opened my eyes I saw balloons everywhere. From the corner of my eye I saw her sitting up, moving, talking. I was shocked. I couldn't think. She turned her face towards me and I felt excitement jolt my body, but I wasn't able to expressed it. She walked over to me, a big smile on her face. From years of being paralyzed, I never really got a good look at her. She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. She hugged my motionless body with such force. Tears seeped from her eyes. "I made it. I recovered. I get to see my family. I get to see my family." She said it as if it didn't seem real. I already knew about her family complications from the nurses gossiping about them. I didn't understand how she could be so happy about meeting her family. Her father left the state after the doctor told him that his daughter wasn't going to make it. He left without even saying good bye. I would of been mad if I was her. Didn't her father want to be there for his daughter when she died? No, instead he wanted to get married to some other women in another state. I slipped the thought from my mind and focused on her. "They said you will recover soon. That we could both leave this hospital soon. Can you believe that? You could come home with me! My parents are expecting me and I can ask for you to live with us. We made it, Aurora!

I tried to find a way to signal her my excitement, something that could show her how happy I was. but suddenly she clutched her chest and feel to the floor. I looked at her in horror. Blood began to pour out of her nose. Her lips lost it's color. There was no nurse in the room. What was happening to her? I used every ounce of strength in my body, but my mouth refused to open to call for help. My voice refused to come. I remained still just staring at her. Watching her die right in front of me and not being able to do anything about it. I never felt so useless.

"Aurora" she whispered, "take care of my family for me. There expecting me, Alina, to come home and she will, through you. I know you will recover. I can feel it." she chocked. "Be his daughter for me, be Alina. Her face paled with each word. Her lips looked dead white. "Nurse!" I scream in my mind, "Someone help her! Please, her family is waiting for her! She chocked out a humorless laugh. "I should of known I wasn't going to make it. The fates would never let me survive. I saw premonitions of my death, but I refuse to believe them." Her eyelids started to drop. "Promise me Aurora, promise me you'll take care of my family, promise_" she didn't move anymore. "Please just say she's unconscious," I prayed in my head. A nurse came in the room only to find Alina's motionless body of the floor. The nurse's eye widened. "Doctor!," she called. They placed Alina on the bed and pulled the curtains, a thin cloth that separated me from her. I saw a rush of surgeons coming in to operate on her, but I knew she wasn't going to make it. A cold feeling was telling me so.

A few hours past, which felt like years. I became startled when I heard the sound of a string snapping in half. I gasped. It was the sound of her life string. A string that was controlled by the fates. I didn't know how, but I heard it all the way from Olympus. In that moment, my greatest fear had been confirmed. The doctors opened the curtain and placed the blanket over Alina's head. Tears poured from eyes, but I wasn't able to fully grieve for my childhood friend. The fates were cruel. She endured eight years in the hospital only to leave the place through death. Something inside me broke "I promise Alina" I said mentally. "I promise."

"I promise"

"You promise what?"

I woke up startled. The sky was bright. I didn't even realize when I went to sleep. I saw Percy standing next to the bed. I stared at him.

"You promise what?" he repeated.

Crap, I thought to myself. I must have been speaking in my sleep.

"I uh promise to uh clean my room"

"Uh huh" he replied while narrowing his eyes. I knew he didn't believe me for one second.

"Anyways, mom told me to wake you so you can get ready for breakfast." I simply nodded my head in reply.

I got up and took a cold shower, hoping to get rid of that painful memory.

________________________________________________________________________________

The Jacksons really knew how to serve breakfast. There were layers of pancakes, hash brown, eggs, bacon, bagels, creasants and more. My stomach growled in anticipation. After all the food was set, they dug in. I saw Mrs. Sally scold Percy for all the syrup he was using. They all laughed except for me.

"Hey mom, did you know I'm not the only one who talks in their sleep?." I stared at him. He wasn't. Oh God please say he wasn't.

"Oh I know. Paul talks all the time in his sleep." They all laughed once again.

"Well, now I know where she get's it from." Percy chuckled. "Did you know Alina also sleep talks'".

I blushed a deep shade of red. The whole family was trying to hold their laugh. I gave a weak smile and proceeded to eat my food. I felt like an outsider. I know it wasn't their intention to make me feel uncomfortable, but I was anyways. This wasn't my family. I wasn't Alina.

I felt a sharp metal cut my finger. Blood flowed out from it. I stared at it, anxiety cutting through my body.

Mrs. Jackson stared at it too "Sweetheart your bleeding. Watch where you cut honey. Come, I'll dress it for you."

Instead of following her, I bolted to my room and slammed the door shut. I tried to stop the blood droplets from hitting the carpet. There was a knock at the door.

"Alina, are you alright?" Percy yelled.

I couldn't answer. I had to get rid of the blood, I had to get it away from them. It wasn't normal. One drop of my blood, could make any being the most powerful of all. More powerful Zeus. More powerful than Gaea. More powerful than Uranus.

I quickly cleared the red blotches from my bruised finger, just as the door slammed open. Percy grabbed me by the shoulders.

"What was that all about" he said slightly annoyed and angry

"I_ I have a phobia of blood"

He stared at me then sighed, the angry marks clearing on his face "Well next time tell us. You had us worried sick."

I nodded and waited for them to leave. They did so warily. Percy took one last look at me then went out the door. I let out a breath of air. I needed to be more careful.