A Collection of Short Stories

Without You

 I sat alone in the doctor’s office, I told my family I wanted to hear the news alone. While waiting for the Dr. Brittle to come back, I grabbed one those children's books from the shelf. Being the 15 year old I was, I flipped it over. ‘Good Night Moon’. This book brought back all those memories from when I was younger and didn’t have this damn problem. Leaning back, I started to read it.

“In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight-”

There was a knock, I stuffed the book into my bag. It’s not like they would miss it. I told the person to come in.

“Hello, Isadora.” Dr. Brittle said. “How are you?”

“Nervous,” at my words her smile flattered, but she recovered and smiled again.

“That’s reasonable,” She said. Didn’t clarify if I was going to be okay, or not.

“So? What are the results?” I asked, gripping the strap on my bag.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, I didn’t need to hear anymore. Closing my eyes, I let the tears fall.

    Everything after that changed, I had monthly doctor appointments, and started online schooling. Months went by, and things never looked like they were going to change. Everyone else left me, the friends I had at school stopped calling, and soon enough Luke was all I had.

    Luke was a friend of mine, he knew me before my illness, and never treated me different. He came over every Friday, and we watch movies, and he helped me with my math. Everyone else left me, the friends I had at school stopped calling, and soon enough Luke was all I had.

After 6 months, my hair started to fall out. I was devastated, my once long brown hair, was now just thin strands. One day I went to the mall with Luke to by bandanas.

“They're all staring at me,” I muttered, moving closer to Luke.

“Don’t let them get to you Izzy,” he said, putting his arm around me. “They don’t know your story.”

I grinned. “Thanks Luke.”

I still have the bandanas; I bought four. A blue, green and purple one. One with skulls on it, that Luke insisted I buy. Another with my school colors. The last one was special; we designed it ourselves. It was purple, and green with mine and Luke’s initials on it. That was the one I wore everyday.

Around 9:00 pm my mom came rushing in.

“Isadora. There’s a tornado warning. We need to go downstairs.” Grabbing some blankets, and Pillows to lay on, I followed my mom downstairs.

We sat in the corner surround by blankets, two pillows, and the battery powered radio. Nothing happened for 10 minutes, but then we heard the roaring of the winds get louder.  I was between my dad, and my mom.

As the house started to shake, I gripped onto my dad, as my mom gripped me from behind. He was calm, and I figured he been in situations worse than this before.

“Don’t worry Izzy,” he whispered, pulling me, and my mom closer. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

The torture lasted 10 minutes. Slowly we all went upstairs to inspect the damage. Inside everything was intact; thank goodness. I went to check outside.

Outside was a whole different story. Some of our siding had been torn off along with some of our roofing. Along the road people were checking their own houses for damage. I watched in silence, as people picked up the damage.

“ISADORA!” someone yelled, looking their way I saw Luke in sweatpants, and a t-shirt. He engulfed me in a bear hug. “I was so worried about you.”

His words took me by surprise. “You were?” I asked. Obviously I knew that Luke worried about me because of how weak I was becoming, but I figured that was pretty much it. I never thought he’d travel across town to check on me after a storm. Maybe he would call me the next day, but I wasn’t expecting to see him tonight.

“Of course,” he said, letting go of me. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I figured that you only worried about me because of my condition,” I mumbled. “Not anything else.”

“Lately Izzy,” he said, taking my hand. “You’re all I worry about.”

“But why?” I asked, sitting on the ground, wrapping my blanket around me tighter.

“Why?” he asked, sitting next to me. “Izzy you're one of my closest friends. On Friday nights my friends are out hanging at football games and parties, but I’m here with you.”

“I’m sorry,” I muttered laying down so I was on my back.

“Don’t be,” he said, following my actions. “I choose too be here.”

We probably looked like freaks, laying in my front yard after a tornado. Sighing, I leaned into him, and watched the stars above. At that moment, I didn’t want to be anywhere else.