Finding Luke

001

"I need to tell you something," Mom looked scared as she pushed the plate of waffles towards me, "Isaac is gone. He killed himself. I'm so sorry Mia."
I looked my mom dead in the eye. "How?" She opened her mouth, but then heard footsteps running down the stairs. "I'll tell you later."
My little sister, Katie emerged. "Mia?" She stopped in front of me, placing her hands on my shoulders. "I have musical rehearsal until 4:30. You're picking me up at door 7. Ok?"
I nodded. "Door 7, 4:30. I need to go."
I walked outside and got in my car.
Before I was even out of the driveway, I felt the tears running down my face.
----------------------------------------------I walked into the cafeteria, where my friends and I sit before school. The table has 5 chairs. Three were taken up by Grace, Lola, and Maxwell. One is going to be empty for a long time. Lola ran her fingers through her long, pink hair. "Do you know?" she asked solemnly, glancing towards the empty chair. I nodded. I noticed that Grace's stunning blue eyes were glassy and red. Maxwell was staring off into space. "Do you think they're going to make an announcement? Like to quell the rumors? Some people are saying that he overdosed on something. Do you know what happened?"
"I don't think so," I sighed "But it wasn't drugs."
"He hung himself," Grace said quietly, "His brother found him in the closet, swinging gently. His mom called my mom at 3 this morning."
I ran to the bathroom and heaved what breakfast I had into the toilet, sobbing. The bell for first period screeched as I stepped out of the stall. Lola was standing by the sinks. "Do you need to go to the nurse?" she asked, holding me in a hug. I shook my head. "I'm just going to try to get through the day with minimal nuclear explosions." Lola laughed slightly. I splashed water on my face while Lola quickly grabbed our backpacks.  Then I remembered. Isaac's brother is a freshman. Luke. He saw his brother dead.
----------------------------------------------I went through the day, crying in bathroom stalls during three classes. I tried to put on a happy, or at least neutral face for when I picked up Katie. She was always stressed after rehearsal.  As much as she loves it, theater is very time- and energy-consuming. She's not one of the two leads, but has a very major part, which is unheard of for a sixth grader. I pulled into the parking lot of Door 7 at 4:12. I went to this school, spent three years with Isaac here. I felt the cry come up my throat, and I just let it happen. I sobbed for 19 minutes before Katie came knocking at my window. I unlocked the car.
"Oh my gosh Mia!" she said as she climbed into her seat, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I lied "Hard day."
We drove home in silence. Katie on her phone, me holding back tears.