Shit Happens (A Day to Remember)

21 - Pull The Plug

Song: I Prevail- Pull The Plug

Neil

It's been three days since I confronted McKenna about whatever is going on.  She's made a point of avoiding me even more than before.  She slept in her own bunk, was gone in the morning, and was in bed by the time I made it back to the bus.  Any and all attempts at communicating with her were shot down immediately and she'd run from me.  

Even with her sleeping in her own bunk, I could still hear her having nightmares every night. I would wake her up and comfort her for a few moments before she realized what was going on and would tell me to go back to my bunk.    

I was growing desperate.  The other guys had started to pick up that something wasn't right with her too.  Jeremy seemed to be the only one she'd talk to, but even then he couldn't get anything out of her either.  I was running out of options.

"She won't talk to me, she won't talk to you.  I don't know what to do."  I confessed to Jeremy one night.  McKenna had just gone to bed, blatantly only telling Jeremy goodnight and ignoring my existence.  "I feel like I'm losing her and I don't even know why."

"I don't know what to tell you, man.  I'll keep trying to get something out of her, but maybe she just needs some space."  He sighed.

"I just don't understand.  What happened in the span of a week that made her so...distant?  Why is she suddenly having nightmares?  What is she doing when she disappears for several hours of the day?"  I was pacing the length of the back lounge.

"I wish I knew."  Jeremy said with a defeated tone.  He was worried about her too.  "Do you know of anyone that could maybe get through to her?"  

I thought for a moment.  Then it occurred to me.  "Her mom."  I stopped pacing and sat down again.  "Her mom is her everything.  If there's anyone who would know, its her mom."

"Okay, now how are you going to contact her mom?"

"I guess I'll just have to take her phone and get her number.  It's the only thing I can think of."  I sighed.  "I really don't want to resort to stealing her phone though."

"You're helping her though.  That's justified right?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

So a little while later, when McKenna began having her nightly bad dream, I comforted her as usual.  

"I'm fine, Neil.  Go back to bed."  She said when she had calmed down.

"Okay.  Goodnight.  I love you."  I said desperately.

"'Night."  She rolled over.  My heart dropped but  I saw my opportunity and grabbed her phone.  I quickly found her mom's number and put it in my own phone before swiftly returning her phone to her bunk.

I sat there for a moment, staring at my phone, trying to figure out what to say.  I found myself thinking for far too long.  "Fuck it," I mumbled and pressed call.

"Hello?"  Her mom answered.  She sounded a bit upset.  Not that I could blame her.  I would be upset too if a number I didn't know called me at four in the morning.

"Hi Miss Rhodes.  It's Neil, McKenna's boyfriend."

"Is she okay?"  Her tone changed suddenly.

"I don't know, honestly.  She has seemed really off lately.  She's been burying herself in her work and whenever she isn't working, she's off in her own world.  She's had a nightmare every night for the last few nights.  I confronted her about it and now she's refusing to even acknowledge my existence.  She won't talk to anyone.  I'm really worried about her.  I'm really sorry to wake you but I don't know what else to do."