"Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water."
~ Christopher Morley
***
"Colby wake up, you have an appointment today." My mom's voice eases me out of my sleepy state and I roll in bed, rubbing my eyes and trying to adjust them to the sunlight creeping through the window. I squint to look at my digital clock on my bedside table and barely make out 10:46. I lay back in my pillows and groan. I vaguely remember coming home last night - or more accurately, this morning - a pretty song sung in Korean playing in my head, and my state being half awake and groggy from the late night. I remember being lifted up the stairs to my room and laid gently in my bed by a person with strong arms, who smelled of vanilla and green apples.
If I'd just remembered I had that goddamn appointment with Doctor Price this morning, I would have had a reason not to go to Caitlyn's last night. No reason to stay over until the early morning watching Shadowhunters and eating pizza with Mac and everyone else. No reason to be wearing those awful clothes that clung too tight to my skin and made me feel like I was being wrapped in Saran Wrap.
"Come on Cole! Let's go, your appointment's at twelve!" My mom says again, smacking my butt. I groan loudly and roll out of bed - quite literally - and tumble onto the floor in a jumbled heap of blankets and pillows and stuffed animals. I seem to be prone to these incidents.
I struggle in the pile of softness, getting my legs stuck in the sheets and actually having to use more muscle than I'd like to get myself out. Once I'm free I stumble my way to my feet, almost falling forward but my closet catches me. Thanks bud, I think to the door. Now my mom is going to think I need two EEGs. I open my closet and pull out a blue faded shirt with the STAR WARS logo on it, a pair of leggings, and my Converse. I sleepily traipse to the bathroom across the hall and shut the door, bringing a brush through my hair and washing my face. I then head downstairs, still in a daze, and wistfully hope that my concealer covered the bruise already forming on my head from the damn closet door.
On the main floor my brother lies sprawled across the couch watching The Vampire Diaries, a surprise since our parents don't exactly approve of the show. You'd think I would be surprised that he's watching the freaking Vampire Diaries but ever since I tried watching it back in junior year, he's been hooked and it's normal to see him freaking out about Elena and Stefan. I hardcore ship Damon and Elena so we often get into big fights, though I know what's endgame and he doesn't so, kudos to me. My mom is talking with my dad in the kitchen, whisking eggs in a bowl - probably for my brother, my dad and I hate eggs. My dad is leaning up against the counter drinking a glass of orange juice while intently listening to my mom rant about something to do with church.
"Morning," I greet them. I walk over to the fridge and take out the milk and set it on the counter, next searching for my Frosted Flakes.
"Morning Cole," my dad says. "What times the appointment today?"
My mom answers for me and I pour my bowl of cereal. "Twelve. Which means I have on hour to make Braiden breakfast, go out to my mom's to get the check, and drive all the way across town to Dr. Price's office."
I internally roll my eyes at her. My mother is so high strung it's unbelievable. She's like Caitlyn on a school day, but everyday.
I sit down at the bar with my cereal to look at my parents and my dad makes a cuckoo sign at his head, pointing at my mom with his index finger on his other hand. I shake my head in amusement and take another bite of my Frosted Flakes.
