Time Runs Out

pt. 4

I wake up to the sound of my alarm. I regret setting it to the loudest volume, as I can already feel a headache coming on.

I groan, and roll over to turn it off. I glance at the time as I go to turn off my phone, and pause.

Today is Tuesday.

As if on cue, I get a text from Keaton.

Not feeling well. Mom is keeping me home. Will give u 2 facts 2morrow.

I set my phone on my bed, face down, and roll over.

I'm really going to miss that kid.

I sit up, and head to my closet, and, seeing as I have little time to get ready, pull out a jacket to throw over my jeans and tank that i slept in.

Rushing downstairs, I grab a granola bar, and yell goodbye to my dad, most likely still asleep upstairs.

I stop, halfway out the door, and turn around. I grab a donut from the box I picked up last week. It is stale, but I wrap it in a napkin nevertheless.

I grab a green sharpie and write on it:

"Happy 17th birthday nerd. Stay cool."

As I cap the pen, I realize that there is a single tear gliding down my face.

I wipe it off, and grab his present from the table.

It's a book of crossword puzzles, his favorite. Science themed, because, well, that's what he asked me for.

And a donut.

That was all me.

I grab my things, trying not to crush the donut, and head out to my car.

Glancing at the clock, I know that I will be late to first period for sure, but seeing Keaton is more important.

•••

When I pull up to his driveway, I see an unfamiliar car.

A strange man gets out of the car, wrestling with something in the trunk that I cannot see.

I shrug off the odd feeling I get when I look at him, and rush up the stairs, leaving my backpack in the car.

I ring the doorbell, the chime mixing with the odd grunts coming from the man in the car.

I turn around and think about helping him out, but the door opens, and I look into the eyes of Keaton's mom.

Her eyes are red from crying, though I don't blame her. She must be having a pretty rough time.

"Hi Laurie, can I see Keaton please? I have his presents," I say, shuffling the book and donut to a new position.

But Laurie doesn't move.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Kelsea. You need to go to school."

I am stunned, as Keaton's mom has never pushed me away from her son. She knows how close we are.

What is going on?

I move the presents once more. "Laurie, Keaton texted me that he is sick. I know that. I know that today is-" I lower my voice. "his day to go."

She blocks my move to get inside. "Kelsea, you don't understand. Please go."

I become more frantic. "Laurie, I need to say goodbye to him! He was my best friend."

I am confused as to why Keaton has not shown up at the door from all the talking.

"Kelsea, I will take your things to him, but you can't be here," she says, while glancing over my shoulder.

Confused and frustrated, I turn around to see what she is watching, and I immediately regret it.

The man in the car has managed to get loose the item in the trunk.

A black bag, approximately 5 and a half feet long.

Approximately the length of Keaton.

My head begins to go fuzzy, and I feel as if the world is spinning.

Laurie grabs my shoulders as if to steady me, and she looks into my eyes.

My vision stops spinning.

"Kelsea, it's too late. He's gone."

The world is spinning faster, faster, faster.

Until there is nothing.

Just black, and silence, and pain.

Coming from my heart, broken in two, and my head, repeating the phrase I dreaded hearing for so long.

"He's gone."

And I never even got to say goodbye.