Strange and Unknown

Light Switches

      "Ouch." For the last few days, I've been having a throbbing headache, and my senses literally kept turning on and off. Like, during the exams I had to take to get into Erin's school mid semester, my hearing was turned off, so I couldn't hear everyone leaving the school for lunch. The teacher shot me dirty looks, grabbed my test, and pointed at the door. Also, whenever I lost my sense of feeling, I had stabbed myself with my pencil without even knowing, and by the time I noticed I was bleeding, I was taken to the hospital since my gash was spouting blood like a fountain. Ultimately, I passed, but my teacher recommendation wasn't very high, which is a bad thing, since teacher recommendation is needed for college and getting good credits and whatever. Also, this school is ran slightly like a college, since you can choose your classes and ditch whenever without your teacher caring.

My phone, about a meter away on my bed, rings, filling my hotel room with the sounds of my annoying ringtone, a fork being scratched on a chalkboard. Wheeling over in my chair, I grab it off my bed, and check the number. Mom.

"Yes?" I ask, wheeling back to the desk I was at to resume strategizing for NW, even though it won't start for a while.

"Hey Cliste, where are you staying at right now? Do you need me to deposit more money in your bank account?"

" No, I'm fine, there's this, err, company, 'sponsoring' me, and they're paying a majority of my bills, including my housing. Same with the school I applied to."

"Wow, my little boy's all grown up!" Look at you!" she coos, making my face hot. Blushing furiously, I change the subject.

"How's dad doing?" There's a slight hesitation before she answers.

"He's...stressed out. Ever since you left, he's been mad. He's so stressed out, that he's been sent to the hospital. But he doesn't want you to come back home either. He didn't say why."

"Oh. Well mom, I think I need some time to think. Thanks for calling." She pauses, before saying;

"Alright. Love you."

"Ditto," is all I say before hanging up. I have a feeling she wanted to say more. A welling feeling develops in my throat. I caused my dad, the man who raised me to become who I am today, to go to the hospital based on my actions? And he doesn't want me to come home? I feel ungrateful and selfish. Can't I do anything to help him? Is anything possible? My hands cletch into fists, and a mix of frustration and regret swell throughout my body. I can't believe I didn't think about how my stubborn and slightly immature dad would feel about me moving away. I should've known this would happen. Banging my head into the table repeatedly, I don't do anything for what feels like an entire hour. Moping. Although my thoughts don't show it, there's many emotions running through me. Room service comes, but I don't open the door nor respond. After a while, I get up to wash my face, when I notice how wet my face was. In the mirror, I see that I was actually crying the entire time, since my eyes are still red, and I'm sniffling. I turn on the faucet. I put my hands into the cool water, cup them, and splash water into my face, over and over again until I feel like my brain isn't muddled and tired.

Drying my face, I get a glimpse of the clock near my bedside. 2:30. I've been depressed for aboutan entire hour, since I called my mom around 1:15. My stomach begins to grumble, and I feel a little tired. Come to think of it, last time I ate, was probably yesterday morning. Yes, I starve myself without even knowing, but, somehow I'm still average weight. Then again, I do eat like a greedy pig that hasn't eaten for months. Wait, that's not possible, is it?

My phone rings again, this time, I see Erin calling. Picking up, I hear loud noises, lots of talking, and a yell that sounds like "EAT MY CORN DOG B!TC#."