Expiration Dates

Ring, Click

I am such a nuisance to the people I know, since the day I was born to this very day.

I sat on the left side of the back seat, staring blankly at the scene that might have looked startling if it were not for the current situation I was in. The spotless sky and the sapphire ocean reminded me of Joe and Michael. The icy white sand reminded me of my grandmother's palest days.

I've been thinking, alone, in my grandmother's house sitting quietly in the corner on her wooden stool, listening to the silent creak of the old floorboards which might have been eerie if it weren't for my limited emotions; I no longer felt anything but pain. Even the animals that used to run around in the field seemed to be gone, as if they left me along with my grandmother. What am I supposed to do? I'm 15, parent-less, brother-less, alone, and I have absolutely no purpose in life. It's as if someone plucked me out of my world, dropped me in a random barren desert, and left me there to decide whether I should keep walking or give up. Then again, my world was never a paradise, but at least I had something close to the life other girls my age should have, and even the company of the people I loved and cared.

Now I had nothing, really.

I continued staying in my grandmother's house for the next two months, in which I lived off of old crumbs of cookies and water in the fridge. She had plenty of food, but I didn't necessarily have any appetite.

I wouldn't have minded spending at least a year in this desolated place; I chose to give up, but Elizabeth and George called, and told me that they can not wait any longer.

"You can not carry on living like that," George said, but I told them to give me another day and hung up before they could reply. The phone continued to ring, but I ignored it, as I threw it across the room and it disappointedly landed safely on the settee.

The next morning, the phone rang again, waking me up. I was sprawled on the stool, and I crawled over to the settee as I grabbed my phone and picked up.

For a long while it was silent, puzzling me as to why Elizabeth or George wasn't lecturing me already about health or telling me that Sarah and Eric were on their way to pick me up.

"Leigh?"

I froze; the voice from the other end was painfully familiar, deep and sultry. I tried to speak, but I haven't used my vocal cords in a very long time nor did I drink anything much, and all I could manage was a cough.

"Leigh? It's Michael."

Michael. My best friend. My brother.

I missed you so much.

"Come on, Leigh, talk to me."

I wobbled over to the fridge and poured a glass of water for myself.

"Michael," I finally managed.

"Thank god, Leigh, I missed you so much."

I wanted to cry - hearing his voice brought back so much memories, but I couldn't afford to get any more emotional than I've already been. There were no more tears left for me anyway, so I tried to ignore the piercing pain in my chest as I listened to Michael go on.

"Are you with George and Elizabeth yet?"

"No."

A pause.

"Listen, you - we - can't carry on living like this alright? I know you are suffering so much more than any of us, and this conversation is probably killing you, but I'm also being punished for a crime that I haven't even committed."

"I-I know. It's not you fault, and it's not fair. But I can't forget - I mean, how could I - Joe was always there for me and... I don't know what to do, Michael."

The tears were coming back up. Gosh, I hate myself.

"Leigh, I can't talk to you much longer, I'm still behind bars. Just go to my parents, okay? They're worried sick... and I need you to live... for me and Joe. Please..."

"I want to see you. Why - it's not fair..."

"Leigh... I'll see you in two years. I've got to go now."

I heard a click.

But it wasn't from the phone.