Moving Forward

Six- Bonding

I rushed over to the coffee table and set down the tray. I sat next to him and pulled him into a side hug, rubbing his back in comfort.

"Hey, what's wrong, Zayn?" I asked when his crying calmed down a bit. He took some shaking breaths before responding.

"I'm s-sorry, but I j-just couldn't b-bare to be alone t-tonight. Especially becau-because of..." He began to sob again and I pulled him into my shoulder, giving him comfort that only a good friend could provide.

"Because of what? What happened?" I asked him, calmly; stroking his back slowly.

"M-my parents... they went missing today a couple years ago. And then-" he took some more shakey breaths, before continuing. "And the n-next day, they were f-found d-dead-" I realized now the reason behind the crazed sobbing. It was the anniversary of his parents Death. I have the same reaction on my moms day of death. I break down. I actually have a mark on the calendar where I stay home that whole day, and Honor my mother by crying in my pillow all day long. Usually alone, except in the mornings before dad leaves for work. He just shuts it out, and pretends to forget. He has to make himself the busiest man on those days.

"Shhh, it's okay.... I know" I said coaxingly letting him just crying it out, dousing my shoulder in salty tears. At that moment I realized that we have more in common than I thought. We both have dead parents, we both have jobs we don't want, and we both crave company but hate the idea of asking for it.

"Would it be okay, if I stay here for a while?" He heaved, his crying dieing down.

"Yeah, of course. Let me go make up the spare room." I say, about to get up when he pulls me back down.

"I, I meant... w-with you." His voice was so vulnerable, and he was so emotional right now. I knew I had to be there for him.

"Yeah, sure. Okay. Would you like to watch a movie, or would you rather just go up to bed?" I say, feeling a bit exhausted myself.

"Why don't we watch a movie? Maybe it'll help me get my mind off things." He suggested. I agreed, and let him pick a movie on Netflix. Once he settled on a movie I didn't recognize, I pulled out a blanket from the closet and curled up next to Zayn, his arm around me. I laid my head on his chest, and listened to the steady beating of his heart.

After a while my eyes began to droop, and the movie just sounded like background noise. I felt myself slip into sweet dreams filled with my mother, and how many times we spent laughing, splashing, climbing, chasing and making memories. I really miss her.

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I am awoken by an Erie silence, and the rough winds outside. I looked around my room and tried to find what had awoken me. I realized that the rough wind had been pushing a branch up against my windows, causing a quiet tapping noise. I sigh in relief and continue walking into the bathroom, where I am met by a hospital bed. I turned around confused as to why there was a hospital bed in my bathroom, but my bedroom door was no longer there. When I turned back to the hospital bed I saw my mom... but her hair was different. And she seemed younger. Then i came to realize that it was me in the bed. Soon my dad walked in and a doctor approached him.

"She has been diagnosed with brain Cancer. It's incurable, and she's in an acute coma. She may wake, and she may not. But she only has about a month left to live." My dad's face looked horrified.

"What are you talking about?!? Dad, I'm right here! I'm okay!" I tried to say to him, but he couldn't hear me. "Dad!" It was no use. Then I saw my dog walk in. He jumped on to the bed and curled up by the 'me-who-lays-lifeless-in-bed-but-is-not-me's feet. I couldn't picture leaving him. He is my life! My dad was so mad, he stormed out of the room screaming.

"Ugh! How can this happen!?! THEY CANT TAKE MY DAUGHTER! THEY ALREADY HAVE MY WIFE! IF SHE DIES, I DIE!" He yelled, going crazy and knocking over everything in sight.

"Dad! No! I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere! Please! Calm down." But it seemed as though I was a ghost. No one heard me, and no one saw, or acknowledged me. I was scared, was I really in a coma? Was I really going to die? After awhile the floor below me began to disappear. I was falling.

"NOOOO! I CANT GO! I DONT WANNA DIE!" I screamed.

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I was soon clutched in two strong comforting arms, rocking me back and forth. "Shhhhhh, it was just a dream, it's okay. You're okay." Zayn spoke softly. I was suddenly glad I let him stay.

"I thought I was going to die...." I whispered, still in shock from the dream.

"No, baby. You are not allowed to die. You are my only real friend around here, and I need you, and you need me. We can depend on each other, yeah?" He hummed in my ear, calming me down. I nodded and cuddled into his chest. It wasn't long before he got me back to sleep. This time, with no dreams. Or at least none I remember.