Soaring Keys

Chapter Fifteen: Soaring Butterflies

Katy Romero

"Alright." Ross' eyes became cloudy.

I tried to cut into the cinnamon roll with my fork slowly so it wouldn't hit the plate. Sadly, it did anyways. The glaze started drizzling off my fork so I put it in my mouth to avoid having to clean up. When I looked up again, I saw that Ross was trembling.

"Roxy?" Trying not to provoke him, I placed my hand gently on his.

His other hand clenched his chest as he took short, unsteady breaths.

"I. Can't. Breathe." He managed to choke out.

"Ross? What's happening?" I went up to the front desk and asked for a cold glass of water.

The man must've saw the panicked look on my face so he rushed to get the water. When he passed me the cup, he whispered, "Make him breathe slowly and distract him."

I quickly thanked the guy and rushed back to help Ross. I really don't know what's going on but it looked like a panic attack of some sort. When I got to him, I noticed that he was sweating.

"Ross?" I whispered to him. "Sip this water."

He nodded slowly and picked up the glass. I used my hand to guide the glass to his mouth. If his grip of the glass loosened, then it would fall and shatter. My other hand traveled to his forehead, I moved his damp red and black hair out of the way. Even though he was sweating, Ross was cold.

"It's going to be okay, Roxy." I laid my forehead on his and closed my eyes. "It's okay." Rubbing his back, I heard his breathing go back to normal.

We stayed there like that until he was ready to talk again.

"My mum and dad." I opened my eyes and moved away but he continued, "They died in an accident when I was younger."

"You don't have to tell me, it's okay." I moved his bangs away from his eyes.

Ross stared at me, switching from one eye to another. His eyebrows furrowed as he shook his head.

"No, it's better that you hear it from me than anyone else."

I nodded before he went on.

"They died in a car crash. It was late at night and they were on their way to pick me up. I was there for hours before my piano teacher drove me home. When I got home, I saw that my dad's car was gone.

Being twelve, I thought they had just forgotten about me and went on a date. The next day, I went to your house to hang out. I think it was the last day I saw you.

Anywho, I hadn't heard from them for a while so I rang their numbers. Neither of them picked up. Soon after, someone knocked on my door and when I opened it, a cop was standing there. He told me I had to come with him, of course, I was freaked out.

All I wanted to do was to stay and wait for them. He had dragged me to his police car and drove me to the station. Your parents were there, looking grim as ever. I knew that wasn't a good sign but I kept asking why I was there.

Finally, my auntie Lia arrived. She had bags under her red, swollen eyes as she hugged me. Soon after, they told me that my parents were dead. Both of them."

Ross took a sip from his room temperature coffee and sighed.

"I'm sorry Ross." I looked down at my lap.

"For what?" His voice was more vulnerable than ever.

"I'm sorry that you had to experience that, waiting for someone to come but them not arriving."