Falling Back #wattys2017

Chapter Twenty Four

Sure, I had an amazing time with Mike last night and gave him the best date ever, but I still wasn't happy. Because Mike was the boy of my dreams and this is the part of the dream when I wake up

I was lying in my bed that night with tears in my eyes and holding on tight to my pillow. I couldn't stop worrying about Mike. What if he gets so sad that he commits suicide? How would hell be like? Would I ever see Mike again? I literally was staring into my ceiling for eight hours thinking of all the worst possible circumstances. I tried to remember that Dad told me we were both going to be okay but all that happened to Mike and I and what happened to my parents was just a coincidence. My dad wasn't even an orphan. And that part of the story changed everything

Soon, the light from the sun was streaming through my curtains and I was exhausted. I didn't even get any sleep. I looked at my alarm clock and saw that it was 6:26. Mike won't be leaving the orphanage until 9:00. Maybe I should get some sleep and wake up at around 8:00. I didn't want to fall asleep while saying goodbye to Mike

It's funny how just two hours of sleep could make me feel like I have so much energy. I felt as if I slept for eight hours. I was glad I had energy because riding my bike two miles takes a lot of energy. I looked over at my alarm clock and I shrieked in panic

It wasn't 8:00. It was 2:00 in the afternoon. That meant that I missed the chance of saying goodbye to Mike. I never got to say goodbye to him. All because I was selfish and wanted to sleep in. How could I not say goodbye to him? I was basically his girlfriend. I couldn't believe I was that horrible. My heart ached when I realized that I might never see Mike again. And last night was my last time seeing him

When I said goodbye to Mike yesterday, we were in front of the Burger Barn and I told him "I'll see you tomorrow" well, I didn't see him at all and that was the last time we would see each other. Mike was going through the worst situation of his life and I gave him hope. Now that hope must be shattered because I wasn't there for him

"Guys!" I yelled as I frantically ran into the depressing orphanage. Everybody looked so sad. Aaron and Lola were sitting on the couch sadly playing a board game while Bob was playing around with twigs he called backscratchers. None of them even gave me a glance. I felt so horrible. I should have never wanted to sleep in "Guys?!" I asked again with hopeless tears forming in my eyes. Nothing "Is Mike still here by any chance?"

"He left hours ago" said Bob "He was trying to wait here as long as he can to wait for you but you never showed up. He's disappointed"

I loved Mike. I cared about him so much and I always wanted him to be happy. Now, I gave him a feeling that was worse than fear, worse than anger, I disappointed him. How could he ever be happy knowing he was going to see me in six months if I abandoned him when he needed me the most? I never felt guiltier in my life

"I thought you were different Sarah" said Lola "I thought that you would be one of those people who would stay by his side. I expected more out of you"

"I expected more out of you too" said Aaron "We all did. Not only did you let Mike down, you let all of us down"

"Guys" I cried "I overslept. I was staying up all night worrying about Mike and fell asleep around 6:30 in the morning. I just wanted to take a little nap. How was I supposed to know I would wake up at 2:00?"

"Geez, I don't know, maybe you could have set an alarm" said Bob in a duh tone

Bob was right, how come I didn't think of that?!

"No wonder Mike used to call me a pea brain" I said

Lola in particular had a look of shock on her face "Did Mike really call you that?"