doppelgänger --> there's never just one {sequel}

dani

She didn't mean to be pathetic and hopeless about it, but after Ethan left, Dani felt like everything just went downhill from there.

For example, there was a girl Dani had gone to school with since elementary school, and in middle school, they had become friends.... but not very close friends. They were more acquaintances, they type of girls who would only really talk at school and do nothing else outside of it.

One time in middle school, about the end of their eight grade year, Angel -- (that was her name) -- had gotten her period for the first time, in the middle of art class, and had to ask the teacher to go to the nurse and put on a pad. Dani was the only one that Angel had told at the time, and there were only girls (well, and one guy, like that made a difference) at their table that were wondering where Angel went and what happened and if she was okay, so Dani just decided to tell them the truth to make it simple and honest.

When Angel came back from the bathroom, she acted like nothing different or out-of the ordinary had just happened, and no one at the table that Dani told said anything about what they knew.

At least not right then.

So the next day, Dani went to school, just like any other normal day -- until art class, later that day -- when Angel confronted her, furious as she'd ever seen her.

And legend had it, that according to Angel, those other students who sat at their art table, had blabbered to Angel and, oh -- a few -- other people in the school, how Dani told them that Angel had just gotten her period.

So after that, Angel did the typical thing "friends" did in middle school after they'd been humiliated or embarrassed by the other -- she shunned Dani and never spoke to her again, finding different people to hang out with at school.

Of course, being an eighth grade girl whose emotions were very sensitive and easily messed with, at first she took it personally, but not long after, she forced herself to realize it was Angel's loss, and she was a pretty big snob in the first place, anyway.

Aside from the middle school story, a travel back to the present and Angel was back, as Dani walked down the hallway to her next class, minding her own business. Angel knew that Dani was behind her, and Dani was well aware that Angel was in front of her, but everything happened much quicker than expected.

Right before Dani was able to pass under a set of doors in the middle of the hallway, Angel gave the metal bar handle across it a shove so that as soon as Dani tried to pass directly behind her, it hit her and sent her flying to the ground, her books scattering across the floor around her.

Slowly, Dani tried to get up, cringing in pain. The edge of the metal bar had hit her hip bone so hard, it was throbbing, and the door itself had hit her with so much force. As she looked around, she realized now that she was the only person occupying the hallway now, everything else quiet and still.

Once she managed to get up and gather her books, she tried the door to go on her way to class.... but it was locked.

And then the bell rang.

Oh, I'm so going to be late. And it's all because of a girl who's holding a childish grudge against me from all the way back in middle school.

What a --

"Danielle Biersack," said the voice over the intercom. "Please report to the Principal's office to see Mr. Myers. And don't be late."

*

Later that day, when Dani got home, all she wanted to do was be with Ethan.

So she figured she could at least talk to him for a little bit.

After sitting in her room, staring at the blank screen of her phone and listening to the over-and-over, repetitive ringing on FaceTime, she gave up. He wasn't answering. Ethan was clearly busy, and didn't have time for her at the moment. He was probably doing a drill or out climbing under barb wire, bullets flying all around. Nothing to worry about, no big deal. She would just call back again later.

Dani was hurt, and broken, and she missed her man more than words could describe. She worried more than she did anything else lately, and feared for Ethan's life everyday since the very day he left.

She couldn't help it but just break down right there in her room, kneeling down and praying,

"Mother Mary, please. I need help. I need guidance. I need assurance. I need a miracle."

*

The next day, Dani had left home in the morning, telling her parents a friend was picking her up to go shopping at the mall.

When she came back, that early afternoon, she had Ethan on her chest, black inked right over her heart, so he would always be with her, no matter what the circumstance.