(Stuck in) The Middle

Peace

Song to listen to while reading:

In A Tree - Priscilla Ahn (peaceful part)

FU - Miley Cyrus (panicky part)

Cheyenne

After I dropped my dress off at the dry cleaners, I decided to drive to this spot in the woods called, Arnaz Pathway. This place was near an abandoned gas station with a barely-used road.

I come here every time I need peace. Being here just keeps me so calm and peaceful; whenI have a fight with Alex or when I'm having a bad day, I come here and just....think, I guess. I just turn my phone off, inhale and exhale until I'm satisfied.

I know what you're thinking: this bitch on some philosophical shit.

Nope. Not really. It's just that one day, I happened to drive by and feel a vibe that stuck to me.

I've taken Alex here quite a few times but all of those times were to have sex.

We needed something new, we've done it in every room of the house, except Cadence's room.

Sometimes, I ask myself: why aren't you happy? You have everything you could possibly want.

And it feels like this thing with my mother is an added bonus to my melancholy. I just hope this whole thing is a dream, that would be nice.

I turn my phone back on and I notice that I have about 15 missed calls from Alex. I wonder what's going on, I thought, dialing the number.

"Hello? Cheyenne?" Alex said, frantically.

"Yeah, what's going on?" I asked.

"There has been a terrible accident and Cadence is in the hospital!" He yelled.

"Is he okay?" I asked, cranking my car up.

"They won't let me see him yet."

"Okay, well I'm on my way now. St. Moses Hospital right?"

"Yes, hurry Shy."

This day just went from bad to worse.

----------------------------------------------------

When I got there, I ran inside and found Alex right away.

"Hey, what's going on?" I asked, panting.

He didn't say a word. He kept his head high and his eyes wondering.

"Alex, talk to me!" I cried.

"Hey Cheyenne? Or might I add, where the fuck have you been?" He yelled, standing up.

"I was taking some time for myself." I whispered, trying not to make a scene.

"Channing! Cadence Channing?" A voice yelled.

"Yes! That's us!" I cried, looking for the voice.

"Right here, m'am." A doctor waved.

We walked up to her, hand in hand.

"Let's go in my office to talk."

"Okay." I smiled.

After witnessing the diagrams, the X-rays, the tests, I realized that things were going to end badly.

"I'm sorry, Mr. And Mrs. Channing, but there is a very big chance that his heart will give out in the next 24 hours, at the most." She said, firmly.

"Oh my god." I cried.

I couldn't hold back my tears but it seemed like Alex was just stuck. He sat all the way back in the chair and stayed frozen.

"Would you like to see him?" The doctor asked.

"Of course, come on Alex. Let's go." I said, wiping my tears and reaching for his hand.

He ignored my reach, stood up and walked into the hall.

When we crept into Cadence's room, there was a certain vibe or aura that was unexplainably unpleasant.

Cadence was peacefully lying there with a disappointed face.

"Hey Dence. How ya doin'?" I smirked, fighting back the tears.

"I don't feel so good. Why is it so hard to breathe?" He cried.

"That's because of the accident, son." Alex chimed in.

"Will I be okay?" Cadence asked.

"Of course." I nodded.

We spent the whole night next to Cadence; telling stories and reminiscing.

I don't exactly remember which hour he left but, in a way it was vivid yet so blurry.

Now what do I have to live for? Cadence is gone and Alex won't speak to me.