A Quiet Key

Chapter 3

                 "Come here Auralia" My brother looked at me holding his arms out. I ran to him with tears in my eyes when all of a sudden he slowly turned to mist. First, his face until I could barely see it. Then, the rest of him disappearing leaving me there crying-

                 That was the type of nightmare I would have every night back then. They started days after I found my parents dead and had been going on the months after. I'd wake up sweating being stuck with the image of his clouded face before snapping myself out of it and going on with my morning routine.

                  The mornings were the only time I thought of my parents. How I wished they were there to wake me up. How I wished he was there to sit with me at breakfast because the house had gotten so so lonely. My aunt came to check on me once a week but gave me general necessities to live. I knew she had her own life to take care of but I also knew she hated being in my house or even seeing me because it reminded her of the brother she had lost. Though I couldn't exactly blame her. It wasn't like I was trying to get over it or help her. It wasn't like I cared.

                  I  had a loss counseling appointment that day at 5 but I tried not to think of it. I had had no progress whatsoever with the counseling from my state of denial and I wasn't trying to leave. I'm sure my counselor was getting annoyed because nothing he was doing had been working but it wasn't like he could just stop.

                 Jake waved to me by our lockers to which I promptly ignored him. Happily, we had no classes together except for lunch where I wouldn't see him unless I chose to be part of the crowd around him. 

                  And so the day passed quickly and soon it was time to go home. That day I didn't stand by the exit (I was never going to do that again thanks to a certain new kid) and quickly rushed home, did my homework and left. The appointment passed by quickly just like the rest of my life, in a haze. All I had to do was tell him that I had nothing to say, answer his questions with my regular emotionless attitude and not cry. All of that was very easy because I did it a lot.

               Then all of a sudden I heard a familiar voice say "Oh, hey Auralia. Why are you here?"

               I started walking away quickly.

               "Auralia wait!" He called after me.

               "Why are you even talking to me?" I snapped

               "Why wouldn't I be?" He asked

               "I don't want to talk to you so, you can stop now." I was getting annoyed, what was wrong with this kid?

              "Why not?"

               "I just don't want to talk to anyone and I don't get why you are."I was trying very hard to stop from yelling.

               "Because I want to be friends."

                  By now it was obvious: Jake was crazy, very crazy. "Well, I don't," I said and started to walk away faster.

                  "Okay then, acquaintances."

                   "If you'll leave me alone fine." I groaned

                   "But acquaintances t-" I shot him a glare" Ok, Ok. Well bye, new acquaintance." He chirped, turned and started walking away.

                   The minute he had walked away I let out a sigh. What had I just gotten my self into? I didn't know it then but that had been a life-changing decision. One that would involve both of us.