XX:11

7.

"Sarah." A voice said and someone began to shake my shoulder softly.

I slowly opened my eyes. A piercing pain filled my head and down my spine, making me groan.

"Sarah, can you hear me alright?" I opened my eyes a little more to see two familiar faces. The faces I knew to be Mary's parents. My heart decided to, at that moment, die. I rolled over, curling into a ball.

"She's gone." I whispered through my tears.

"Sarah-"

"NO!" I shouted, "NO! SHE'S GONE! DON'T EVEN TRY TO TALK TO ME. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR HER! I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF HER. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEONE WHO SHE COULD TALK TO DURING BAD TIMES WHEN SHE WAS HAVING THOSE THOUGHTS. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO PULL HER BACK INTO REALITY! BUT NOW SHE'S GONE AND THERE'S NOTHING I OR ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT! I LOVED HER SO MUCH AND NOW SHE'S JUST GONE. JUST LIKE THAT! GONE!" I sobbed into my hands.

"Sarah..."

"WHAT?!" I shouted at her mom, not even caring for the fact that I was in a hospital and in a shared room.

"Just listen to me for a second okay?" Her mother's eyes were red and bloodshot, "I know you're probably very disoriented right now, and sad, and all these other emotions but you need to listen to me alright?"

I gave a slight nod, tears still falling from my eyes.

"So, a few days ago... we came home to see you on the floor of the living room, bleeding from a spot on your head. We rushed to take you to the hospital so quickly that we didn't even realize our own daughter was missing." She took a deep breath.

Her husband continued for her, "Once we got here, we called your parents and... We explained to them what had happened to you. They didn't pick up at first so it was just a voicemail. My wife and I, we went home to get Mary- and we found the note. In that moment, I knew my life was over. My own baby girl had killed herself because of her own family."

"Yesterday..." her mom began, "we were able to contact your parents... We explained to them what had happened, and in the midst of that, we mentioned the relationship between you and Mary. I'm so sorry, Sarah. You're going to be okay. We will take you in if you are no longer welcome there."

"What do you mean?" I asked. Sitting up a little.

"Your parents... were extremely upset with this fact and... you are no longer welcome there. But we are going to take you in so you have nothing to worry about. I am sure we can all talk it out and get your parents to understand you. It will just take them a little time."

"Oh." I was shocked. My own parents threw me out just like that. All because I was gay.