My Mountain of Broken Toys (Rose And Rosie)

Part 6

"Hey Rosie!" Chris slid in beside the petite girl. "You seem down."

"Again." Emma added. "We're worried about you Rosie. You're always so... depressed."

Chris grinned. "You should be happy. A few months and we graduate!"

Rosie gave her two friends a weak smile. "I'm just nervous, ya know, college stuff."

"You're a genius Rosie," Chris threw an arm around the smaller girl, "You've got nothing to worry about!"

The girl glanced away. "Yeah."

She gently closed the door, careful for it not to slam. She sighed with relief when no one came to 'greet' her.

Rosie quickly made her way up to her room.

Growling, she looked away from the textbook. It was so stupid! What did any of it matter?! There was no way that her parents would let her go to college.

Everything just seemed so... hopeless!

She felt horrible for feeling the way she did, but... she just couldn't help it. Sometimes... sometimes she'd just think: Today's one day closer to death.

It was wrong, she knew it. Everything was wrong.

Her room was cold and dark, and the rain pounded at her window, making it impossible for her to sleep. She rolled over in an attempt to get comfortable. She really wished she had a softer mattress.

She curled up, wanting sleep. Sleep meant dreams. Dreams meant Dream.

Rosie smiled. Just the thought of the other woman cheered her up. Dream was what kept her sane, kept her alive.

But Dream was coming to her less and less.

With each visit, the woman promised to come to her, and take her away. Sometimes she wondered... if Dream was even real, if she was just a figment of her imagination, and if she really was crazy.

She curled up tighter, wanting sleep.

"Emma?"

The blonde glanced over her shoulder. "Yeah Mom?"

The older woman hesitated before speaking. "I... your friend Rosie... is she alright?"

Emma frowned, "What are talking about Mom? Rosie's fine." She looked at her mom. "Why do you ask?"

Joyce sighed, "Micheal and I... " Emma couldn't help but listen to what her mom had to say if Michael was noticing something too. "She's... withdrawn... "

"So she's shy, big deal."

"It's not just that. We... Michael's better at noticing things then me, and Emma, I've seen it too."

"What? Mom! Please!"

"Her arms."

"What?"

"Her arms... I think... I think she's got some bruises."

"That's it?"

"Emma, listen!"

"Rosie's clumsy, you know that!"

"Emma."

"I've seen her walk into walls and all. Okay Mom."

Joyce sighed. "Alright Emma. But I want proof that she's okay. And if you notice anything, I want you to tell me. Promise me this. Promise me."

"I promise. But there'll be nothing to find." But the conversation didn't leave her, and would remain at the back of her mind, nagging her.

She sat fiddling with the radio, smiling as the music played.