Parallel Universes (Even/Isak)

Chapter Ten

          

Snow covers the ground in a thick blanket. The sun reflecting off it, making the day seem considerably brighter than it is. The streets empty and void of traffic, not a person in sight. It's days like these that make Even wonder what it would be like if he left this existence and if anyone would miss him. He hopes that at least one person would, but no one can truly ever know. Even gazes out his window down at the street below, looking at the lamp post where he saw the dark figure last night. The mere thought of it sends shivers down his spine. The presence of it felt foreign but familiar, like he knew what it was, Even tries racking his brain with no streams of consciousness coming forth bringing any ideas to what it was. He feels his phone vibrate in his pocket, bringing his attention to it. He checks it and its just reminder about his therapy appointment this afternoon, which he wasn't looking forward to.   

He picks up his backpack and heads out of his bedroom. School is the last thing he wants be thinking about right now, but he must go as per his therapist's request to help him feel normal with his bipolar disorder. Even has never told his therapist about the alternate dimensions thing because he's afraid that if he does, the therapist will think he's truly crazy and lock him up in a psychiatric facility and ruin any chances that Even has at a normal life, or as normal as it can be for him. He gets an apple from the kitchen as he walks through, his mom nowhere to be as she's most likely headed to work already. Even remembers that he needs to take his bipolar medication and heads to his mother's bedroom. She keeps the medicine in her bathroom, so she can monitor how much Even takes. She's been doing this since last spring when Even tried to kill himself.

Last spring was an extremely dark time for Even. He had just found out about his bipolar diagnosis and school was tough, especially after he tried kissing his best guy friend and his friend flipped out. They quit being friends after that because Even was embarrassed and his friend decided to be a homophobic asshole. The harassment wasn't that bad at first, just some name calling here and there, but after a while, it started getting physical and took a turn for the worst. Even began to feel that he wasn't safe at school and started ditching classes, just so he could avoid his ex-friend. Rumours began spreading around the school that Even was gay, he has no doubt that were started by the people bullying him. Homophobic slurs tossed at him like it was nothing. Someone had even carved "Kill yourself, faggot" into the door of his locker.

It began taking a toll on him, as it would anyone and one day, Even decided that he wasn't worth the life he was living so he went home and down a bottle of vodka and pills. He remembers waking up in the hospital and seeing his mom's tear stained face, looking down at him. She was the one who found him passed out on the kitchen floor, the colour drained from his body. The doctor said that she found him just in time or he would have died right there on the floor, alone. She's kept a close eye on him ever since then, making sure that he takes his medicine and goes to his therapy appointments every week. She leaves his dosage on the counter and has the rest under lock and key. Even doesn't like having to take his medicine but he does because, he knows what'll happen if he doesn't. His mother isn't an angry woman in the slightest, but when she finds out that he hasn't taken his medicine, it's like all hell breaks loose.

He places the pill on the back of his tongue and takes a drink of water, swallowing both. Even takes notice of his appearance in the mirror, dark circles underlining his eyes due to the lack of sleep he gets, especially from last night. The sound of running water fills his ears as he splashes some water onto his face, waking him up a little and trying to make the dark circles less apparent. He texts him mom after drying off his face, telling her that he took his medicine, so she doesn't worry. A quick bite from his apple and Even heads out the front door, beginning the monotonous journey that is the way to school. The snow covering his shoes with every step he takes. The sun shining on the white substance, illuminating it like a thousand tiny diamonds.