letters with zach

10

10

Zach's POV:

I sighed as I shoved the letter in the mailbox. I left a note on the kitchen counter telling my Aunt Daisy I was just headed over to Duke, who is my best friend. It wasn't a lie.

Me:

On my way over, now.

I allowed myself inside, instead of wasting time by knocking. It's almost Christmas, flights to Washington (where lindsey is) are always packed.

"Hey, dude." Duke greeted casually when I went into his room. "You okay?" He trailed off. "You kind of look like you've been crying..."

"Hell, I have been! I've been communicating with your sister through letters for the past 2 weeks." I threw the most recent one at him. "I got that one today, sent two days ago."

When Duke finished reading his eyes were wide.

"What do we do?" Duke's voice low and full of panic.

"We tell your parents!"

"You could get thrown in jail, Zach!"

"I don't even care! I don't want Lindsey to die!" I yelled, back.

At the sound of us two arguing rather loudly, his parents walked in. "What about Lindsey?" Lindsey's dad asked, he looked so vulnerable. I actually wish Lindsey was here to see how emotional he was. I motioned for Duke to hand over the note.

Lindsey's mom was in tears after three seconds of reading. "Oh my god." She breathed.

"Listen, Mrs. Rogers, I know I wasn't supposed to talk to her in any way. But we need each other."

"No! We put the restraining order on you for a reason, Mr. Wheeler! Love will always bring pain and we didn't want her to realize she loved you because it'd only cause her more pain! This is your fault. My daughter could be-"

"Mom!" Duke yelled.

"Mrs. Rogers, I've been talking to her for two weeks. She's been insinuating suicide for those entire two weeks. I've been doing a fair job at talking her out of it. She's going through so much pain, though. Throw me in jail, I don't care. But not until I see Lindsey and take care of her." I say calmly, yet with so much emotion.

"Mom, he knows her better then anyone of us." Duke added lightly.

That was enough for her dad to walk out of the room and ten minutes later throw tickets to us.

Were going to Washington. I'm going to save the girl I belong with.

You see, before Lindsey was sent to a multi-reason rehab school, she was constantly bullied. She started high school at 114 pounds, by the middle of sophomore year, she was 78 pounds. They thrust so much pain against her, I only wish Duke and I could've helped her more.

One day, Lindsey had ditched school and went home. It was the last class of the day, luckily. When Duke and I got here, we were worried sick about her. Usually, Duke and I drive her home.

We found her shoving her fingers down her throat next to a toilet. There was an empty bottle of ADHD (Duke had ADHD) pills next to her. She was pale and screaming and crying. That was the most scared I've every been.

Lindsey and I were dating at that time, but we were forced to breakup when she was sent away.

As for myself, my little sister was diagnosed with cancer two months before Lindsey was sent away - so about five months ago. She's nearly died 3 times.

My parents died about 4 or so months ago. They trusted the rest of Sara's life in my hands and when Sara nearly died again I felt like I had failed them, extremely. I still do. They were driving home from work, downtown, and were shot. It's not something I'm very keen on talking about. I usually just spend a majority of my time with Duke at his house anyway. What with Sara being the hospital and not allowed visitors most of the time.

Duke patted my elbow as we rode on the plane. He had been crying, I could tell by his tear-stained cheeks.

"I hope she's okay." I tell Duke.

Just when she tells me she loves me.

God, please. Don't kill her. Don't let her die. She has so much to live for.