Seven Reasons Not To Die

viii | ending at the start

Poppy avoided her mother as she awoke, in a rush to shower trying her best to escape before she was forced to face everything again. She had another day, one last chance to share her reasons with Maria. This time she needed to do it correctly, and not have false hope but she knew her hope was still there even if she tried to hide it. She wanted the reasons to work this time, to see Maria for years after this and let her know she made it.

Her wishes to keep distance from her mother wasn't granted, "Poppy?" The sound of her name had her clutching her pail closer to her chest, hurrying towards the front door.

"Not right now, bye love you." Eliza could only face a slamming door as Poppy disappeared. The brunette jumped over rocks and cracks as she ran towards Maria's house. There was nothing wrong, so truly she had no reason to be running down the street with dripping hair and a battered pail at ten in the morning.

Maria was already outside waiting, only looking up as a beaten bucket dropped in front of her, followed by a breathless "oops." Poppy was breathing heavily as she smiled innocently at Maria.

"Did you run here," She received a nod in return, "Why in the world would you do that?" Maria groaned as she pulled Poppy through the front door, "We'll go wherever once you drink something."

"Are you my mum now?" Poppy giggled as Maria rummaged through the fridge, taking a can when it was held out to her.

"No, but seeing as you ran in this weather, I'm not chancing dehydration today." Maria scolded, her tone only seeming to amuse Poppy even more. So both sipped their drinks, Poppy's labored breathing one of the few sounds heard between them. Gloria's odd working hours had her gone long before Maria had awoken, so that left the knowing teasing for later once she returned home and saw any sights of Maria's smiling attitude.

"So my reason today won't technically be shared until sundown, until then I was hoping to go down to the beach." Poppy explained, after downing a third juice box.

"What will we be doing at the beach?" There was no doubt Maria was dreading the idea of swimming, mainly for the reason of not actually having a proper swimsuit besides the one from fifth grade. She hadn't been a fan of swimming even when she was younger.

"Collect shells obviously, but we may get wet depending on how long we spend down there." Poppy shrugged, only thinking in a way she could. The air was filled with an undefinable feeling, both were aware. It could be from the days before, but between themselves neither had the urge to acknowledge what today was. It had went from day one to gravitating to day seven. Tomorrow would be the unacknowledged day eight, and their week of carelessness would come to an end.

Though it was hard to say who was struggling more, because both girls were talented at covering things up. For Maria it was the conflict the Poppy would leave if she stayed, but what would be the point in staying if the one person who swore to help her hadn't been doing it for her specifically. For Poppy it was the thought of losing another, and she didn't know if six days was enough to want something from someone else. If it was enough, how badly would she be cut if she discovered the one thing she refused to accept tomorrow morning.

"Are you coming?" Maria spoke up, in the process of slipping on her sandals, Poppy shook herself from her thoughts before running out the front door after the younger girl. Quickly scooping up her bucket, the two setting their routes to the beach.
Poppy was undoubtedly enjoying her time more than Maria was, by a good multiple of ten. She wasn't entirely miserable, but the amount of sand she had discovered in her shirt was something she didn't enjoy. Fighting against Poppy's wishes for her to just jump in the water at least once, Maria stayed along shore throwing discovered treasure in a pile near their discarded shoes.