I froze, feeling like Daniel's words had knocked the breath out of me. They have, actually. It hurt to breathe. I took a small step back, afraid that I would fall over.
"W-What...?" I finally managed to whisper.
"They're gone, Christina." Daniel said again.
I feel like every one of my cells are dying. I looked down at the floor to stop my sudden dizziness, and when I looked back up at my brother, I collapsed. The last thing I remember was my brother's pale face, then it went dark.
*Two Hours Later*
"I hope she's okay..." I heard a familiar voice.
"Of course she's okay! She just fainted! It's not like she's in a coma!" Said another familiar voice.
"Guys shut up, I think she's waking up." I recognized this voice. 'Ross,' I thought.
I opened my eyes to see Carleigh, Ross, and Rocky. They all gave me a sad smile.
"What happened? Where am I?" I asked them.
"You were in eighth period and when your brother brought you into the hall to tell you the news-" Carleigh said, getting cut off.
"and you fainted." Rocky finished her sentence.
Memories began flooding through my head of my mother and father: My mother's laugh, my father's smile. Their happiness, gone.
I began to tear up. "So they're really...gone?" I forced out.
No one answered, which is how I knew I was right. I felt the stinging at the back of my throat that I usually feel whenever I start to cry.
Ross took one look at Carleigh and Rocky and they immediately nodded and walked out of the room. Ross looked back at me and held onto my hand gently.
"It'll be okay." he murmurs to me, trying to calm me down.
I then sit up and bring my knees to my chest, crying into my arms. I feel Ross' arms around me. Then I remember that he's never seen me cry, well there's a first to everything. He then pulls me into a hug, breaking me away from my 'hiding place.' He keeps his strong arms around me as I rest my head on his chest, tears still falling down my cheeks.
"You'll get through it. Trust me." He says.
I nod slightly in response, feeling...
Safe.
