Love, My Delusion

Chapter 2

The following morning, I woke up with a smile plastered across my face. I stretched my arms and sat up. The gentle, morning sunrays lay on my auburn hair as I pulled up the blinds. Perhaps today would be the day God finally acknoledges my prayers and my life would change. For the better. Something I had wished for since I was little, having nobody with me other than Eleanor.

Knock!
Knock!

I heard soft knocking on my bedroom door before someone made their way in. I looked at her and found my mother walking in to my room. She smiled but something felt off.

"H-honey, Dad would like to speak to you," she said, her eyes shooting away for a mere half-a-second. Maybe she was uncomfortable? After all, we hadn't ever sat down to a proper conversation in a long time. Such conversations ever happened once in a blue moon in my family.

I grinned widely and asked my mother to excuse me while I changed out of my sleepwear. My mother waved and stepped out of the room. As the sound of the footsteps faded, I hopped off my bed and went to take a short shower. I tied my short hair, which seemed like a clump of monstrous strands of keratin, neatly into an unpolished bun. I changed into an oversized shirt that covered my blue shorts.

I walked down the flight of stairs into the living room where my parents were seated. They were giggling. It felt good to see my parents, who rarely spoke to each other, get along. My lips curved into a small smile as I sat in front of my father.

"Dad? Is there something you wanted to tell me?" I asked, grinning from ear to ear. Truth was that I had already fantasised my new life and I was simply waiting to just hear it all out.  from my father.

"Sweetie! We're sending out of town to live with a relative at his house. He's a-" my father said happily but paused at the last bit. "What you call a "babysitter". He lives in a huge place and takes care of other children. We were planning on sending you there to make new friends!" he continued.

"Really?" I asked happily. Making new friends would be a great way to spend the summer, wouldn't it?

"You'll get to go next week, okay? You can contain your excitement till the day arrives. You better start packing up," my father ended. My gaze switched between both of my parents' as I smiled cheerfully. I thanked them for thinking about me and giving me a chance to make new companions. I skipped towards the storage room and turned the single ceiling light, which was a mere bulb hanging loosely from the ceiling.

The dim light emitting from the bulb barely illuminated the dusty storeroom. The storeroom was stuffed to the seams and there was barely any space to keep my foot. I bent over and started digging through the heaps of plastic bags scattered across the tiny room. Amongst the torn cloth bags and old tools strewn all over the place, I spotted a suitcase. I pinched my nose and tugged the luggage with one hand.

The dusty suitcase wasn't very big and could only fit the necessary clothes like sleepwear and simple pairs of shirts and pants. I turned off the useless storeroom light and lugged the small suitcase behind me, up the stairs and into my room.

Throughout the afternoon, I messed up my cupboard, flinging my favourite clothes onto the floor until there were blouses and denims lying on the floor. I kneeled on the floor and started choosing which ones I liked best. I was multitasking between daydreaming and packing when I heard a familiar feminine voice. 

"Allison! Where are you?" the person yelled. I looked down to find myself looking at Eleanor. I waved my hand and signalled that I would be down in a moment. Leaving my messy room alone, I ran down the stairs, and outside. I found Eleanor standing by the house while tapping her foot, trying to pull on a serious face. I skipped up to her and stuck out my tongue. She burst out laughing. We joked around and were being, basically, public nuisances when we got to the park. After our wild souls were sated, we sat down on the grass by the lake. 

"Has life been any better for you, Allie?" Eleanor pouted and rested her cheek on her knees, looking out at the lake. 

"Yes, actually! My parents let me stay with a relative for the summer. I'll get to meet many other teens there!" I exclaimed. Eleanor looked at me with watery eyes.

"You'll forget me too, won't you?" Eleanor asked sadly. I frowned. 

"Why would I forget you, El?" I replied. She shook her head and remained silent. It broke my heart to see my only friend so sad. 

"I'm sorry I won't be able to keep you company..." I apologised and reached out a hand to pat her shoulder in reassurance.

"Don't touch me!" Eleanor snapped. I was withdrawn and taken aback. I looked at her in disbelief. I looked away in guilt and stuttered, on the brink of tears, "I-I forgot."

"I'm sorry!" Eleanor hopped onto her feet and bowed in apology. Without a sign, she ran off. I stared at her back until she disappeared completely from my view. I tried forcing a smile as tears streamed down my face. 

"My o-only friend. What have I done," I cried, disappointed at my absent-mindedness and terrible memory. I forced myself onto my feet. 

"Why was she so sad when I told her that I was happy and would be able to make more friends?" I wondered, dejected. "Why can't I die now? Anyone looking at me from up there, why won't you give me the courage to drown in this lake?" I wailed. I clomped to the park and threw myself onto the bench. 

"She doesn't want me to be happy, does she? All her comfort were white lies, right?" I agonised, my heart aching. "Is this what you call fake?"