Parade

The Tracks

"Sebastian, I can't just run away, I...I have family here, Eden's in a coma! She could die! What would she think if I just up and abandoned her? What about Thomas, he needs me—" Sebastian cut him off. "What about US, Johnny. Every time we're apart I imagine the worst has happened. That your parents found out about us, that they sent you away to a correctional facility, we can bring Thomas with us! I know this isn't a great time, but, once you figure out what you want to do, we'll leave to the next city over. These are the times the trains depart. The next train to get there is five weeks away," Sebastian hands Johnathan a piece of paper. "Get there if you wanna come with me, just, please, think it over." Sebastian muttered as he walked out of the hospital.
Almost as soon as he left Eden's family came in, Eden's little sister excited, carrying a small book. Eden's mom and dad holding each other, and finally Eden's girlfriend, smiling weakly, but eyes red after many sleepless nights of crying.
"Hiya Johnny!!" Squealed Eden's little sister, if only she knew, "Hi Sophie! What are you up to?" Johnathan squatted down to reach her level, she was only five, how could she understand?
"Nothing really, sissie told me to bring Thomas this book 'cause," Sophie lowered her voice to imitate Eden, "If you think I'm ever in a bad situation, hand this book to Tommy, he'll help me out!" She grinned, "I dunno how he's gonna help but I miss my sissie and he had better wake her up!"
Johnathan laughed and nodded, "Yep, me and Thomas would fall apart without her and then we'd have to fight over who gets you!" Johnathan teased. "You go give that to Tom, I'll show you guys where the room is." Johnathan stood up and started walking down the hall, with Sophie at his heels; of course. Once they all got there Johnathan left and sat outside the room. Staring at the sheet of paper Sebastian gave him. "Am I really gonna go through with this?" He thought, "Can I go through with this?" Johnathan looked up at the lights, so bright, they hurt to look at, but what else was there? He watched a fly zoom about and then die inside of the light. What would happen if he tried to touch it? Would he become one with the light as well or just be destroyed by it? Could he choose? Does the good outweigh the bad? The questions kept flooding, and flooding, crashing over one another destroying the dam of sanity until suddenly— the sound of a flat line could be heard. Was he imagining things? Yes, that's it, his imagination, that's all it was. Then the doctors came flooding into Eden's room. Everything was a garbled mess, Thomas ran out screaming at Johnathan, screaming something, what? What was he saying? Why couldn't he hear it? Did it even matter? Then, with a gulp of air Johnathan woke up. He had fallen asleep on the bench, in a frenzy he stood up and turned around looking into the room hoping his biggest fears didn't actually occur. They hadn't. Sophie was just telling Eden about something. Johnathan sat back down clutching his chest, using the breathing exercises Dr. Brown had shown him. In for four seconds, and out slowly. Close your eyes and go to your happy place, quiet down, and go to your happy place. Johnathan opened his eyes again, ready to face reality. A sick, disgusting reality. He left the hospital, and started to walk.

Walk towards the train tracks.