The Game ✔

Chapter nine

The stairs creak under my feet and my heart races in my chest. Mom is still out, the nurse has already left and I'm alone with my father in the house. I shiver.

I walk slowly along the long hallway, staring down his door as if something horrible would come out. I don't know what his reaction will be. He hasn't seen me since last year.

I inhale sharply when I open the door. Machines are beeping, the whole room is dark and I can barely make out the shape laying on the bed. I start walking toward it and hold my breath.

I switch the light on from the bedside table.

I almost jump back, seeing my father with eyes wide open.

''Dad?'' I try and he moves only so slightly, his eyes reaching my face. Something changes all of a sudden. The atmosphere, the tension, the lack of air in my lungs.

''Stacy?'' He asks hopefully.

I feel tears stream down my face and I realize I'm crying.

''N-no, it's Alexa,'' I tell him.

''Oh, do you know when Stacy will come to see me?''

I can't. I can't be in this room. I can't look at my father this way. I can't hear him talk about Stacy.

I start backing away, tears falling down like waterfalls, my breath hitching.

''Alexa?'' My mom's voice reaches me and I stumble on the ground, forming a little ball full of sorrow and pain.

''Mom he thought I-I was-'' 

''I know sweetheart, I know.'' She cooes, holding me firmly against her. I feel myself shaking. I feel the Earth open underneath me. I feel the world vanish.

I wake up in my bed the next morning, the events of the night before still blurry. I groan, feeling like I could use two whole days of sleep still. But when I look at the clock on my bedside table, I almost have a heart attack. 

I jump out of bed and run downstairs.

''Mom? Mom! Why didn't you wake me up?'' I stop when I see her sitting at our kitchen table, a black coffee in her hands.

''I thought you needed some sleep.'' I nod slowly and try to calm my heart.

''Why aren't you at work?''

''I thought I needed a day off.'' She tries to offer me a smile but I see how broken it is.

''I'm not ready,'' I tell her knowing exactly what she wanted to do. Talk. And that's the last thing I want to do.

''Alright.''

''And I want to go to school.'' I continue.

''Are you sure it's a good idea?'' My mom asks unsure.

''I want to get this out of my head,'' I say looking away. 

''It's not going away if you just avoid it.'' My mom says, rising a little her voice but it barely sounds menacing.

''Can you drive me or do I have to walk?'' I demand but she doesn't have the time to answer, ''On second thoughts I think I want to walk.'' I say and turn around.

''Alexa-''

''Not today mom, not now,'' I mutter, tears burning my eyes but I wipe them off before they threaten to fall.

I take a quick shower and pack all my things before walking back downstairs. My mother isn't there anymore but her car is still in the entryway. I don't steal the car, knowing the walk will give me time to think.