Dark or Light?

Chapter 15

It’s Monday morning. I haven’t talked to ANYONE since Friday night. I have way too many texts from Henry to count, but I haven’t responded to any of them. He’s called a lot, too. Left a voice mail every time. I haven’t even talked to my parents. They have no clue what happened. All they know is that Gemma, Elane, Neil, Shay, and Henry keep stopping by to see if I’ve left my room or talked to either of them. They’ve stopped by every day and have tried to get me to come out, but after what I did, I deserve the solitude. I should be locked up. I nearly killed a girl! But today, I have to leave my room and my house.

            I pull my phone off the charger and text Gemma and Elane. “Need a ride?”

            I get dressed while I wait for 1 of them to respond. After a couple minutes, Elane responds. “Holy shit! You’re alive! What happened to you, Friday? And what was up with you, all weekend?”

            She was there? Why is she asking me that? “What are you talking about?”

            “Well, after that whole incident with Kailey and Henry, you fainted, came to, ran off to the girls’ locker room, looked yourself in, turned on all the water, and sat under it until Henry busted through the door and tried to pull you out.”

            She’s forgetting one crucial part. I almost killed Kailey. “Tried?”

            “Yeah. But you fought him and ran out of the school. We never would have known that you made it home safe if I hadn’t sent your dad a text, asking about it.”

            I remember all of that, but I wasn’t in control, again. It was Samolio. Did I dream about strangling Kailey? It felt so real, but it could’ve been a dream. “Did I do anything else that was out of character, Friday night? Like hurt someone, badly or something like that?”

            “No. Why?”

            “I don’t know. Just asking.” It must’ve been a dream. Had to be.

            “So… why haven’t you talked to anyone until today? Why’d you lock yourself away?”

            “My bats were going crazy. It was total chaos in my mind. I didn’t want any of you to be subjected to that. I wouldn’t have been much fun to be around. You know how I can get.”

            (Bats: negative thoughts that make you question everything that’s good in your life and a huge part of depression. They come suddenly with no warning.)

            It isn’t exactly a lie. All of that had triggered my bats. That really was another reason why I locked myself in my room.

            “Yeah. But now you have Henry in an epic panic. He’s been freaking out, all weekend.”

            “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to look at him, today, without crying. He actually questioned whether I was telling him the truth or not. There was doubt in him that I hadn’t done the things Kailey said I did. I don’t know if I can make it through the day without crying.”

            “Then don’t come to school. Gemma and I can find a different ride.”

            “No. I’m still coming. I’m not skipping a day of school unless I’m hospitalized for some reason and I still might try to come.”

            “Alright, GG. I’ll be waiting outside.”

I smile. “I’m not a GG and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”