everything was gold

sunshine

I was worried about Dan. Whenever I was with him, things were looking up. Until, of course, he did the inevitable. He left me.

It had been nearly two weeks since he ran from my house. He never showed up at school. I passed his house plenty of times to see no lights on. No signs of life.

I lived my regular life. Went to school, hung with my friends, PJ, Chris, Louise, Alfie, and Zoe.

"You're gonna what?" PJ shouted.

"Shhh! It's fine. I'm just going to look around his house, check the windows and stuff. Maybe Dan's in trouble! He needs me," I insisted.

PJ smirked. "I think it's quite the opposite. You need him."

"Why would I need him?" I replied.

"Ever since the whole mom thing, you've been off. I know it's been years, but I know how much you care about him."

Maybe I did. Maybe I cared about him. That's my motivation in all of this.

I crossed my arms. "So what if I do? I'm just being a decent person."

PJ chuckled, saying, "sure, sure."

As if stomped off, I heard him yell. "Good luck, Phil!"

I rolled my eyes and yelled in response. "Thanks, Peej."

After a few minutes of silent walking, I mumbled, "I'm gonna need it."

I wondered why he was scared to be around me. We'd been so close, hugging, smiling. All before...

That was it.

His mother.

——————————

i was broken.

Phil can't see me. ever again. and if that means no more school until the year ends, then so be it. this is the last year of high school anyway. then, I can avoid him until I move away.

i was dead cold.

i stumbled out of bed and opened the hatch to the house. i leaped through the opening and shut it. time to explore the fridge for the remainder of the day.

i'd lost track of days.

stuffing my face with cake and pizza rolls, I didn't have a care in the world.

i miss Phil.

and, with that, I slapped myself in the face. 4 times, 5 times, 6 times. until I felt something.

that should do it.

i packed up half the contents of the kitchen and sulked up the stairs to the latch. there. i sullenly climbed through it and shut myself off from the world. much better.

——————————-

I rang the doorbell.

After a solid 30 seconds, I did it again. I frowned. Where else could he be? It wasn't like he was a social guy. He had to be inside. I peered down below me and saw a welcome mat. Haha.

Sliding the mat away from the door, I saw a small key. Perfect!

I opened the door and quietly shut it behind me. Careful not to make a sound, I crept through the dark house. Even though it was only 4:30pm, every room looked as though it was midnight. Thick, black curtains covered every window. Minimal furniture was strewn across the beige carpet.

I wondered why it was so sad there. I pulled several curtains away from the windows and began creeping through the remainder of the house.

Where is Dan? I pondered, checking each room thoroughly. Soon, I came to the last door. Curiosity took over me. As I shuffled to the black-painted door, I expected a casual room, with Dan in it. What I least expected was a room full of gold.

When I say full, I mean full.

The bed shimmered in a thick coat of it. The carpet was glazed over in layers upon layers of it. The bedside table, the academic trophies, the comic books. Everything. Covered in gold.

Stunned, I stumbled back. I fell to the floor just outside the room.

Then where could Dan possibly be?

I shut the door, breathing heavily. I was confused as ever. Maybe even sympathetic. Something very strange was going on, and I just wanted to know what it was.

Still low to the ground, I slumped all the way down. Staring at the ceiling, I saw a small square-shaped cutout. An attic.