Always Connected

Chapter 1- Roadtrip to adulthood

I sit by the window glancing at the house across the street. My eyes are mainly focused on the window at the top right corner. I can see the young boy standing there smiling at me. But I know he isn't there, he hasn't been for years. The imagination of young little Mason fades as I rub my tears away. The only thing I see now is the darkness outside. The street lights are off, the only thing lighting up the dark night is the light casting off the moon.

Lately, I've had some trouble sleeping. Every time I close my eyes and drift off, the only thing I see is my mom. I wasn't there to say goodbye when she left this world nor where my dad.

She died all alone in a hospital room, without saying her farewell. We all knew she could die at any moment, but we didn't expect her to die so soon. It's hard seeing your mom lifeless, and your dad crumbling right in front of you. I was only 10 at the time of her death. That was the worst year of my entire life. Mainly because my mom died and my dad was broken, but also because my best friend moved in the middle of my chaos. He was everything to me, he meant everything. I lost two important people that year, and I even lost a bit off my dad too.

I can hear the faint sound of my door creaking and the heavy footsteps entering my room. I can tell it's my dad by the reflection in the window.

"You couldn't sleep?" he questions.

"No," I reply without turning around.

He takes a seat beside me at my bay window and wraps his arms around me caringly. I sob into his chest while he stays silent,

I know he's thinking about mom.

"You're mom would be so proud of you. And so am I. I'm glad you got into Harvard. I just hope you know that whatever you do I'll always be proud off you. I know it sounds cheesy, but I mean it."

"I know," My sentence is short, but I hope he can hear the care in my voice.

A few seconds off silence passes before I decide to ask him something I've asked him so many times before but never gotten an answer to.

"Do you ever wonder what happened to the Colemans?" I can feel him tensing up. He follows my stare out of the window. His heart races as he's staring at the house.

"You haven't talked to Mason have you?" He questions with worry in his voice.

"No, not ever since he left." Pain flashes through me as I finish the sentence. I remember everything like it happened yesterday.

Mason lived across the street from me. Our parents knew each other very well, they go way back, just like Mason and I did. I was sad that he and his family had to move, but what really broke me was that ever since they moved seven years ago, I've never talked to him or his family ever. They were gone, and it felt like they never existed.

Every time I think about it, it gives me a headache. And I end up thinking about it all night. It's like the memory of him doesn't let me sleep, it haunts me in a way.

"Dad, can I take a sleeping pill?" I ask, almost begging. My dad doesn't like that I sometimes have to take pills to have a peaceful sleep. I can tell he's contemplating whether he should allow it or not.

"Fine, but only because tomorrow's going to be a stressful day. And you need all the rest you can get." He gives me a small kiss on the head, before exiting my room with a smile I can tell is forced.

I glance over at the house across the street one last time, before hurrying over to my bed. I grab the small bottle with pills from my bedside table, and fish one out before gulping it down with tons of water.