Weightless - Luke Hemmings

Chapter 5.

I swung open the front door, walking straight into Finn.

"Hey look where you're going, loser" he said angrily, before he saw my face. My cheek was swollen, tears pouring down my face.

"R-Rose?" he asked, quieter this time, bending down slightly to get to my height.

"Move." I croaked, pushing him away and sprinting upstairs. I heard him call after me, but I ignored him. I locked the door to the bathroom, crouching beside the sink. I moved my arm around in the cupboard, my hand catching something sharp. I brought my hand up, smiling slightly as the blood trickled down my hand, running down the small creases on my skin before rolling down my arm. I wiped my hand on the floor, smearing red blood on the grey tiles. I returned my hand to the cupboard and it clasped around a bottle. I smiled to myself, pulling my hand out and almost grinning at my treasure. The treasure to finally end this torture.

My hand was wrapped around a bottle of sleeping pills. The seal was still on it, and with trembling fingers I peeled it off. I popped the lid off, tipping the contents of the bottle into my hand. Little white pills flew into my hand, some scattering onto the floor. When I had a handful of the little pills, I threw the bottle at the wall, pills flying everywhere. I raised my hand to my mouth, my whole body shaking.

I swallowed them, and they immediately hit me. My body swayed, my eyes beginning to droop. The room was spinning, my heart beating faster than it ever had. I fell to the floor, crying out as I hit the hard, cold tiles. Slowly, the room disappeared as I lost consciousness.

+

Luke's P.O.V.

"That was a little harsh, don't you think?" I said to Ash, and he laughed.

"The look on her face made it worth it though." he said and I felt my mouth drop a little. I quickly recomposed myself, not wanting to show I cared for her.

Even though I really did.

"What if she goes through with it?" I asked and he lightly hit my arm.

"Aw, Luke have you gone soft on us?" he laughed and I pushed him jokingly.

"No" I said and he smiled victoriously.

"Good. We can't have that now, can we." he said, and even though he was smiling it sounded threatening.

"I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked and he nodded, waving me a goodbye before turning to his phone.

 I turned in the direction of Rose's house, something wasn't right. I could feel it as I made my way towards her house, my head down. I saw Finn, her brother, sitting outside, a cigarette between his lips.

"Hey Luke!" he said, standing up and throwing the cigarette to the floor beside him and putting it out with his shoe. I waved at him, walking towards him, towards the house, towards Rose.

"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?" I asked and he smiled.

"Sure, first door upstairs" he said and I nodded a thank you before running up the stairs. I twisted the door handle, cursing when I found it was locked.

"Rose?" I asked, knocking on the door. No answer. I looked through the crack in the door, but something was blocking the view. I looked around, noticing a small key on top of the door frame. I slipped it into the lock, turning it, and the door swung open. I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth in shock. She was lying in the middle of the floor, tiny white pills scattering the tiled floor. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I crouched beside her.

"Rose, can you hear me?" I asked, shaking her lightly. When she didn't answer, I yelled for Finn. He came rushing up, falling to his knees at the sight of his sister.

"Call an ambulance!" I yelled and he nodded, pulling his phone out. I turned her over, my heart dropping at the sight of her face. Her cheek was swollen, from Ash slapping her, and she had tear stains covering her face. Mascara smudged everywhere, yet she still looked beautiful.

"Rose, can you hear me?" I asked again, with no response.

"What did she take?" Finn asked me, his voice wavering. I looked around, seeing a bottle nearby. I picked it up and read the label.

"Sleeping pills" I whispered, the realisation only just hitting me. The girl I loved was dying in front of me.

I loved Rose.

I loved Rose.

I loved Rose.

I was shaking, clutching her cold hand tightly in mine.

"I-Is she breathing?" Finn stuttered, and I quickly pressed my fingers to her neck.

"She's breathing, her heart's beating. It's okay." I said quietly, my voice shaky. I wasn't sure who I was trying to comfort, myself or Finn.

"This is my fault." He said, as he started crying. Loud sobs left his mouth, terribly private sounds that it felt wrong to be hearing.

"No, it's not." I said. 

It was my fault.

I closed my eyes tightly, wishing this would be over. I tried to convince myself that if I just counted to 10 and opened my eyes, I'd wake up and this would have all been a dream.

1,

2,

3,

It was my fault she was dying.

4,

5,

6,

I should have done something.

7,

8,

I was to blame.

9,

10.

I opened my eyes, bursting into tears when I saw she was still laying beside me. I clung to her hand, willing her to wake up.

The door bell startled us, and Finn sprinted downstairs to open the door. I was frozen, unable to move away from her. Footsteps raced up the stairs, and I turned my gaze to the floor.

Two people in bright uniforms ran in, lightly pushing me out the way. I watched as she was placed onto a stretcher and carried out. Finn pulled me up to my feet, and we followed them. They held the door of the ambulance open to us, so we climbed in without hesitation. Finn hugged me as I watched them hook Rose up to a heart monitor.

"We haven't got a pulse." One of them yelled.

I swear my own heart stopped, as I realised how serious this was. 

"Engage in CPR." Another paramedic called. I closed my eyes, burying my body into Finn. 

In no time, we were outside the hospital and she was wheeled away. I fell to my knees on the gravel path. I pushed people trying to comfort me away, my head buried in my hands.

"Mum?" I heard Finn cry and I looked up. Finn was hugging a short woman with a mass of brown hair. She looked to me her green eyes shedding tears.

"Who's this?" she asked and Finn sighed.

"That's Luke"

"Why is he here?"

"He found her"

"Oh, Luke" she said symapthetically, holding an arm out to join in their hug. Guilt filled me as I hugged them, knowing I was to blame. I was the reason they were in this position, their little girl inside, dying.