One Step Closer to Gone: Amber

Chapter 6

   Everyday after dinner, Tyler would go into his own dorm. Isaiah was always with his girlfriend, Hope, so Tyler was alone. He didn't come to the girls' dorm with Josh to hang out, either.

   Josh wanted to be with Marli, Minzy, and me, but he decided the best thing to do at the time was to be.with Tyler. He wanted to make sure nothing traumatic happened again.

   I know Josh was just trying to be responsible, but I missed him. Im missed being able to tell him my secrets. The secrets I couldn't tell Minzy, because she would already know without me having to tell. I had to get it out somehow, so I went to Josh.

   The nightmares that Minzy and I had been having were pretty confusing at the time. And I get how they can be hard to understand.

   Minzy never spoke about it to anyone but me, and even then the subject hardly ever came up. She knew I had to get it out somehow, so she told me that I could tell Josh if I needed to.

   So I did.

                             * * *

   "Josh? Can I tell you something?" I hesitated. We were walking to Dance class together like we always do.

   "Of course." I noticed the hint of relief behind his words. He must've been glad that his mind would be focusing on something other than Tyler for a while.

   "About the screaming... Minzy's and mine..." I looked down, avoiding eye contact.

   "Go on." he sounded curious, but worried at the same time.

   I sighed. Say what you want. Say what you want. That part of the song Boy In Luv by BTS played repeartedly in my mind.

   "The reason behind the screaming every morning and night," I looked up at Josh, "is because Minzy and I have dreams. Nightmares. In mine, I can't find any of you. I'm alone and scared and shadows." A tear rolled down my cheek. "The shadows are always the worst part. They follow me. They chase me. I try to run away but I can't. They always catch me. They surround me and swallow me into their world of pitch black nothingness."

   "D-do you know why?" We had stopped. We stood in the hallway looking at eachother, fear in my eyes, and worry in his.

   "No. But I think the dreams mean something." Josh looked at me, confused. "Well, because... Of Tyler..." I looked away from Josh's blue/gray eyes. No one enjoyed bringing up Tyler's issues.

   "Maybe it's just a coincidence?" he shrugged, trying to hide his fear of losing his friends.

   "I doubt it." I sulked. "If it was, Tyler wouldn't have decided to take one more step."

   "What do you mean?" Josh shifted, obviously uncomfortable.

   I looked at Josh with a pained expression.

   "Josh, I know why he fainted." I turned and ran to class, avoiding being asked on the subject. I promised, I thought. I promised. Another tear escaped my eye, as I hurried off to class.