Shadow Blood

3

Alex

"Ok I'm ready," I looked up into the mirror," I can do this."

I've been like this for hours in my bathroom, in constant flux between being ready for a new life and downright terrified of leaving home.

I quickly looked from the mirror down into the sink, heavy breaths leaving me, "Holy shit I can't do this."

I could feel it rising, the anxiety, my ability to breath becoming less and less innate.

"Dude, you ok?", someone voiced behind me.

I turned to see my brother Matthias in the doorway, his eyes worried. He quickly made his way to me, putting a firm but gentle grip on my shoulders.

He looked at me, his chocolate brown eyes determined, "Breath."

That was it, one word, but with so much meaning. Matthias was a man of few words, but he cared from what I could tell. He was worried about me, about how I was feeling. He was always there, for the nightmares, to wake me up, to be the shoulder that I cried on. I guess that's what bothers do when you actually need them.

I took a deep breath, then another, until I was breathing normally. Matthias released his grip on my shoulders, ruffling my hair.

"You can do this you know," my brother started looking at his lap, "You are stronger, braver, than you think Alex. I hear you when you scream in your sleep, the things you say I-" he stuttered.

Mg breath hitched, he never told me that I spoke, "What do I say Matt?"

Matt shrugged, "Not much, but you scream about burning, but the screams...Alex it's like you're getting burned alive in there. I don't think I could ever last as long as you do living like that," he chuckles at a thought I assume,"You have been going to school and everything, most times on no hours of sleep and nightmares haunting you even in waking hours. If u can deal with all of that for years I think you can handle a little change of scenery." He chuckled towards the end, I guess finding it funny.

Without a word he smiled at me, getting up to leave. He closed the door behind him, leaving me to get myself together.

******

My parents drove me to the airport, my mom sobbing the whole way. She kept repeating 'I take it back' like it would changed the fact that I'm already enrolled. My dad only consoled her by saying that they will see me every holiday, which only made her sob harder.

I wasn't going to die, Jesus.

When we arrived my father gave me a card with the schools initials on it, saying it was my ticket in, but gave no other explanation. After saying my goodbyes I made my way to my gate, where they had already began to start boarding. Strangely there were only a few people, all of them around my age or a little older. They were probably also going to my school, so I dismissed the thought.

When I boarded and took my seat, someone decided to sit next to me. I turned to see only to be met with a pair of pale blue eyes.

I looked around, seeing nothing but empty seats, yet she decided to take the one next to me, great.

"What family are you from?" she sped out.

"Huh?"

She gave an annoyed sigh, repeating herself slower this time, " What. Family. are you from?"

"I'm, Alejandro Farley, if that's what you're asking..."

She finally took her heated stare off me, a thoughtful look passing over her face, "Farley? Never heard of that family before."

A muddled response flowed from my mouth, "Wh-why does it matter if you've heard of me or my family or not?"

She pointed at the card in my hand, "That means ur important."

With that she got up and walked farther back in the plane, giving me no chance of asking what she meant.

Pushing the questions to the back of my mind, I looked out the plane window, feeling the anxiety quietly bubbling in my stomach.

I just hope I wont regret the change in scenery.