Bright-Tom Holland

*real life*

A LITTLE UNSTEADY

Josie has only ever had one death in her life and that was her father all those years ago. Now she had two and the second was much more recent. And much, much worse. Her phone had been going off like crazy, but the only call she had answered was her brother's because he had needed her. Other than that she didn't want to talk to anyone. Not her friends, and certainly not Tommy. Not because she didn't want to hear his voice or theirs. She didn't want to talk to anyone. If she talked, the talking would turn to tears, and the tears would then turn into uncontrollable sobs.

All she could do was lie on the bathroom floor and stare at the ceiling. She couldn't even remember the last time she ate. She honestly didn't care. It's not that she had wanted to die. She. Just. Didn't. Care.
Then there was rapid knocking on her door.

"Go away," she began quietly. The knocking persisted and she groaned and yelled much louder this time. "Go away!" Finally, the knocking stopped and she sighed in relief. But that relief didn't last long. She could hear a key turning in the lock as several pairs of footsteps entered her dorm room. Great. Josie slung an arm over her eyes as tears sprung to her eyes.

"Love. Please look at me." An unmistakable voice said quietly. He didn't want to startle her. How sweet.

She took her arm from her eyes slowly and looked at Tom with bleary eyes. "Tommy." Her face began to contort in sadness. Pure and utter sadness. He then cradled her in his arms, not caring if she had showered or not. All he cared about was the girl in his arms. The girl that was so broken his heart began to shatter into pieces.

"It's ok, love. It's all going to be ok." He whispered into her ear over and over again. An attempt at consoling the girl. Her friends had tears in their eyes as they watched the exchange. Tom carried her to her bed and sat down while holding her still.

"It's not ok. It will never be okay ever again." She said, her voice ragged. Olivia gasped and ran over to her and Tom. And Tom looked utterly heartbroken. The girl he had begun to care for had given up. Which to be fair, was understandable.

"Tell them, Josie." Olivia already knew what had happened. When Josie has locked her out and Olivia had asked her why, all Josie could get out was, "She's dead."

"I got a call about two weeks ago from the hospital my mom went to for chemo. Um, they said that she... she, um. Died. My mother is dead." Josie had finally been able to get the words out. She finally told her friends. Her mother was dead.

"Oh, baby. Look at me. I am so sorry. You of all people do not deserve what's happened to you." Tom looked at the girl in his arms with intense sincerity.

"How do you know that? How can you know that?" She was looking Tom in the eyes now, her eyes red and puffy.

"I know because I know you. We all do. You are stronger than you know. And you will get through this. I promise you."