I'm With You

Chapter 3

It didn't take long for Mackenzie to fall asleep against Eira after she was finished eating. Eira just held her close, fighting back tears. She desperately wanted to give her sister a life, to give her the opportunities to find a home and a job, to finish her schooling so she could be whoever and whatever she wanted to be in life but they couldn't afford it. She couldn't afford to send Mackenzie to school and Mackenzie quickly pulled herself out of school when she found out that Eira had been starving herself in order to afford school books for her. Eira wished she could afford a doctor for Mackenzie, or afford medicine but she had no idea what kind of medicine to get and it was all too expensive when they needed vital things like sanitary products, food and water. Days would sometimes go by when they got nothing from begging, or their money was stolen.

"I've got you, Mackenzie... now and always... I'm just so sorry I can't do better for you." Eira choked out, holding her tighter and she slowly found herself joining her baby sister in sleep.

It felt like just minutes later when Eira was woken up by something hitting her face and she reached up, touching her forehead to feel that it was rain. The sky had gone from a bright blue to a dark grey and it was only a moment before it started to pour with rain.

"Mac... Mackenzie, we gotta go!" Eira urged, but it was clear that her little sister was struggling. "You have to get up, okay? W-We have to get somewhere dry!" Eira stood up from the ground, Mackenzie having to use the wall to help her up to her feet but she was shaky.

"Eira..." Mackenzie mumbled, but Eira rushed away to shove the dumpsters out of the way, kicking the trash bags to clear a path for her sister since as she was too weak to be able to climb over it all. Eira rushed to grab the blanket, shoving it into the plastic bag with the packaged food and bottles of water and she grabbed hold of her hand.

"We have to go, okay? The park is nearby, we'll go there!" Eira urged, even though they were both drenched already. She had to support Mackenzie as they walked. Eira was feeling dizzy with hunger herself, but she knew already she wasn't going to touch the sandwiches - Mackenzie needed them more than she did.

"I-I'm so cold..." Mackenzie choked out as they walked.

"I know. I am too, but we'll be somewhere dry soon. Just keep walking, okay? Keep going." Eira begged and they finally made it to the park and Eira climbed down towards the river, helping Mackenzie down so she wouldn't slip and she led the way under the bridge. "Sit down here." Eira breathed, helping Mackenzie to lower herself down to the ground and she pulled the blanket out of the bag, throwing it over Mackenzie. "Take your shoes off, they'll dry quicker," Eira instructed, having to help Mackenzie out of her shoes and she set them beside her, and Eira sat down beside her.

"Y-You're shivering," Mackenzie said, opening the blanket for her but Eira just forced the blanket back around her.

"Stop, okay? I'll be fine, just rest... we'll stay here for a while. It's dry here."

"A-And it do-doesn't stink of trash." Mackenzie tried to joke and Eira cracked a small smile, nodding her head.

"Exactly... and when the rain stops, I'll go to a takeout place and try to get us a warm meal. I'll blend right in with the drunks that'll come out at this time on a Saturday night." Eira said, running her fingers through Mackenzie's hair to get it out of her face, both sisters shivering but it was only Mackenzie that had a burning fever.

"Ch-Chicken." Mackenzie choked out and Eira laughed.

"You want chicken? I'll get us chicken, then." Eira vowed, kissing her boiling forehead.

It took hours, but the rain slowly started to clear and Eira left Mackenzie under the bridge and headed to the nearest takeout place. It was only when she was inside the building that she saw the time - it was nearly midnight. Eira ordered Mackenzie some chicken, getting whatever was cheapest on the menu for herself and she got two hot chocolates to keep her and Mackenzie warm. She walked as quickly as she could back to the park, heading under the bridge and her eyes widened when she saw Mackenzie look barely conscious, her eyes only open in small slits. Eira dumped the food, falling to her knees in front of Mackenzie.

"Mac?! Mackenzie, wake up! What... what happened to your shoes? I left them right here!" Eira urged.

"S-Some teenagers wa-walked past... kicked them in the water, thought it was funny... Ei-Eira, it hurts... everything hurts..." Mackenzie choked out, tears running down her cheeks slowly. Her skin was impossibly paler.

"Mac... honey, you have to stay awake for me, okay? I-I don't know what to do! You can't go to sleep, okay?!"

"I-I'm tired."

"I know you're tired, but Mac, please..." Eira sobbed as Mackenzie's eyes drooped closed, not opening again. "MACKENZIE!"

But she didn't stir.

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