Amelia had everything- family, friends, a promising future- the sky was the limit. But just like that everything was taken from her. One moment she's planning her high school graduation party the next she's laying on a therapist's couch. It was as i...
I quietly sat at the top of my stairs with the hall light off, hiding myself. My Aunt Regina and Uncle Chris were speaking to each other downstairs at the kitchen table. The house was empty, all except for the three of us.
All I could see was the weak light from the kitchen illuminating the floor along with their black silhouettes. Their voices bounced off the walls, echoing perfectly clear back to me. My aunt spoke first. Her voice filled with unbearable emotion.
"I can't believe that something like this could happen..." she trailed off. I could hear the anguish build up in her voice. My stomach churned in the most unsettling way imaginable. "Oh god, Chris, that poor girl!" Regina sobbed.
Tears began rolling down my cheeks as I continued to listen. I shouldn't be listening. But, I couldn't physically move my body from that spot even if I tried. It was as if my body had permanently rooted itself to the top step.
"What are we going to do?" she asked her husband.
My Uncle Chris spoke in a deep tone, "The last thing my niece needs to think about is the arrangements for the funeral. Mason and I will take care of everything, all I want her to do is focus on her future. Poor kid, it's going to take a while for her to come back to reality."
My hands gripped the stair railing tighter until my knuckles were white. Funeral? Focus on my future? What kind of future do I have now?
"I remember Steven speaking about Amelia going off to college at the end of the summer," Chris said.
The sound of my father's name being said caused me to grab my chest as though I'm searching for a pulse. Why couldn't I seem to find one that was steady?
My lungs were burning from the lack of oxygen from my inconsistent breathing. Instead of trying to take in more air, all I could do was swallow my internal agony.
"Is this what it feels like to burn alive?" I wondered. Your heart starts to beat rapidly in your chest while you experience a fire spreading through your lungs until it reaches up your throat. You're unable to speak, call out for help. Instead you're forced to feel the overwhelming flames scorch and lick away at your flesh until you're nothing but a pile of ash.
But, there comes a moment. Just when you think you're going to die from the unbearable heat, out of nowhere, comes the cold. A mind numbing cold that makes all the muscles go limp to the point where you feel like you are floating. How peaceful.
"I think it's best for her to finish out her senior year at the high school. Until then I think it's best if she stays with us," Regina explained.
Chris agreed, "You're right. Amelia is almost finished with her exams, all that's left is graduation. After the ceremony I'll start moving her into our place."
"You don't belong with Regina and Chris . You don't belong here," the voice in the back of my head was screaming at me. "Let go, Amelia. You can end this horrible feeling forever. All the painful memories, the sorrow, and the loneliness. All you have to do... is let go."
Without thought or hesitation I felt the railing slip from my hands as I fell forward.
Everything went dark.
My name is Amelia Peterson. I was only eighteen years old when I lost everything.
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Hey Everyone! I am so excited to say this story is completed- but I'm still constantly going through it and making edits. Fun fact about this story was that it all started out from a 'what-if' scenario and has taken off from there. Some of these characters are based off of real people while others aren't. Enjoy the story!
