I remember my mother telling me as a little girl that you either loved someone with everything you had, or you didn’t love him or her at all. She told me I could make what I want out of that little statement. I could see it as a blessing or as a curse. Later on in life, I finally realized what she meant. It didn’t really hit me until I saw a boy around the age of eighteen sobbing over an empty bed. An empty bed in a hospital was never a good thing. I remember getting up from my bed in the adjacent room, and walking over to where he was clingy onto the fresh bed sheets. I heard him mutter come back over and over again before I actually gained the courage to walk into the room.
My family was getting food in the cafeteria, so there was no one there to stop me. I touched his shoulder gently, and forced him to release his death grip on the sheets. He started to cry harder and practically tackled me when he hugged me. I became his lifeline in that moment. As he grieved, I used whatever little breath I had left and cried with him. I finally saw how loving someone could be a curse.
I still wanted to believe that loving someone with everything you had was worth the heartbreak in the end, so I asked him a question once he had settled down. I remember how his face lit up just the tiniest bit when I asked him if it was worth falling in love with a sick girl. He laughed a little, and said it wasn’t worth it; it was worth a hell of a lot more. She made him feel complete, and while now he was lost half, he’d do it all over again just for those few years with her.
That day I vowed that I would love with all my heart and soul even if the heartbreak was inevitable. The man, Grant, became like a second big brother figure in my life that day. I helped him mend his shattered heart, and the stories he told me about Mabel gave me the fight and hope that I needed to stay strong. Maybe that’s why when I showed up to school my first day back, and saw Owen kissing another girl; I called Grant.
* F L A S H B A C K *
“Look little sis, I need you to swear to me you’re not going to do anything else reckless and stupid.” Carson had locked his car doors to try and make me stay while he gave me a ‘lecture.’ It was amusing, because I could just unlock the door manually and leave, but I decided I’d humor him. I owed him that at least.
“I swear.” I put my hand over my heart for dramatic effect.
“Good, don’t try and ruin my reputation anymore than you’re little stunt already did.”
“And to think I thought you were worried about my safety.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. Carson is such a good brother. Note the sarcasm.
“I’m serious. People are going to start wondering what exactly made you have to go to the hospital. You don’t want to get pity, because you’re the sick girl, and I don’t want to be known as the sick girl’s older brother. I love you to pieces, but I don’t want to live in your shadow anymore than I do at home.” I sent him a look to show how much that hurt me.
“You don’t live in my shadow, Car.”
“That’s what you think. Ever since you got sick, it’s always been all about you. I know it’s not your fault, but you’re not sick anymore and yet it still happens.”
“I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. I just stared down at my hands in my lap.
“Don’t sweat it, Ev. Just know this is my domain, don’t try and steal it.” He made me look up at him, and then winked. I smiled at him, and he let me leave his car. Brothers these days, I swear.
“Boo!” I practically pissed myself when Nolan yelled in my ear behind me. I was only a few feet from Carson’s car, so I wasn’t expecting Nolan to be right there.
“Jesus, Nol, you’re gonna give a girl a heart attack.” I put my hand on my heart, but not for dramatic affect. My heart was racing and I was a little nervous if it could handle the shock or not. I was still healing from the impromptu run and transplant.
“Oh, don’t be such a baby, Evelyn.” Nolan rolled his eyes. I decided to let it go, since he didn’t know about my condition.
“Where’s Connor?”
“He’s waiting for us over at their car.” Nolan grabbed my arm and practically dragged me to his boyfriend’s car. I was practically jumping in my boots excited to see Owen.
“Oh god.” Nolan whispered, and I looked up just before he stepped in my line of sight.
I saw Owen heavily making out with some redhead, and I practically felt my heart shatter. We weren’t official, but I thought I meant something to him. I guess I was wrong. When Nolan noticed I saw them, he walked over to the making out couple, and pulled the redhead away from Owen. He socked Owen right in the jaw, before dragged me away from the heart-wrenching scene.
He kept trying to get me to talk to him, but I just stared away into the distance. I faintly was aware when Connor joined our little group, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak or care. I was so confused and hurt. Owen had just betrayed me, and I thought we were on our way to being boyfriend and girlfriend. Turns out I was so wrong.
I ignored Nolan and Connor all together and grabbed my cell phone from my back pocket. There was only one person who could even come close to understanding what I was going through right now.
“Hey, kiddo.” Grant had picked up on the second ring.
“He left.” I could barely get those words out, but apparently my whisper was loud enough for Grant to hear.
That was all it took for Grant to get permission to pick me up from school. I was falling in love with Owen Forbes, and he had just broken my heart.
I feel like y'all are gonna hate me for this chapter. It's been almost 20 days since my last update (sorry i was busy with vacation) and when i come back it's with an upsetting chapter. Sorry, but i felt like this needed to happen. Anyways, hope y'all liked it even if it upset y'all! I'm back for regular updating too, btw.
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Heart Stopping
Teen Fiction"You make it to where I can't breathe." "And that scares you?" "It brings back old memories." --- At the beginning of her sophomore year, Evelyn Stevens was diagnosed with a heart condition. Now, it's her junior year and a certain boy makes it feel...
