What's eating you?

Chapter 22

*Jack'y POV*

It took us four hours to pack up the whole house. Box after painfully heavy box, had to be carried out and loaded into the truck, me being the useless lump on a log, was to weak to carry anything super heavy, so after everything light was already put into the truck, I had to sit back and just 'relax'. But of course I couldn't do that. I paced around the house for a good hour before I was able to sit down and try to focus on what was to come. 

"We are done!" My dad threw his arms above his head as he busted in through the front door. My mother flashed a exhausted smile and ran her fingers through her unkempt hair.

"Thank goodness!" I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm so exhausted!" My father plopped down on the edge of the truck next to me. He placed a heavy arm around my shoulders and smiled. " You where such a big help today." I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"I sure was." I mocked in a high pitch tone. " Any maybe tomorrow morning, I'll be a big help in saving the world!" My mom gave a slight grin.

"You never know." She grabbed my hand and pushed off the edge of the truck. " We better get going, it's going to get dark, and you both know how much I hate driving in the dark." My heart seemed to pick up the pace inside my chest. I was only moments away from leaving the home I once knew and loved.

"Can I have one more look around?" I still hated the sound of my voice. Before my sickness, I sounded like a normal teenager, but ever since I got sick, I sounded like a fragile old woman.

"Sure, but no more tears! I can't take it." My dad threw his hands over his eyes and force a fake sob.

"Whatever dad." I teased. I gently pushed open the front door and drew in a shaky breath.

I smiled at the empty living room, this was where I took my first steps, where me and my brother sat up all night waiting for Santa Clause. This is the place where I laid when I was sick, or upset, or just to bored to make it to my room.

"Happy 17th birthday, Jacky!" 

"Thanks Darren."

I could see a faint outline the balloons, the cake, the old decorations of my last birthday with my brother. I wonder what it would be like to go back seven months ago. What would my family be like?  To never have lost my brother, too never suffer with a eating disorder. How would it feel just to be normal again?

"Move it Jacky! We got a long way to go!" My mother called from the front door.

"Okay mom, just give me a second." I walked down the now empty hallway and stood in front of my room. I gently pushed open the door and sucked in a hard breath.

Hey there fatty. I seen you've been eating? Shame, you where so close to being perfect.

She sat in the middle of the floor twirling a single perfect strand of hair around her finger. Her skin  a flawless glowing color, a voice like rain softly hitting a glass window.

"You're not me." I my voice was weak and feeble.

Yes I am, and you know. I am a part of you like Tate, like Jaz, like Darren.

Her voice  no longer sounded like  soft rain beating on a window, but now sound like shattering glass.

"No you're not." I spoke in a low even tone.

Whatever, you'll come crawling back to me, and next time there will be no escape, you are me, and I am you.

I slammed the door shut and quickly spun on my heels. Her wicked laugh still ringing heavily in my ears. It felt as if the house was suddenly collapsing around me. I kicked open the front door and pulled it shut and jumped into the truck next to my dad.