Fragmented ✔️

22. Deadly truths

My thoughts drifted in and out like the tide. I drank and for that split second, the waters of anxiety ebbed away into a peaceful lull. But when I stopped to think, waves came crashing down again.

I held the bottle up to the light from the heater and squinted. Fuck, there was only a dribble left. Reaching down to feel the floor beneath my feet, I searched for my second bottle. It was just as empty. That didn't bode well.

My fingers, numbed by the wintry wind, slipped from the bottleneck and it came clattering to the ground. The bottle rolled away from me but luckily didn't break. That was my cue to go inside. I pulled the blanket tight around my shoulders and zig-zagged across the lawn, unseen by the small crowd in the kitchen.

With a slight detour to the fridge, I poured myself a large cup of water filled with ice cubes. The liquid sloshed over the rim as I spun on my heels.

A high pitch squeal broke through the chatter surrounding me and I flinched. My glass slid between my fingers. Unlike the bottle, it came crashing to the ground and shattered across the tiled floor. The voices stilled, and all heads turned in my direction. I looked towards Liv as she rushed into the room, hands raised.

Shame spiralled through me, but her expression offered nothing but reassurance. She glared at the people snickering behind me and moved forward, her features softening each time she met my gaze.

"No one move. I've got it." She tiptoed over to the cupboard under the sink and pulled out a dustpan and brush.

Frozen amongst thousands of glittering shards, I closed my eyes, concentrating on my heart as it accelerated faster. I didn't feel great. The sound of whooshing took over my thoughts and blocked out the group in the corner. Don't allow them to get to you. They're as drunk as you.

"You alright, Trixie girl? Where you been?" Liv asked, grabbing hold of my upper arm for stability as she stood back up after cleaning my mess.

She faded in and out of focus. Her eyes were glossed over, her makeup smeared across her face, and loose hair escaped her pigtails.

"Just there," I replied, pointing to the arbour in the garden and covered my mouth with my hand as a painful, acidic burp bubbled from my chest and up my throat. "Off to bed." A dull ache sparked on the left side of my head. The pain crept across my skull until it's hooks dug deep inside my brain. I winced to fight it off, but it was pointless. I wanted Matt to hurry back and make me feel better.

"Nonsense. Matt asked me to take care of you." She draped her arm over my shoulders and dragged me towards the stairs. "I have something you can take to perk you up. Come on."

My actions didn't match the words stumbling out of my mouth as I followed her up the stairs. "I don't think that's a good idea."

She simply laughed as I trailed behind, bracing myself against the wall, hoping I didn't fall back. Something didn't seem right, and despite how cold I had been moments ago, sweat collected around my hairline. My stomach spasmed, and I had to halt my steps to catch my breath.

Liv, unfazed, kept going until she reached one of the bedrooms that didn't belong to Matt. She rummaged inside the bedside table and pulled out a blister pack from a generic pill packet. I couldn't read the writing on the side of the box.

"Here, take a couple of these to perk you up." She waved the sleeve of pills under my nose.

"Oh, I don't know. What is it?"

"Just some paracetamol with added caffeine. You'll be fine." She crouched down to a mini-fridge under a desk and threw a bottle of water next to me on the bed. "Something to wash them down. You look peaky."