It Started With A Concussion ✔️

Chapter 34

June 18, 2018 had to be the worst day of my life.

Five painful years later and it doesn't hurt any less knowing that on that day, the only thing filling my ears was the sound of the heart monitor going flat.

My sister was laying in that hospital bed. Dead.

Tyler, Elliot, and I were being forced out by the nurses because she was abruptly crashing and they needed us out.

But I wasn't leaving, I was fighting back. I remember all the nurses and doctors entering her room, trying to figure out what was going on and help her.

They tried everything they could. That's what my parents said. For years I believed that was a lie, that they didn't do everything they could've to save her.

But I had to come to terms that she was gone. And I've barely done that. I wake up every morning and the first thing I see when I step out of my room is her door.

The room she used to occupy, with the butterflies tapestries, pink walls, princess bedspread. Everything was left the same.

So that's where I sat early this morning, in her room with my back against the door. I can't think straight as I remember everything about her.

Her fair skin, prominent blue eyes from my dad, light brown hair from my mom. She was so, so pretty, funny, and happy. And she was so young.

Eight years of age, freshly out of the third grade when her heart stopped.

"You know Nat. You would've had so much fun this year with us. We would finally all be in the same school together and you would've made so many friends as our little freshman." I spoke into the empty room.

"Hannah and Kayla would've loved you. Tyler and Finn would definitely point you in the wrong direction to class." I tried making a joke but my voice was barely a whisper, feeling like I'm talking to myself.

Which I am. The air in this room is a void as I call out for a response from her, and I just hope she's listening.

"You would've been the second picture for your class' yearbook photos. You would be after this boy named Landon Adams. When I was putting it together I imagined you there. I imagined you there with us, experiencing everything."

My voice was breaking as tears rolled down my face. "I miss you so much Nat."

A knock at the door pulls my attention away. I barely have enough strength to scoot out of the way before the door opens.

When I see Tyler's face I become a complete wreck. "Em..." He crouches down in front of me.

"It's so unfair." I cry as he pulls me into a hug.

"I know Em. I know." he whispers to me, rubbing my back.

I don't know how long we sit there as I cry. He keeps his composure which is a huge help because I'm a mess. He comforts me all day and keeps me sane as we visit her grave and mourn.

With everything going on today I don't expect my phone to be blowing up. I checked it sporadically throughout the day, but all I see is texts from Eric. He's been bombarding me with messages all day. I thought he knew what today was, but I guess not.

I haven't responded and I don't plan to. The day begins to end as the sun starts to set. I'm sitting on the couch when my phone buzzes again.

When I see that it's a text from Eric I feel like I'm about to be more mad than I am sad. I'm about to click the message and open them to tell him to fuck off when I hear a honk outside.