I felt a terrible weight on my shoulders. It was as if a giant boulder laid on them which made me unable to straighten up or catch my breath entirely. A single tear rolled down my cheek. There was a giant hole in my heart and I knew that nothing would ever be the same again. My eyes were puffy from crying because I couldn't stop crying for the the last three months. I was dehydrated, and sore. The rest of the house loomed cold and empty and dark. I pulled an old blanket over my body and stared up at the ceiling. I guess I fell asleep because the next thing I know, it's morning and Sam's banging downstairs on the stove. He makes me eggs and toast and sits there until I've eaten it all. We don't talk much. There isn't anything to be said. After breakfast, Sam cleans up and leaves, but comes back up at dinnertime to make me eat again. He cooks, I consume. I try to figure out my next move. I haven't left the house. I haven't even left my room except to go to the small bathroom a few steps down the hall. I'm in the same clothes I've been in for months.
It was late afternoon when I heard two familiar voices yelling at one another. ". . . she just needs some time," someone said. Astrid. I slowly got up and crossed the room to the half opened window. I looked down to see Astrid and Sam in deep conversation with one another.
"Time?" Sam asked. "Its been over three months. She needs to get back on her feet again."
"She's upset," Astrid began.
"She's depressed," Sam corrected. "I can't stand to see her like this. I want to help her, but-" I slammed the window shut and flopped back onto my bed. I knew that Sam and Astrid were trying to help, but there just wasn't anything anyone could do. Sam was right. I was depressed. I'd had lost my mother years ago. I lost my father when he married that evil witch Cathy. I lost my brother when he decided to run away to god knows where and now I lost Drake. There wasn't anybody left in my life I could turn too. Maybe Sam, but he was too busy running this awful place that he didn't have time for a pathetic loser like me. Maybe Jack, but I had already put him through so much. I had lost everyone.
The next morning I heard a soft knock on my door. I rolled over in my bed and stared up at the clock. It was nearly noon which meant that Sam must have let me sleep in . "Come in," I called. Sam walked into the room, but this time he wasn't carrying a tray of eggs and toast. He sat at the end of my bed, fiddling with his hands until he finally looked me in the eyes.
"We're worried about you," he began. "I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine," I replied.
"No you're not," he argued. "You've been in the same spot for over three months now. When was the last time you've even taken a shower?" We both already knew the answer, so I didn't say anything. I waited for him to say something else, but he didn't.
"You don't understand what I've been through," I whispered.
"You're right," he agreed. "I don't, but I want you to know that I'll always be here for you. Me and Astrid. Astrid and I."
"In case you've forgotten, Blondie isn't too fond of me." I commented.
"That's not true," he disagreed. "She's always been there for me and will be there for you too."
"I appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but there isn't anything you can do to help me." Sam opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Defeated, he stood up and left the room without another word.
The next three days I spent lying in bed on an empty stomach. Sam hadn't made me breakfast or even stopped by to convince me to get off my ass and start doing some work around here. I felt guilty though. I knew that everyone was pulling their own weight around here, but I just wasn't ready yet. I needed more time. I heard a soft knock on my door and knew it could be only one of two people. "Who is it?" I asked.
"Sam," he answered. Sam walked in with a pained expression on his face. "There's someone here to see you."
"Who is it?" I asked.
"You'll have to come and see," he replied. I wasn't sure if this was a trick or not, but my curiosity got the better of me. I slowly got to my feet and followed Sam out the door to the outside. The street was mostly deserted except for a few little kids who were playing soccer. Sam suddenly stopped and I almost bumped into him in the process. I followed his gaze down the street to where a figure starting to walk toward us. I realized there were two figures and as they came into view, I gasped.
"Alexandra," Caine greeted me.
"What the hell is he doing here?" I demanded.
"I asked him to come," Sam replied.
"Why-" I started.
"He'll explain everything," Sam answered.
"Drake's gone," Caine started. "He's been missing for months now."
"What do you mean he's gone?" I asked.
"It all started with the nightmares," Caine continued. "I could hear him screaming almost every night when we arrived back at Coates Academy. About two weeks later, he must have got up and left. I haven't seen or heard from him since."
"Where do you think he went?" I asked.
"I don't know," Caine answered truthfully. "But if he hasn't shown up by now, well he's probably-"
"Dead," I finished. Caine simply nodded. I looked up into his eyes and they seemed somewhat sorry for me. He knew what it was like to be in love, but was love even the right word? Could I actually be in love with Drake Merwin? Now that I thought about it, the story seemed to perfect. Too planned. "I don't believe you." The words rolled off my tongue before I could process what I had just said. Caine was a lier. Everyone knew it, so why wouldn't he just make it all up? I looked over at Diana for the first time knowing that she would tell me the truth. I held my breath as I waited for her to answer.
"Its true," she replied. "Caine is actually telling the truth."