Sakura, lay lifelessly on the tattered and broken couch, trying to stay conscious long enough to hear her friend's disappointment.
She could only see her gray skinnies and black flip-flops but she knew by that alone that it was Ino; her only truefriend. Everyone else had left once things spiraled downward, but not Ino. She'd seen Sakura at her worst, which was pretty close to this moment.
Things suddenly began to swirl together. All of the bleak colors of the room intertwined until Sakura was engulfed by darkness. She fell into unconsciousness.
"When will you change, Sakura?" the blonde asked to no one in particular, knowing her friend's mind couldn't comprehend anything she'd say to her at the moment.
She's high.
Ino shuffled through Sakura's almost vacant apartment, kicking away empty bottles and lighters. She went into her 'bedroom' and felt she might cry. The sky blue paint was coming off of the walls from decay and from what looked like clawing. There was no bed, only a stained futon and an old blanket, also ruined from god knows how many body fluids.
It was only a few years ago when Sakura was so proud of her apartment, showing Ino with pride all of the rooms and the beautiful view of the city. Ino's eyes teared up, staring out of the cracked window to see the city crying along with her. The raindrops created a lulling sound, to her, only to realize the ceiling was leaking.
"Fuck's sake." Ino spat, untying her light purple jacket from around her waist and zipping up. She couldn't sit around any longer and watch Sakura kill herself. The false promises ended here.
"I can change, Ino, I swear that was my last time."
"I slipped up, alright? I can stop I know I can."
"I don't need help, it's under control, Ino!"
Ino had had all she could take. She stormed towards the door and grabbed the doorknob in anger; taking one last look at her friend…they were practically sisters.
The pale and dangerously skinny Sakura was sprawled out on the couch, mascara running from dried tears. Her chapped lips were ajar, as she breathed in slowly. Her hair was uncombed, yet beautiful. Ino always envied how Sakura could pull of short hair, though she seemed to dye it an outrageous color every 4 months. This time it was pink.
Ino sighed and walked out, not being able to take seeing Sakura in this state.
Will you ever change?
Sakura awoke, hours later from the sound of wind and lightening. She was drenched in her own sweat and water from the storm. It took her a while to pinpoint her surroundings, but then she gathered she was home. Luckily she was nowhere else.
A crack of lightening lit the dark apartment for a second, long enough for Sakura to know she was alone. Hadn't she been somewhere with Ino? She couldn't remember a thing.
It's probably best I don't remember.
A sudden wave of nausea engulfed her as she clutched her stomach and wretched 3 times onto the cold floor. She began to cry, feelings of sickness and despair enveloped her, which usually happened once she was coming off of her drug of choice. She rose from the couch, still holding herself as she tried to make it to the kitchen, the only room where the ceiling had no leaks. Her legs buckled and she fell, though, as she began to sob more. She couldn't move, she was useless; cold, wet, sick, disgusting and useless. She held her knees to her chest and sobbed herself to sleep.
Everyone hates me.
Ino hates me.
I hate me.
She repeated this mantra for an hour until she blacked out again.
I hate me.
Sakura jolted awake, half flailing and half sputtering in the bathtub. She thought she was drowning, only to have the freezing water from the showerhead rain down droplets of needles on her.
"Wha-What?" she croaked out, throat sore from whatever reason. She couldn't remember. Or she wouldn't remember.
"Get up." Said an unusually stern voice.
Sakura opened her red eyes. Her usually gorgeous mint green irises clouded and burning. She saw her friend…her only friend…
"Ino…" Sakura sighed out, reassured that it wasn't someone unwanted in her home.
"I said get up, Haruno." The blonde said emotionless. She then walked out of the bathroom and into the living room.
Sakura's brain tried to keep up with what was happening.
Ino never talks to me this way…she looks so angry, so hurt. Did she put me in here? Shit, my head hurts.
She used a shaky arm to support her from out of the off-white porcelain tub and followed Ino into the living room, uncertainly.
She sat cross legged on the cold, hard floor, noticing the vomit stains on her couch. Ino stood, towering over her. She had no desire to stay in this hell any longer than she had to, or to sit next to Sakura and comfort her. Those days were over. No more useless babying. This addiction was getting out of hand and ruining both of their lives.
"You're getting help. Now pack whatever you have. We're leaving this apartment in 5 minutes."
Sakura let a slight chuckle escape her lips. Was Ino giving her orders? She told her a dozen times she could handle this herself. Who the hell was she to barge into her apartment and tell her how to run her life?
Sakura opened her mouth to object but was cut off by Ino's unexpected domineering voice.
"I don't have time for your bullshit lies or your excuses, Sakura! Either you get your shit and get in my car or you get STRAPPED to my car without your shit! Your choice!" the walls seemed to vibrate from Ino's screams, and Sakura found herself actually shaken by her always fun-loving friend's words.
"I-Ino, I-"
"You what? Can handle it?! Huh?! Either you go with me to get yourself cleaned up and stay cleaned up or…or…" Ino paused, her feelings choking her up, she could feel burning in her throat and stinging behind her eyes.
"Or I'm done with you."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly. Ino couldn't…wouldn't leave her. They'd known each other for 15 years. They were practically blood. No, Sakura couldn't be left by Ino. The others left Sakura alone to die but not Ino. She couldn't lose her, too.
"It's your decision. Your life or the drugs, Sakura." Ino deadpanned, the only sign of sadness visible was the single tear slowly falling down her cheek.
Sakura bowed her head to grasp the reality of what was happening. Leave? To go where, one of those insane rehab facilities? She'd go into shock, she'd have seizures, she'd die! She looked up, ready to protest and throw in the towel until she saw Ino's face.
Ino was more than just a friend to her. She was the girl she could party with all night, dance with, laugh with, drink with, watch movies with…but she was also the shoulder to cry on during those horrible nights of being alone. Through all of the pain. She couldn't just let her friendship wither and die.
"Help me up…" Sakura sighed out shamefully, holding up both of her arms in a pleading fashion.
Ino couldn't help but give a small smile as she grabbed Sakura by her thin wrists and pulled her to her feet.
"3 minutes left, Sakura. Go get your shit."
Ok, new story. I'm trying something new, making Sakura my protagonist. PLEASE review :) it'd mean so much to me, thanks!
