Chapter 4 -PSTD
I own NOTHING in this story. The only own the one character and the plot, and said character hasn't even made an appearance yet.
Everything belongs to Square Enix. EVERYTHING
I apologize in advance for any discomfort that you may feel in this story, and if it brings up any bad memories that relate to you in anyway.
You have been warned.
To start out I want to explain what PSTD is. PSTD is simply this- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an intense physical and emotional response to thoughts and reminders of the event that last for many weeks or months after the traumatic event. The symptoms of PTSD fall into three broad types: re-living, avoidance and increased arousal.
Symptoms of re-living include flashbacks, nightmares, and extreme emotional and physical reactions to reminders of the event. Emotional reactions can include Feeling guilty, extreme fear of harm, and numbing of emotions. Physical reactions can include uncontrollable shaking, chills or heart palpitations, and tension headaches.
Symptoms of avoidance include staying away from activities, places, thoughts, or feelings related to the trauma or feeling detached or estranged from others.
Symptoms of increased arousal include being overly alert or easily startled, Difficulty sleeping, irritability or outbursts of anger, and lack of concentration.
Now without further ado, I begin this sad, twisted and DEPRESSING chapter.
"Sora, what's wrong? Why don't you want me to leave?" he said, worry pasted on his face like paint on paper.
Before I could answer, I started shaking uncontrollably, and then started to cry for some reason.
"Sora, you have to tell me what wrong. You haven't done this since mom and dad died 5 years ago. And if that means that this a repeat of that, that means- Shit, Sora you have to tell what's wrong, like now!" he said asking completing in control the situation.
*FlashBack*
"Sora, if you and Cloud behave, when we get back, we'll get you some Cotton Candy ice cream. I know it's your favourite flavor, Sora. And Cloud, don't think I forgot your favourite flavor. It is… Butterscotch Ripple with Cotton Candy Sprinkles." Dad said with a grin.
"Now if you need anything, Cloud there's money on the kitchen counter for Chinese food, or something else, cause I know you're not too fond pizza because of last time. Cloud, if there's any problems; you have our cell phone numbers if you need us." Dad told us.
It's actually amazing that these people are our parents. We look nothing alike. Mom, with her brown hair, which seemed to always be in high pony tail, with a blue dark ribbon holding it together. And dad with his obelisk black hair, half the time it was spiky and the other half the time it covered his right eye. With my blonde highly spiky hair that never seemed to behave and Sora's hair blonde with a dark brown undertone.
See what I mean?
Mom and Dad left at around 7:30pm and now it was 9:00, and I was getting kinda hungry. I called Sora down from his room.
"Sora, come out of your room and help me decide what to get for dinner. And don't even bother trying to tell me that you're not hungry, because if I can hear tummy growl through my headphones and reading my book, I know you're hungry." I state, cutting through the bull-crap at the start.
I don't know how he's always hungry. The kid eats and eats and eats. And he still stays so thin.
I remember one that I was called from class into the office because of this. Sora was in the office eating a whole tray of food from the lunchroom in the office chair. I was then called in to the principal's office. Mr. Mikky.
Although because I was good student, and always helped in the office in the mornings; he allowed me to call him by his first name. Lea.
"Am I in trouble ?" I asked, scared for the answer. I don't know why I was afraid; I knew that I had nothing to fear because I'm a good student, in fact one the best and well behaved kids in the 7th grade.
"Call me Lea, like we agreed. And no, you're not in trouble. I actually called you down here to here to talk about your brother, Sora. And no, before you ask, he's not in trouble, either. I've called you down here because it seems like there might trouble at home for Sora. You might have noticed as you walked in the office that Sora was eating the tray of food I had my Aide bring in. He's acting like he doesn't eat at all at home. And I'm very worried about him." Lea stated with a very dead serious tone in his voice.
As soon he finished talking, I BURST out laughing at this accusation.
"Cloud, why are you laughing at this very serious matter?" Lea stated, with a hint of red starting to creep onto his face.
"I'm sorry about laughing. But, boy do you have this situation totally wrong. It's actually quite the opposite. Sora here eats more than the rest of my family. And before you ask sir, I don't know why he's this skinny, if you noticed that he never wears jeans or jean shorts, only drawstring shorts and sometimes sweats. The reason for this because he can't gain weight, no matter what he eats. Jeans are also too big for him, even the child size ones. I don't know why it doesn't affect me, even though we're twins. And believe me WE FEED him. And the doctors don't know why this is happening. I personally think that is has to do with an outta-whack metabolism and some super seriously messed up genes." I explained with ease.
After that little episode in the principal's office, I've trained my ears to pick up on Sora's stomach noises ever since.
"Sora, if you don't get down here in 30 seconds, I'm ordering without you, and you'll be stuck with what I order, like it or not." I yelled up the stairs, while continuing to read my book.
And in .5 seconds, Sora was standing in front of me, with arms behind his head, like always. And that stupid looking grin of his, plastered on his face.
"O.K, so I'm thinking Chinese tonight. I want Sesame Chicken, with White Rice, Crab Rangoo, and a large order of Lo Mein Noodles, and extra Sesame Sauce. Ohh, please and thank you." Sora says quickly, and turned on his heel to leave the room.
"Works for me. I was actually hungry for that too. O.K, so I'll just call them, and then I'll call you back down when it's here." I said, "Wait, come back here Sora. Are you actually wearing jeans?! Like denim jeans?!" I asked in amazement.
"Yea I am. I can't believe it. The scale says that I weigh 110, but I feel lighter than that though. I really like these jeans, and the fact that I can actually wear them now. I hope you don't mind though, that these are yours." He said beaming with happiness, with a slight tone of embarrassment.
"Sor, why would I be mad? The fact of the matter is that you're wearing jeans. If it makes you feel better, those are my favourite pairs of jeans, so take good care of them for me." I said with smirk of my own, and a wink.
After Sora left the room, I called my favourite Chinese food place of all time. The Sakura Tree.
"Thank you for calling Sakura Tree, how may I help you?" a friendly voice asked over the phone.
I gave him the order.
"Yes, I was wondering of two larger orders of the Sesame Chicken, with White Rice, Crab Rangoo, and a large order of Lo Mein Noodles, and extra Sesame Sauce. Please?"
"Is this the Ayo family?" He asked in quizzical tone.
"Yes it is." I said.
"OK. Just making sure. We have your card and address on file. Saying that, would you like to use cash or card?" He asked routinely.
"Cash, please."I answered.
"OK. Your order will be there in 15 mins, or less, or it's free. Thanking for choosing Sakura Tree for your meal. Have a nice night." He said then hung up the phone.
As I waited in the living room, reading a book, with YouTube on the TV. I heard a knock on the door. No later than I already half way to the door, it opens up, and I see our Uncle Victor.
"I need you to go get Sora for me. Pack a bag with enough clothes for a couple days. We need to go somewhere, and then I'll explain. And Cloud, please don't ask any questions, just do it, please?" Victor asked.
I did as Uncle Victor asked, and went to get Sora from our room. I opened the door, and saw Sora sleeping, as usual. I went to turn on the lights, since even an earthquake couldn't wake him up. In fact if someone other than me or mom and dad woke him up, there would be hell to pay. So let's not. I left him sleeping as I went to pack his and my bag. I grabbed his favourite shirts and a couple of shorts and boxers for him. And for me the only pair of skinny jeans I own and even they were too big for me. And a bunch of other shirts I randomly took from the closet.
As soon as that task was done, I immediately went to get Sora up from his slumber.
"Sora, you need to wake up. Now!" I told him as I shook him from side to side, grabbing his shoulders.
"Alright, I'm up. What's wrong?" He asked with a grim face.
'Damn that twin empathy' I mentally swore.
"Nothing, but Uncle Victor is here. I don't know why he's here. We are leaving for a couple days. "I explained to him, lying through my teeth.
"Okay just let me get some clothes packed, and then I'll be done and ready." Sora, said trying to sound hopeful.
You see; no one in my family likes Uncle Victor, for some reason or another. Sora and I just think he's an ass, plain and simple.
"Don't bother with that, I let you get extra sleep, so I took care of the clothes. All you need to do is change your clothes and grab the phones, chargers, computers, some books, you know which ones, and the mp3's, and while you do that, I'll get the bathroom stuff, and meet you downstairs with him." I told what he needed to, and no sooner than that, he was already on it, and over half way done with getting everything in order, by the time I got done with the bathroom.
For whatever reason Sora was super fast, like 1st place ribbon fast, like literally leave them in the dust, fast. And I was really smart. So smart that I could be at least a junior in High School, but I refused to leave him, so the local High Schools teachers had to come to middle school and give me work to do during class. And here's the kicker, I had to this in the same classroom as the other 7th graders at the same time, along with whatever assignment the 7th graders were doing too.
Sora and I went downstairs to meet dear, old Uncle Victor (Insert fangs dripping with Sarcasm). He was sitting IN MY CHAIR, when I got there. I know he knows this, for a fact. I know this because he came over for a family dinner with my parent's boss, Dr. Seph, about seven years ago. My dad had told him that he needed to move, the minute he saw my face a deep shade of red. He hadn't believed him at the time. So I took matters into my own hands, I asked him nicely to move out of my chair, but didn't do anything. So I then proceeded to yell at him, screaming to 'Get your ass out of my damn chair, now please'. My parents and their boss could hardly contain their laughter. They were laughing at the fact that a four-year old could be so assertive, and yet so polite at the same time, when most adults can't do both at once.
"Uncle Victor, I hate to remind you, but you're sitting in my chair, again." I told him evenly, with a nasty lying undertone beneath.
"We were just leaving now anyways. "He said, with a snotty tone.
While getting up I heard him say "Not like you'll ever see this stupid chair again." Under his breath.