As I walked in through the heavy wooden door, the sight before me had me utterly confused. There was Marco, Paige, Dylan, and even Spinner sitting in the living room, different phones pressed to each of their ears, waiting for a response. I listened to Marco when whoever he was calling finally picked up.
"Hey, Ash! It's Marco is Ellie there?...Crap!...What's going on is no one can find her. Her house burnt to the ground and both of her parents were found dead inside, Paige said she was she was supposed to be going home this weekend but……." I stopped listening and dropped my luggage on the floor.
My parents are dead. My abusive, neglecting, uncaring, parents are gone forever, and I am actually sad about that.
Everyone heard my luggage hit the wooden hallway and looked up.
"Ellie!" said Marco as he ran over and gave me a hug, "I was so worried about you, where have you been?" he asked then pulled away and looked me in the eye. I didn't look at him or even respond I just gathered my things and went to my room.
I locked the door and fell onto my bed crying. Everything was falling apart, including me. I heard Marco start to knock, but Dylan told him to leave me alone for it to really sink in. I just lay there listening to the events that occurred that afternoon. Spinner and Paige got into a fight about Alex again. They finally broke it off, and I actually think that they are finally over. Dylan had been accepted as a pro hockey player over in Switzerland and was leaving today. They all piled into Dylan's car and headed to the airport. They didn't even ask if I wanted to come. I would have said no.
After everyone left I was once again left in silence. I rolled over and looked to my calendar on the black painted walls to see what day it was, January fifth I started classes again on the eighth. I got off my bed and opened the doors of my closet. After moving around a few cardboard boxes I found it, my old CD case. I unzipped the case and flipped to the middle. There were three choices, a rusted box cutter, my compass, or a never used X-ACTO knife. I chose the knife, and laid the blade lightly down on my forearm. I then heard the door of the apartment bang loudly as it closed. I turn quickly at the unexpected sound and the blade dug deeply into my arm.
"AHHHHH!!" I screamed as the pain shot through my whole body like a lightning strike, then breathed deeply as the pain made my eyes start to gray over and immobilize every movement. I slightly heard Marco yelling and then I saw him over me as I lay on the paneled floor of my room in a pile of my own blood. He looked so scared as he was yelling to Paige to call 911. She came in quickly and did as she was told, shaking slightly. I then fell into complete darkness as my eyelids drooped shut.
I had no idea where I was or what was going on when I finally woke. It took a few minutes for me to realize that I was in a hospital. It was the adults in white coats running around with serious looks on their faces that gave it away.
"Well hello there, you gave your friends quite a scare. They'll be quite happy to know you're all right." I jumped as the sound of a woman's voice and turned to see an Asian woman of her mid thirties smiling down at me as she continued writing something down on a clipboard. She reminded me of Ms. Sauve.
"How long have I been here?" I asked wondering, I hope it wasn't that long I really didn't mean to do any serious damage.
"Oh about a day and a half or so, your friends haven't left the waiting area since you came in." We tried to convince them that we would call them if you woke up but they wouldn't leave. The girl seemed like she wanted to go home but just smiled when the boy said they wouldn't leave unless you were coming with them." I could believe Marco would say something like that, and that Paige would want to leave.
"Thank you." I said quietly and then she left.
I looked down to examine the damage that I had done, it was worse than I had thought. I had stitches along a long deep gash that almost went completely around my forearm just after the elbow. It looked like it would hurt really badly, but I was sure I was on pain medication because I didn't feel a thing.
Marco and Paige rushed in the room as soon as they heard I was awake. They both had really serious faces on and I knew they thought I had attempted the one thing I had contemplated many times before, but never had the guts to actually do. So I said something before either o f them could utter a word.
"Just so you know I didn't attempt suicide," at this they both seemed to relax, a little, I continued, "When the door slammed I was just surprised and accidently cut really deep, I'm sorry for the scare guys." I then moved my eyes back to my arm.
"It's okay Elle," said Marco looking anywhere but my arm, I think he felt responsible, "Anyway they said you could leave today, so let us know when you're ready." He said then he and Paige left the room.
When we all got back to the apartment I made a few calls and scheduled all the meetings with lawyers and whoever else I needed to deal with. I finished all of that in one day and all I got out of it was twenty thousand dollars, there's college. Since my parent's didn't have any close friends or family it was only me and my few friends who would be attending the funeral, at least I didn't have to deal with tons of baked goods, although that would have been nice seeing as I can't cook. The funeral was simple and short. As soon as it was over I went straight to my room, locked the door, and changed into more comfortable clothes.
The next few days were a blur. I would go to my classes come back to the apartment do my homework and then just sit there on my bed. What else was there to do? I ate dinner with the other two in silence and then retreated back to my cave, only leaving to go to the bathroom. After a while this became routine. The only thing changing was the expressions and glances between Marco and Paige at dinner. Every night they became more worried. One night about two weeks after my parents' funeral, Marco finally broke the dinnertime silence.
"Elle what's going on with you?" He didn't give me a chance to answer not that I would have, "We still have no idea where you went that time you were supposed to be at your parents' house, and you haven't said a word since the hospital." I took another bite of my piece of pizza. Chew. Swallow. Bite. Chew. Swallow. He started up again more firmness to his tone this time.
"You used to use your sarcasm as a wall to hide behind, now you don't say anything at all. How do you expect any of us to help you if you don't tell us what's going on? No even knows who you anymore, you haven't even smiled since before Christmas. You keep everything locked up and you keep everyone at a distance. We could help you out Ellie, all you have to do is talk to us." He finally finished him and Paige both looking earnestly at me. I stood up and threw my paper plate in the trash and retreaded once again to my room. Marco sighed and put his head in his hands on the table.
I lied down and immediately fell asleep, only to be woken a few hours later by Marco knocking softly at my door. "Elle, I know you're pissed at us but some guy is here to see you. He's in the living room." He said then went down the hall to his own room. My curiosity took over and I got out of bed and went down the hall to the banister and looked over to see who it was.
OH.MY.GOD.
