Chapter 9: Wrong Really Loves My Company

Part 21: Aria-Same night/Lying awake in bed

I toss and turn now, lying awake in bed. My room in Grandma Marin's farm house is normally very peaceful, but tonight, I just can't shake the feeling of unrest within me. Maybe it's Emily, I've been concerned for her a lot, lately. Her due-date to give birth is less than two months away, and I know she must be scared. I heard her crying earlier, and fear is probably getting to her. There's a part of me that isn't sure that my best friend can do this. Horror stories of still births begin to fill my mind.

No. She'll be fine. Doctors will be on staff, and Hanna will hold her hand and ease her through every labor pain. Emily is strong, she'll be a trooper. So, I'm forcing myself to push away those mortifying thoughts of disaster. Still, I have an eerie feeling as I try to relax myself. Finally drifting towards sleep, the last person I think of is Ezra. The possibility of seeing him again is very slim, since I won't soon be going back to Rosewood. None of it matters though, as I replay the good memories shared between the two of us, within the sanctuary of my dreamland. Sometimes memories are all you can ever expect to have. In the end, when all is said and done, you look back on the memories which have made you who you are. You are thankful for the memories, because without them, life seems a cloud of meaningless fog, drifting away without purpose. These are the things of which I contemplate as I finally fall asleep.

One hour later, 2:ooam

Ting. Ting. Ting. I am suddenly awakened by the chiming of my cell phone on the nightstand. Oh, God…No! Not –A, not now. I pick up the phone, my hand slightly trembling. My face goes white as I read the text.

Aria. The second girl to receive a text, and now she has a choice. Switch Hanna's asthmaspray for puffs of air, or Emily and her baby suffer. See you.-A

I'm absolutely mortified. That heartless tormentor is asking me to choose between my two best friends. Put Hanna's life in danger or leave Emily and her baby to suffer. I can't take this, it's beyond me. What the hell am I going to do? I can't win. Hanna was diagnosed with asthma when we were twelve. It's been in remission for years now, but it suddenly came back after Emily was put on full bed-rest. Everyone thinks it's because of the stress of the whole situation, but whatever the case, she needs her inhaler medicine. I can't take Hanna's life line away from her, she could die. However, if I don't, what will become of Emily and the baby? What will-A do to them? I get up, out of my bed, and begin to pace the floor. I instantly know what Hanna will want me to do. Emily and their child is more important to her than even herself. I would only have to empty out the inhaler for two months. As soon as Emily has the baby, -A won't be able to use her pregnancy as leverage for dumping the spray. When the baby is born, I can stop doing it, and both of my best friends will be safe. Hanna will have her medicine, her Emily, and her baby. Just two months of dumping , I tell myself.

When I'm sure of my decision, I slowly creep out of my bedroom and into the bathroom. Careful not to make too much noise, I open the medicine cabinet and reach for Hanna's inhaler. I spot a small container lying next to the device. It has a note stuck to it. Placebo canister it says. The note can only be from –A. That can is probably what I'm supposed to replace the real can with. Here goes nothin'. My hands shake slightly as I rip off the note and remove the real can of medicine. Once that's done, I replace the real canister with the fake one that's almost identical to it. I secure the inhaler tightly, and place it back where I found it . With a heavy heart, I go back to my bedroom.

I feel horrible now, as if I've betrayed Hanna. I have betrayed Hanna. If she has an asthma attack, there will be nothing to help her, and it will be my fault. The only thing to do now, is pray and hope, with all of my heart, that Hanna remains attack free for the next two months. I lay on my bed and softly cry now, outraged at myself for what I have done. Furious at what –A has made me do. Helpless at the fact that it was my only choice. I cry for Hanna and for myself. Tonight there is indescribable sorrow in my soul, because it seems that Wrong Really Loves My Company.