AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rubbing shampoo into my hair, I try not to focus on how little there is left to wash. It feels almost weightless in my hands as I gently massage the soap into it.
My chin trembles as I rinse the soap out, staring straight ahead at the stark-white shower wall. Grabbing my loofah, I squeeze my pomegranate body wash on it and hold it under the water to suds it up. Softly, I swipe the loofah over my stomach, watching it jiggle more than it used to. I wish that were for a healthy reason, like I was eating so much good food and getting gloriously food drunk. But unfortunately, it is just another side effect.
Without meaning to, I drift inside my own mind, and before I know it, I’m back in bed with clean, wet hair, fresh breath, a tall glass of water, and my laptop.
Thankfully, I can mindlessly edit some photos that I took last week and get them prepped for posting. This should at least fill my morning up, and then I can send them off to Laura to show that I’m doing something.
I only get about two photos done before my head is bobbing and my eyes are fluttering shut.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Reed asks with a big smile, and my heart is racing so fast that I think it might actually burst.
“No!” I squeal and squeeze his hand tighter, jumping in place with a mix of nervousness and excitement.
“Here we go!” he shouts and steps off of the metal platform.
We plummet down, and the air is rushing up all around us like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.
“Ahhh!” I scream joyfully as Reed and I free-fall together through the sky.
“I love you, Charrrrlotte!” he declares to the world as he squeezes me tighter.
The ground is quickly approaching, and fear begins trickling in as I worry that we’re waiting too long to pull the parachute.
“Reed!” I scream, this time out of growing terror. “Pull the cord!”
Oh my God, we’re falling too fast.
Gripping the straps of the backpack I’m hooked into, I try to talk to Reed again. “Reed! Pull it!”
He starts laughing, one of pure evil. “What cord, Charlotte?”
I hear the click of something metal, and all of a sudden, Reed isn’t against my back anymore. He swims through the air, getting out in front of me.
“Oh, this one?” He smirks and releases the parachute, slowing his descent instantly while I continue to race toward the ground.
“Reed!” My voice trembles as I plummet to the earth.
Oh my God, I’m going to die.
Bracing myself for impact, I slam my eyes shut.
“Ahh!” I scream.
Any second now, I’ll be but a memory in other people’s lives, a blip in time.
“Ahh!” I fly up, soaking wet from my sweat.
Looking around, I search for Reed, but quickly realize that I was dreaming. It was all just a dream—or rather, a nightmare. But regardless, it’s over. Now, I just need my heart to figure that out because I’m huffing and puffing like I’m still falling to my death.
“Shit,” I grunt and clumsily jump out of bed.
I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I needed to get all of those photos edited. As if I were still in free fall, my stomach twists and churns, and I know I’m only seconds away from having a gross mess to clean up.
Rushing into the bathroom, I throw open the toilet lid just in time for vomit to explode out of my mouth, splashing into the water. My diaphragm tightens, and once again, I heave into the toilet, but this time, nothing comes out. But that doesn’t make it any less painful.
“Goddammit!” I slam the lid in frustration, wishing that my life could be anything but this right now.
Sinking down onto my butt, I wipe my mouth and rest my head in my clammy hands. My body slumps down and begins quivering. I haven’t even eaten today, and all that came up was liquids that I will very quickly need to replenish so I don’t dehydrate.
