Foam filled my mouth, my tongue thick and swollen.
Everything was red.
I needed more air.
I rolled onto my stomach, coughing as my trembling arms pushed me up. Then gave out-
Black specks danced, converged and bounced.
I wasn’t sure how long I stayed in the black hole, but eventually feeling returned to my limbs, reminding me of my grim reality. Merit set this motel as my pick up location first thing in the morning, and I was curled up on the ash ridden carpet, barely able to function. Every cell sang a pained chorus like a fucked up symphony.
I rubbed the crust from my eyes, peeling clumps of dried blood from my lashes. Each breath sawed in and out of my lungs, each movement squeezing a whimper from me.
I couldn’t stay here.
I couldn’t go home to Mom.
I dropped my phone four times before successfully dialing.
Finally, she answered.
21
Courtney
“Ollie?”Iasked,reachingfor my bedside lamp. Wincing at the onslaught of light, I caught the time on my clock. 3AM. Heavy breathing in the receiver sent chills down my spine. “Ollie, is that you?”
A wet cough.
I was awake in an instant, scrambling into a pair of jeans.
“Where are you?” I demanded, getting a strained groan in response. “Ollie, talk to me.”
“It hurts,” he gasped. “Everything hurts.”
I cursed under my breath as I shoved my feet into some shoes.
“Ok, it’s ok, are you home?”
“No,” he choked, “Your voice- I need-” He didn’t finish his sentence as a car door slammed. “I gotta go- I can’t be here,” he panted. Another heavy thud.
“Where. Are. You?” I ground out, marching out of my room. An engine started. I tried to control my breathing as the sounds of a radio hummed in the background.
A low moan of agony, “Come on body, just a little more.”
“Tell me you’re ok to drive,” I begged.
“I’m not ok to do anything right now,” he growled. “But Ican’tstay here.”
My heart was in my throat as I jogged down the hall to his and Jack’s dorm. “Ollie, I swear-”
His hyperventilating slowed. “I just have to make it forty minutes,” he murmured; whether to me or himself was unclear. I banged on the door to Jack’s dorm. No answer. I banged again and again-
The door blew inward to reveal Jack in boxers.
“What the fu-”
“Ollie,” I snapped. Jack instantly perked up. I put my phone on speaker for him to hear. “Where are you?” I repeated.
