Sapphyre_Burden to Bare

by Felicia Leibenguth

  “There. You should heal up quickly now,” Bree smiled.

  “Thank you, Bree. I really appreciate you taking care of me.” I gave her a hug.

  “That’s what sisters are for.” She gave me a squeeze before letting me go. “I’ll be back. Let me clean up this mess first.”

  She grabbed everything and walked out of my room heading downstairs. I can hear mumbling but can’t make out anything. I looked at my hands again and they’re almost back to normal. I can’t fathom what happened to me… I have questions for Bree when she comes back. Looking out my balcony doors, I realized the sun is coming up, and I glanced at my clock. It reads, 7 a.m.

  I started to get up to use the bathroom and realized my legs are a bit shaky, and my whole body aches. It took me a moment to stand and get my balance, but I eventually made it into the bathroom. When I finished, I looked into the mirror and gasped in horror. I look like absolute crap. I have bags under my eyes, my neck looks just as good as my hands at this point, but something caught my attention… two tiny specks on my shoulder. They are about five inches apart from one another and red. I looked closer and touched one of them, but quickly learned not to. They are very tender and sore. What… is going on?

  “Lexi?” Bree called with a bit of concern.

  “In here,” I said as I walked slowly out of the bathroom.

  She quickly came over and supported me back to my bed.

  “What happened to me?” I questioned her. “I just remember being outside for some reason.”

  “I’ll tell you, but first I got you a hot cup of tea to drink.” She smiled again, but I can see the concern in her eyes, though she tried to hide it.

  Sitting on the edge of my bed, I took the hot cup of tea and waited for Bree to answer my question.

  She clearly noticed I was waiting, but she said, “Drink it first, and then we can talk. You need your fluids.”

  “Yes, mom.” I mocked as I drank the tea. It wasn’t as hot as it seemed, so I drank it down pretty fast.

  Once I finished, I handed the teacup back to Bree. She smiled and set it on the nightstand.

  Before either of us can start talking, I became drowsy. My eyelids became heavy and my head felt like a boulder, too heavy to hold up. Bree grabbed me before I fell to the floor and helped me to lie down, propping my head up with a pillow. I wanted to ask what was going on, why am I so tired all of a sudden, but only mumbles, I can’t even understand, came out of my mouth.

  “Shh,” Bree said running her finger down my cheek. “Rest.”

  I was in the realm of semi-consciousness when I heard Bree say, “I will always protect you, but the truth needs to stay hidden for a while longer… I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me one day.” I felt her kiss me on the cheek. “I love you…”

  Darkness took me once again.

  Waiting

  I woke up really groggy and felt like crap. It’s already noon on Sunday. I don’t remember the last time I slept in this late.

  “Hey, sleepy head,” Mom said from my doorway with a smile. Then she saw my face, and her smile faded as she walked into my room. “Are you feeling okay?” she asked as she placed the back of her hand on my forehead.

  “I’m just really tired and achy all over. I think I’ll be okay though…” I mumbled.

  “Does your stomach hurt? Headache? Or just body aches?” she questioned as she looked me in the eyes.

  “Body aches.”

  “Okay, why don’t you go use the bathroom and wash your face. I’ll be right back up with a few things.”

  I nodded my head as I don’t feel like talking.

  After mom helped me to my bathroom, I looked in the mirror and I’m surprised how horrible I look. I look like I haven’t slept in days and my skin is pale with a sheen of sweat. My hair looks like the worst rat’s nest I have ever seen.

  I used the last of my strength to take a quick shower. When mom came back upstairs, she found me sitting on the edge of the tub, soaking wet, wrapped in a towel. I don’t have any more strength to move.

  Mom grabbed my pajamas and helped me get into them without making me stand up. Once dressed and my hair, towel dried, she called for dad to help get me back into bed.

  Dad literally carried me and laid me gently on my bed. They covered me up and mom gave me some Motrin and a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup. At the moment I’m not hungry, but once it hit my taste buds, I gulped it down faster than mom really wanted me too.

  Before they left the room, I had already started to doze off.

  ***

  I woke up coughing and chills running down my spine. I reached for a can of pop that I always keep by my bed and saw Bree already handing me the open can.

  “How are you doing?” she asked with true concern.

  I took a moment to assess myself. “Better I guess. Just tired, and a little cold is all.”

  She nodded her head and grabbed me another blanket and threw it over me. “I’m sure you will feel better tomorrow.”

  “I hope so. I don’t like being sick,” I grumbled.

  Bree stayed for a bit while I dozed in and out throughout the evening, and mom and dad popped in a few times with food and more meds.

  I did as was told and just stayed in bed. Eventually, the day turned to night and Bree walked in with a cup of tea.

  “Here, this will help. Hopefully, you feel as good as new tomorrow.” She smiled as I drank the hot tea. Once it was gone, Bree said goodnight and left.

  I quickly fell asleep.

  ***

  My alarm went off, and I hastily shut off the annoying sound. I dragged myself out of bed and down to Bree’s room, but she is already up.

  “Feeling better?” she asked.

  I took a moment to assess myself, then smiled. “Good as new. Thanks.”

  I went back to my room and got ready for school. I felt back to myself and was thankful it was only some kind of twenty-four-hour thing.

  ***

  English is getting started and I’ve noticed I haven’t seen Katrina yet. Where is she? She’s never late for class. I went to pick her up for school this morning, but her car was already gone. So, I figured she was already here.

  She worried he was still around watching her. What… what if he followed us Saturday night to my house, and he knows she told me!?

  “Where do you think you are going Ms. Darson?” Mr. Pitman asked a little peeved that I disrupted the class.

  “Sorry,” I said quickly as I bolted out the door leaving my stuff behind.

  Out in the school parking lot, I looked all over for her car. I found it parked at the far end, in the corner. I started heading for it hoping it was hers. As I got closer, I saw someone sitting in the driver’s seat slumped over the steering wheel.

  Oh God Katrina! It’s her. I would recognize that hair anywhere.

  I ran for her car, practically slamming into the side of it. I got around to the driver’s side and knocked on the window, no response. I went for the handle, and the door is unlocked. Opening the door, I got a good look at Katrina. Her head is leaned up against the steering wheel, her hands hung at her sides, and her hair is covering her face.

  “Katrina!?” I panicked. Is she breathing?

  No response.

  “That bastard! I’ll kill him!” I spat.

  I looked at her face. A fresh black and blue mark covered her cheekbone. The rest of her skin is pale with the sheen of sweat.

  I shook her shoulder, calling her name trying to get her to move.

  Nothing.

  I felt for a pulse and to my relief, I felt one, but it’s very faint.

  I looked for signs of breathing and once again, it’s there, but very shallow.

  I have to get her to the hospital, but how did she get here in this condition?

  That’s the exact moment I felt someone standing very close behind me. My body froze, the hairs on my neck rising, preparing to run or fight. Obviously, I refused to leave Katrina.

  I quickly spun
around, and there he stood. A very tall, muscular, good-looking man, maybe in his twenty’s. The man Katrina described to a ‘T’. He’s standing here glaring at me with a straight-set mouth and very unfriendly, sparkling green eyes, dressed in black leather from top to bottom. He’s angry… very angry.

  Then it hit me. I’m standing here with a Vampire, not only that, but he’s standing in direct sunlight! Weren’t they supposed to die in the sun!? What’s going on!?

  My mind raced, along with my heart. The man stepped closer to me, reaching out about to grab my neck.

  “I told her I would kill anyone who found out about me,” he said in a pleasant voice like he’s enjoying this. He wrapped his fingers around my throat but did not squeeze. I refused to act scared by moving away. He can kill me if he truly wants to, anyway. Instead, I swung my arm out and easily pushed his arm away from my throat.

  He smiled showing his fangs as they extended. I squinted in rage and went to punch him in his smug face but he disappeared. Next thing I know his arm is around my waist, pulling me back into his muscular body. His other arm lay across my chest so I could not lean away.

  His fangs brushed against my neck as he said the words, “You think you can try to attack me and get away with it?” he purred. “You know how well that went for Katrina,” his voice went hard, emotionless.

  Before I can say a word, his fangs bit into my neck, causing me to suck in a sharp breath as the searing hot pain shot down my body. It suddenly reminded me of something… Something I can’t really remember.

  I kept my words strong and fearless, “If you think I’m like Katrina, you have another thing coming.” I sucked in the biggest breath my lungs could hold and… let out a blood-curdling scream.

  He laughed, removing his fangs. He licked my neck where he had bitten me and said softly into my ear, “We will meet again,” then he disappeared.

  Once I looked around to make sure he was gone, I turned back to the still unconscious Katrina. She still hasn’t moved or made a sound.

  A few seconds later, I heard people come out of the school yelling, “What’s going on?”

  I yelled back, “Call an ambulance she’s hurt! Hurry!”

  Several teachers came running over and someone went back into the building.

  When the teachers got to us, they wanted to know what happened. I told them about the guy and that I think he attacked her. I didn’t think, I knew, but I had to act like I didn’t know because I wasn’t out here during the attack.

  The ambulance only took about three minutes to arrive.

  As much as I didn’t want to take Katrina to the hospital, I had to let them take her. I’m afraid she won’t recover, especially having her blood taken twice within a few days. I don’t know how much he took this time.

  I demanded to go with her since her mom wasn’t home and I’m terrified to leave her alone. What if he showed at the hospital to finish the job?

  As soon as they got her loaded, I jumped in with her for the short ride to the hospital on the outskirts of town. I got a good look at her now. Her face is swollen and bruised, her eyes both black and blue like someone punched her. When they pulled her sleeve up to start the IV, I saw more bruises going up her arm in the shapes of handprints, but that wasn’t the worst of it. It’s her neck. Two large handprints surrounded her entire neck. He choked her. I became so enraged I felt like I could kill that bastard with my eyes shut!

  When we got to the hospital, I was told to stay in the waiting room, even after my protesting to stay with her. I guess they needed the space to work, and I didn’t want to get in the way. So, I sat in the waiting room tapping my foot impatiently, waiting for some news about Katrina.

  I tried to occupy my mind while I sat there waiting, or else I’m going to find a stake and do something I’m sure I can’t do alone. I couldn’t even punch him… So, I decided I would look around the waiting room counting the tiles on the ceiling. When I finished with the ceiling, I started counting the floor tiles. That was more challenging because of the tables and chairs in the way, but eventually, I finished counting those too. I didn’t know what else to do. This was like torture sitting here alone. There isn’t anyone else in the room with me and I don’t feel like talking, anyway. It’s a large room that opens up to the receptionist area. The only thing separating the hall from the waiting room is a waist-high wall and a fish tank. The chairs are an awful green color that doesn’t match any of the décors in the room. They’re in rows of five, some facing each other, some back to back, while the others sat up against the wall. The curtains are blue-green that hang a foot past the windows. In between each of the four windows hangs a painting of the woods, each one different. There’s a small area in one corner with a mess of toys for the kids to play with. High above the toys, is a clock on the wall, its past Noon now. There’s a television on a wall mount, in one corner of the room. It’s on, but the volume is too low and I’m not interested in watching TV.

  It’s killing me to just sit here, waiting. I feel like I’m going to go crazy, I have never been a very patient person when I’m waiting for news. I started drumming my fingers on the chair armrest and looked around the room, but I’m not really focusing on anything.

  I sat waiting for a while then someone in a white coat came walking down the hall. It’s a man about his mid-thirties with short sandy brown hair and golden-brown eyes. His face looks worried, which sent chills down my spine. All I can think is she’s not okay, is she? I started to panic as the doctor got closer. He walked over and took a seat in the chair across from me.

  “Katrina…” I choked. I can’t finish talking. I feel like my throat collapsed.

  He looked at me with sad eyes. “I can’t tell you much of anything until her mother arrives, but I can tell you she’s alive. She’s not doing very well right now, but we’re doing everything we can. It’s kind of touch and go, so it may be awhile before she can have visitors, depending on her condition.” He finished with his eyes lingering on mine then he looked away like someone called his name.

  “I’ll wait here until I can see her. If her mother doesn’t show up soon, can I go see her? I’m the only other person she has. Please?” I begged, a tear escaping down my face.

  The doctor seems a little shocked, but finally said, “I’ll see what I can do,” he nodded his head and got up from the chair.

  “Thank you,” I whispered before he’s out of hearing range.

  I watched him walk away, and when he was gone, I leaned forward in the chair and put my elbows on my knees with my face in my hands. I just want to scream at the world, ‘What did she do to deserve this!?’, but I have to settle for letting some anger out through my tears. I don’t want to start freaking out, it’s not like it’s going to help matters. It would only make them worse.

  I don’t know how long I sat waiting. I waited for several things to happen: Katrina’s mother to come through the doors freaking out, and for the doctor to come back and tell me, either Katrina is fine, or… I refused to think the other. That can’t happen. Not to her.

  Time passed… neither happened.

  I glanced at the clock and it’s going on 2:30 p.m.. Bree’s going to be home soon and I’m sure she’s going to be worried if I’m not there. I should find a pay phone and leave a message for her, mom and dad when they get home. I don’t need them out looking for me when I’m fine. I stood up and my legs are stiff. I’ve been sitting too long. I arched my back stretching and started walking out of the waiting room to look for a payphone. I went down the hall a little way and found a small room with glass windows. Inside sat a pay phone and vending machines. I’m glad I still have my lunch money. I never took more money to school than necessary. There’s just no point. I picked up the pay phone and put in a quarter.

  The answering machine picked up at home like I figured. “Hello, you have reached Brenda, Pete, Lexi, and Bree Darson. We are unavailable at this time, so please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.” It’
s such a dorky thing to have each of us speak our own names, but it’s been that way since Bree and I were little. So, I didn’t think too much of it. The machine beeped to leave a message.

  “Hey mom, dad, Bree. I’m at the hospital, but before you panic, I’m fine. I’m here for Katrina. She had an… accident. I’m waiting for her mom to show up and I’m waiting to see her. So, I’ll be here for a while. I’ll give you a call later and let you know how things are going. Love you all.” I hung up. It’s the best I could do for now.

  My stomach started to grumble. That’s what I get for not eating breakfast. I only had a dollar fifty left, so I grabbed a bag of sun chips from the vending machine. I didn’t have enough to get a drink. I guess fountain water will have to do.

  I slowly walked back to the waiting room as much as I didn’t want to. I’m getting sick of waiting and looking at the same boring room, but I don’t want to miss the doctor or Katrina’s mom if she comes in. I sat closer to the fish tank and watched the few goldfish swim around in their happy little world, unaware of what tragedies go on around them every day. It must be nice, not having any worries other than when the next feeding is. It must be nice to live like that, with no cares, but it wouldn’t be much of a life. With nothing to look forward to, nowhere else to go other than the four little glass walls. What things could they look forward to, a tank cleaning?

  In my next life, if such a thing exists, now I’m questioning myself on lots of things, I wouldn’t want to be a fish, too boring. If I could pick any animal in the world that I could become, I would have to say a wild horse, running free in the wide-open grass plains. To be free, to go wherever I want and to run feeling the wind in my face. That would be a wonderful life, full of that kind of freedom, to feel like I’m flying without the use of wings. Never having to depend on others for anything is freedom in itself. But, if I had a choice between being a wild horse or being human… I’d be human all over again. Sure, I would do things differently, but who wouldn’t if they had a second chance at humanity?