Word Count: 970

Darkness was something that was never comforting to me; it never had any value to me. That is, until now. Every door I found, it was always a dark path to get to it. Then I would always discover that the door was locked, and I would have to travel back into the darkness to start at square one again. It was an endless loop for me, a person living with a sickness that slowly kills them from the inside out.

Not many people knew what it was like to travel through the dark. Not many had to. I had many friends who knew what it was like to live in darkness because they had depression. I never knew that very mental illness would come along with my physical illness. No one knew how hard it was to be afraid of the very darkness you lived in. No one knew that you were afraid to be saved because you were afraid you'd drag someone to the darkness with you, so that's why you never told anyone.

     Not many people knew, but now I did. Every second I was left in the darkness it felt like my life was draining away and, technically, it was.

"Get your ass up. We have shit to do today." Katelyn shook my almost lifeless body and made me look up at her.

"I ain't having you being depressed all day. We're going to finish your eleventh wish!" Her soul could unfreeze any soul except for mine, but I smiled at her even though it wasn't heartfelt. She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my bed, my newly shaved head becoming cold.

"I honestly wish you would've cut off all your hair earlier on. It looks better on you than on any dude I've seen." I knew she was trying to lighten my mood, but it just made me worse. It made me think of how my life was going to be cut short from the very illness that persuaded me to shave off my hair in the first place.

    "Katelyn, please. I just want to be left alone today."

    "Is this what you would've wanted a week ago? A year ago? To be left to wallow in your misery for the rest of your life? Or would you want to live your days with happiness and to be surrounded by friends and loved ones? Tell me, Storm. That ain't how mom and dad raised you. That's not what I've looked up to for all these years." Her first words seemed harsh but her message was gentle. She was right but no words could cure the fight going on in my mind at the moment.

"Fine, whatever. Let's just go and get home." I jerked my hand out of Katelyn's and walked into my closet to throw on some random outfit.

"Just try. Not for us but for yourself." I heard Katelyn say as she left my room.

                       ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

        Grant, Katelyn and I made it to the ice cream shop near my house before noon. We ordered what we wanted and sat outside as a conversation started between Katelyn and Grant. I stayed out of whatever they were talking about and thought about everything happening to me right now. How many stares I was getting. How many judgements people were shooting my way. How I didn't belong.

     I didn't belong here anymore.

     "Storm? You okay?" I found Grant's eyes kindly looking at me, and I just nodded.

    "Let's just get this wish over with." I said as I stood up. I had finished my ice cream quicker than Katelyn and Grant so I started to head to my car. Today was going to be a pain, literally, as I was getting a tattoo. It was a small infinity sign that would be just below my wrist on the inside of my arm. I thought I would be excited about it, but I wasn't with what's happened in my mind for the past couple of hours.

     Finally Katelyn and Grant got in. Grant took his seat in the front and Katelyn in the back passenger side. Without any words being shared, I began my way to the tattoo parlor.

   As soon as we got there, my spirts lifted just a bit. I began to get excited but I definitely wasn't excited for the pain. I walked in and the man explained everything I needed to know about getting a tattoo. Things such as making sure to clean it and to keep dirt and such away from it. As soon as I signed everything, we started, and the pain wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be. I also had to consider the tattoo was quite small.

By the time we had gotten back in the car, still no words had been shared between us and if I was honest I liked it that way. I didn't have the energy to keep a conversation going. All I wanted to do was go home and draw for the rest of the day. It seemed I was going to get my wish as we had dropped off Grant and had made it back home. But as I walked into the house, Katelyn spoke up.

"I'm sorry sister. If I could take it all away I would, but I want you to know that no matter how long I have left with you, I'll love every second of it. Even if no words pass between your lips. Your presence is all I need." I turned and smiled slightly at my sister but once again said nothing as I hugged her and headed to my room.

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I'm so sorry that this chapter was a little depressing and boring. I promise next chapter will be a little better!

~•KennyandEmo•~