I make my way down the stairs quickly, stumbling every now and then. Not out of intoxication, no- but out of shear panic. I don't know where I'm going. I don't care where I'm going. I just need to go somewhere to take my mind off of these words. But how the hell can I? This isn't normal, hallucinations aren't supposed to be vivid, aren't supposed to enter your life and morph things, they're supposed to simply distort your view of things, like alcohol. But... I feel like these words, that room, everything I've seen... they've been almost palpable- like the world around me has changed in the blink of an eye. I look up and focus. A park... Peaceful. No one around at all, and it's not even dark out yet. I focus in on my surroundings. Silent. Just wind and the occasional bird. I take a deep breath. Even a moment of peace is enough for me. I sit down on the bench beside me.
Aster... What he must think. Pills and alcohol? What was I thinking? Now he probably thinks I'm suicidal, as if crazy's bad enough. To him, I'm now Briar, the schizophrenic masochist. Fucking perfect. Why did he bring up Lily all of a sudden? It's not like I up and left her like everyone else, we've been apart for months now, I haven't even spoken to her. Well, maybe he's just thinking of a friend circle. Have to keep people you know close at this age, anyway. I lie my head back. Another deep breath. Moist? Funny, that usually happens when there's...
Fog. Dense, unbelievable fog, and an equally unbelievable silence. I stand up quickly and look around. What the hell... I see a figure in the distance, walking toward me. I project my voice kindly.
“Excuse me! Hey, you there!” I exclaim. It keeps walking forward, no sign of speeding up. I lower my voice. “Hey, crazy fog, huh? Can you tell me how I can get to-” I freeze. All I can see was his face. Or rather... the lack thereof. It was nothing. Nothing but skin. Another figure passes by me. Another. Another. I can hear voices... I can't tell what they're saying. They seem... worried. Concerned. Some are... crying? I back up quickly. I lose my footing and fall back into the bench. All I can see in front of me is the black liquid painted on the brick path below my feet.
“ABANDON.”
“Dad? Dad... it's... it's me. I know Dad, I know... Are you... are you busy? I need you, Dad. I need you. Right now... No, I'm not okay... Please... Please come here as soon as you can... Please...”
The papers surround me. I sit in the middle of them. Tears stream down my face. Hands shaking. They aren't going away. And all I can see is one word. All that resonates in mind is one word.
“FAMILY.”
