I left a new flower in front of Eric's grave and sat there, resting my head on the cold marble. "I miss you so much," I said, feeling the corner with my finger. It was funny how he was right there, yet so far away. "Everything's so confusing without you." He was the only one besides my parents who knew. He even helped me understand them, though I guess he'll never know what they were for. That horrible moment where I watched his timer get dangerously low as we walked to school. Then he just collapsed. The doctors said it was because of heart failure, but I knew the truth. It was because of the stupid clock. I blinked a tear out of my eye and stood up, realizing dinner would be soon. His memory was inescapable. I didn't want to love him so much, but I did and I couldn't get away from it. As I walked home, I stared at the ground, not wanting to see another number for the rest of my life. But that's why math homework exists. At least these numbers aren't dangerous to anyone except my dyslexic brain. I'm so sick of numbers. Part of me wants to know if I could've saved Eric, cuz I must have this "gift" for a reason, I just hate this gift. Maybe not him specifically, but maybe someone else. "Do your homework, Kimberley." I said to myself. Excruciating hours of homework later, I was finished. Maybe I'd be able to draw or something. "Come down for dinner!" My mom called. Dang it. Looks like drawing would have to wait. I dragged my feet down the stairs and looked up at her, her timer counting down ever so steadily, the biggest number having a 41 on it. I had time. But as I looked at it, it flickered to a 5, then back to 41. What the hay was that about?
