Finding the Light: B1 C1

Instructions

I can’t breathe. No, I really can't. I'm too busy screaming and crying and kicking and screaming and crying and I don't have any time to breathe. If I die, I'll end up with them... Which is why I have to breathe so I take a short but deep gulp of much-needed air. I don't want to end up with them. I'm not really sure about Heaven and the afterlife and anything like that but I don't want to risk it. I don't want to ruin my chances. They would be mad. Look, I know it. Nobody's convincing me otherwise. Hands pull me from behind and I start to scream more before I realize it's my best friend, Mia pulling me from behind. "Let me go!" I attempt to shriek but I really can't because my voice sounds horse. "Callie, we need to get away from her!" "NO." "CALLIE!" "MIA! Lay your hands off me, argh!" I shout and push her hands of put she's still gripping on like Death and Death is trying to pull me into where the rest of my family is and I don't trust Mia and the thoughts are swirling in my brain and I just want it to stop, I want to rest and to forget about everything that's happened and.... Suddenly my body starts to heavily shake with sobs even MORE and I sound absolutely gross and disgusting and nasty and who would ever hug me is what I thought and then Mia does. She hugs me. Which only she would do because she's my best friend. Which only she would do because she's kind and forgiving. But she's hugging me. ME. Which means that Mia is hugging someone who made their whole family - disappear. Vanish into thin air. They're probably gone now. Forever. And it's all my fault. It starts to rain with a sudden burst of loud thunder. “CRACK!”. I still am kneeling on the grass, my tears blending with the rain... "C'mon girl! Callie, get up! We need to get a move on. My mom is honking! You know how she can be." Suddenly, I'm too tired to fight or argue. There's no point in doing anything... Anything at all. "Hey, Mia... just... give me a minute." My best friend runs off to her mom's car, probably to tell her that I need some time to myself. Hopefully Mrs. Jones will understand... Meanwhile, I let myself wonder like I have for the past 3 days about what would have happened if I never stayed over at Mia's. I've done this millions of times, and for some weird, strange, odd reason, it helps me cope. But just a little bit... If I hadn't asked to sleep over at Mia's house, my family wouldn't have just vanished into thin air, leaving me alone. So it's my fault. Nobody can convince me otherwise, and nobody will. The tears slowly slow down, but not close to even a trickle yet. The car horn honks again, somehow even louder than last time. I know Mia has probably tried to stall her mom, and she did the best she could but somehow I can't help feeling a tiny bit of anger that I couldn't have had more time to think about what life would be like with them here. I wanted to escape into my fantasy world again... I stand up, but my knees turn to jelly but I manage wobbling over to the red Honda in front of me. It stands out in the rain, even with the rain and tears blurring my eyes... As I enter the car, Mia gives me a sad smile... I turn my head away from her. "So... Callie..." "Um - yeah?" I respond confusedly to Mia's mom. "I haven't told Mia this either but why not get it out of the way?" "I don't understand-" "Shush! Now, ever since... everything happened, you've been staying with us, right?" I guess you could call it that. I've just been holed up crying in my room. "Well..." "Yes, Mrs. Jones?" "Callie... I think it's time we find you a proper home." [ THE END OF BOOK 1 CHAPTER 1 ]