Ruthless knight

I can hear my parents arguing the second I open the door to my house. 

I’m supposed to meet Loki soon, but I really need to get this nausea under control first. 

I’m so lightheaded as I enter the living room, I’m tempted to plop down on the couch. 

“Dylan stopped by,” my mother tells me as I walk past them. “She asked us to ask you to call her back since you’ve been ignoring her phone calls.” 

I will. I just need to stop the room from spi

“She’s your best friend, Sawyer. What’s going on between you two?” Daddy questions. 

“Nothing,” I answer, my voice barely a whisper. 

“Are you all right?” Mama asks. “You don’t look so good.” 

And we’re back to square one. Here I thought I was doing such a good job and she was proud of me. 

I swallow hard, hoping it will bring the nausea and acid climbing up my throat back down. “I think I’m coming down with something.” 

I honest to God feel like I just got run over by a Mack truck. 

I must have the flu. 

“Well, go on upstairs and get into bed,” Daddy says. “We’ll be up there to check on you in a bit.” 

Not a bad idea. “Okay.” 

The second I walk out of the living room they start arguing again. 

“See what you’ve done!” Daddy booms. “She’s ru

“She’s healthy now, Dan. Quit telling me how to be a mother. Besides, you’re one to talk. The two of you haven’t spoken in weeks.” 

Great. They’re fighting about me. 

Of course they are. 

My heart beats erratically as I jog up the stairs. I’m so out of it I have to pause mid-way because I’m ru

Like I just ran a marathon. 

The pain in my chest gets worse as I make my way to the bathroom and open the medicine cabinet. 

My phone buzzes with an incoming text.  

Loki: Here. Where are you?

Shit. I thought I had more time. I’ll have to reschedule. 

Jesus, do you even hear yourself? Rescheduling with a drug dealer. 

This isn’t you. 

Glancing up, I look in the mirror. I hardly even recognize myself.

Maybe they’re right. Maybe I should stop. 

Lately it feels like no matter how much weight I lose, it will never be enough and that is a very scary feeling. 

I might look better these days, but I definitely don’t feel it…especially right now. 

Bracing myself on the bathroom sink, I hit the reply button to tell Loki I won’t make it, but my heart squeezes so severely it feels like there’s a fist wrapped around it.

“Jolene, I swear to God—”

That’s the last thing I hear before the pain becomes unbearable…

And everything goes dark.