Deception

twenty-one*

// i was enveloped in numbness, and absence of feeling so deep the bottom was lost from view //

Just a day ago.

Just a day ago, he was with me.

Just a day ago, we had been throwing silly pick up lines at each other.

Just a day ago, we had been goofing around in the park, uncaring.

Just a day ago, he told me he wasn't leaving unless I got bored of him.

That was all just a day ago.

And now, he's dead.

Dead.

My eyes shift from Kris, whose gaze is staring solely at me. After I passed out, she brought me to my room and had me rest for a while, knowing it wasn't anything too serious. She knows I am not fit to go to school, though.

Ever since my eyelids lifted, the room has been in silence. I know what my sister is expecting. She thinks I'm going to break down and scream or throw stuff but I have yet to shed a tear. The thought of a friend you were with just merely hours ago is now dead is so surreal.

I keep telling myself that Brian is not dead, he can't be. Brian is alive and he'll call me to go out anytime now. I keep trying to convince myself that Oliver is dead and Brian is not Oliver.

"Cass." I blink in response to her whisper. "Oliver..." My head turns to face her at the word. "I don't know an Oliver," As the words come out, Kris' expression changes immediately. She is slightly shaking as she reaches to touch my arm. "Cassidy... you have to - to..." I wait for her to finish her sentence but she seems to be struggling to find the right words.

I tilt my head to the left, looking at her at an angle. She takes a deep breath and shakes her head like something is not right. "I don't know an Oliver." I repeat as I feel like it is an obligation to convince myself once again.

Kristiana looks flustered, confused and upset all at the same time. She asks me slowly, "Do you know someone that looks like this guy, Oliver?"

"Brian. But Brian is alive," I mutter softly. Kris doesn't say anything, enveloping me in a hug instead.

Brian will call me soon. He'll tell me about this absurd news. Someone that looks exactly like him, died. Anytime now. He will, I'm sure of it.

Suddenly, I pull away from Kris. She looks slightly alarmed, but I give her a tight smile. "I have to tell Brian about this weird look alike of his." I see her swallow and open her mouth to say something. but no words come out.

I move away from the bed to look for my phone but I seem to have misplaced it. Maybe I left it downstairs this morning. When I find my phone on the kitchen counter, I grab it and find Brian's contact.

I call him and after a few seconds, I hear his voice.

"Hi, it's Brian and I'm sorry but I can't seem to talk to you now. I might be eating, who knows. Leave a message and I'll get right back to you!" Beep. My lips dry at the sound of his voice.

"Brian... you won't believe it..." I laugh a little. "I found someone who looks exactly like you." I pause for a while, wondering what else to say. "I hope you get back to me soon." Then, I end my message.

Footsteps can be heard and I see Kris coming down the stairs, her expression looking lost. "Cassidy, you have to know - you can't - Cass." I frown at her words. She is obviously tongue-tied for whatever reason.

I get closer to her. "What do you want to say?"

Kristiana is quiet for a while. I look into her eyes that were a sea of sadness.