An alarm. And the loud clattering of a dish.
Yep, that's what Olivia woke up to on that cold morning. In this cold dorm. To her loud alarm.
'Is Kasey okay?' Was the first thought that went through her head when she woke up.
Hopefully, he didn't burn anything...
"Kase?"
She trudged down the hall. Then spotted Kasey sitting at the counter. He was stuffing his face with scrambled eggs. When he noticed her, he smiled, a face full.
"Hey-"
"Finish chewing first."
Olivia brushed back her brown hair into a ponytail—bedhead—tied it up with a white hair tie, then moved back down the hall. "I'm taking a shower."
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When she got out, Kasey had already left for his morning classes.
Olivia was glad she'd picked mostly evening ones. Her mornings were for her and her only.
She'd put on some oatmeal, make a strawberry and banana smoothie, then get to work. Her morning routines were simple and consistent. Just how she liked them.
So, after eating, she put up her unfinished painting, got out the paints, and got to work. This was due next week, and she'd barely finished the background. This was going to be a long day...
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Blasting.
Blasting that one Indie song.
Painting that same, gray building.
She didn't hear the call.
She couldn't.
It was like she was in her own little world. A place of escape.
Then she finally got a glimpse of the phone.
Her brother's number.
Maybe he was checking in on her?
He was 15, and he'd always call, just to see how college life was. Just to talk to his sister. He missed her, even if his stubborn ass wouldn't admit it.
"Hello?" Olivia yelled into the phone, over the music in the background.
Her hand slid across the volume knob to turn down 'Distance' by Bixby. It was a calming song—to her at least—Kasey always made her shut it off, though.
"She's gone. Dead," his voice was a whisper.
Daniel was supposed to be the loud one.
It was odd to hear his voice so soft, so quiet.
"Ma—she's gone."
Those words hit Olivia like a truck. Not a semi one. The ones your parents would honk at for going too slow.
The ones that gave you road rage.
She felt like she was going through road rage. It was weird.
And even with all this going on in her brain, she could only say, "What?"
She understood—Of course, she understood—it's just that... Mom...dead..?
Would you take that easily? Hard to believe... She wished it was just some sick joke.
"...she–she hung herself—Mom. She's–God, She's–" Daniel's voice became shaky with that last word.
Everything was shaky.
Olivia felt the phone shake on her ear when she finally came to the realization—her mom was dead. This was NOT some sick joke. This was real.
She used both hands to hold up her phone—her hands were too shaky. "...Really?"
The sadness hadn't hit her yet. It was just shock, and..and something. She didn't know. All she could worry about was–
"Hic." Daniel's shaky voice came through. He sniffled, then his cries came through.
His sobs.
And all Olivia could do was sit through it.
She didn't want to cry—God, she couldn't if she wanted to—and she had to be there. Be the strong one. For Daniel, for Naomi, for Grandma Karey, and for herself too.
She had to be there.
"Danny."
Daniel sniffled into the phone. "Mhm?"
"I'll–I'll come. I'm going over there."
Olivia hadn't planned to go over there till christmas—it was October—and she didn't even know how. Barely any money, no car, and little time.
Daniel's shaky breaths were the only sounds that came through. Then a "Daniel! We're leaving." Grandma Karey's voice.
"I'm–I have to go. I'll call you later, Olivia."
Olivia sat there with her thoughts. The bad ones. The ones that made her want to play smooth jazz in the background; just for an amount of happiness. If she could even feel happiness anymore.
This really was going to be a long day. Those terms just came true, haven't they?
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YOU ARE READING
too many problems to function :3
Random'"How are you?" Kasey said into his phone. He spun a spoon around in his tomato soup; since she always cooked, he'd planned to make dinner before Olivia got home. "What are you doing?" "Working," Olivia answered. She used her shoulder to hold up her...
