Distance Means Nothing

Chapter one

My eyes slowly open up to light slanting from the window. I squint them and raise my hand to shield my face.

It was the middle of December. Flakes were making their way from the sky to litter the ground with tiny flecks of snow. All throughout this month it's been a mixture of bright light, mini snowstorms, and freezing cold air. I was hoping for a white Christmas, but there's never enough snow and too much sun.

I turn away from the window onto my side. I wince as my back cracks. Why is my bed so uncomfortable now. It's been fine this whole time...

I glance around to notice that I'm not even in my bedroom. I'm on my living room floor. Confused, I lift myself up to a sitting position.

I frown as I try to think about what happened last night.

I was in the kitchen fixing myself a late night cup of Joe. It was--

I jerk my head up to a light tapping at my door. I glance out the window to see heavy snow falling down. Who would be out there during this weather?

I get up from my nest of blankets and pillows and make my way to my front door.

Before I can open it more than a crack, I get pushed backwards into my computer desk. Looking up, panicked, I see a figure quickly stepping in and slamming the door behind them before anymore cold air and snow can come in. I straighten myself up before noticing that this wasn't a break in and I wasn't going to die.

Shaking my head, I walk up to Mack as she brushes the snow from her hat and coat.

Mackenzie Dill. My little Dill pickle. My Mack and Cheese. I met her over the interwebz over two years ago. We had some rough times. It got to a point where I almost lost her and I can't believe I even let that happen. I've been working on mending our friendship when I finally got her back with the help of Martha. It's a slow process, but hopefully things will go back to what they used to be. I mean, after what happened, it wouldn't be so normal, but at least I got her.

I stood there as I watched her strip down from her winter garments. I watched as her light, dirty blonde, shoulder lengthed hair swayed as she tried to get her boots off. I smiled at her tan, plump face when she looked up.

She tilts her head at me. "What's up?"

"What's up?!" I snort. "I should be asking YOU that. It's below freezing out and here's you trudging the mile to my house like someone on a mission."

"I got dropped off at the end of your street. So the distance I "trudged" was more like, a few feet, give or take." She answers.

"No take. Definitely more than a few."

Mack shrugs and sets her boots behind my door, then walks to my closet to hang up her coat and hat. After closing the door back, she just stands there with her head hanging down. I get a weird feeling in my stomach that made me want to puke. Something was wrong...it was like I can feel it.

I place my hand carefully on Mack's shoulder.

"Hey...are you okay?"

"No."

I hesitated. Her answer came out so clearly. I was preparing myself to beg the answer out of her, but now...I was struggling for words.

"I--um. What's...wrong?"

She turns her head to look behind her. To look straight at my face.

"What's wrong with YOU?"

I knit my eyebrows together and take a step back, dropping my hand down to my side.

"I don't know what you mean. I'm fine."

"What happened last night, Cat?"

"What do you mean 'what happened last night'? Did something happen with Martha? Because I wasn't with her, if that's what you're asking."

Mack shakes her head. "No. Nothing's wrong with her. She's actually on her way here now."

"Wha-what? Why? Why are you guys coming here, and why are you acting like someone died? What's going on?"

She didn't answer right away. We stood there in silence, but for me, the room was loud. My heart was thumping out of my chest and there was shivers creeping up my spine.

I felt...fear. And....was I worried about something?

"Cat....I heard you crying."

I didn't answer. I just stared at her.

She continued. "I was cleaning up my dishes after dinner. It was around six...." She turns herself to face me, but her eyes were focused on my floor. "I went to go put the pot on the counter to dry it, but...something wasn't right. Instead of seeing my hands placing my pot on my counter...I saw another pair of hands being placed on a different counter, shaking....I-I closed my eyes, because I really thought I was losing it. That's when I heard crying, and this wave of depression fell on top of me. I felt like I was drowning in my own sadness. I opened my eyes back up and I was staring at a mirror...and I saw your face staring back. Your red, puffy...face. With tears making trials down your cheeks..."

I was sitting on my couch by the time Mack was finished speaking. Mack was staring at me now instead of my floor. I opened my mouth to say something, but...I couldn't. Words couldn't come out. I started to remember what happened last night. I started to see myself crying. I started to feel myself shaking, and the depression. Then I got that cup of coffee to calm me down...and I was too tired to climb the stairs to my room, so I got the extra blankets and pillows from the closet and passed out on the floor.

Mack takes a seat beside me and grabs my hand.

"I'm worried, Cat. I'm worried something might be wrong with us...and I'm afraid that something might be wrong with you. I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't know if I should believe what I saw and accept the fact that I could be crazy, but...I saw YOU. That's what made me come over today. I wanted to talk to you. I want to know what's wrong, Cat."

I slowly glance over at her. Did she just say....she was worried and afraid? After all this talk about her feeling my emotions and seeing me act that way...did I just feel what she felt too while I was waiting for her to answer me? Why is everything escalating so quickly? Are we really just going nuts? Maybe it's just the weather...or too much radiation from the sun or....a dream. Am I just going to suddenly wake up in my warm bed like nothing ever happened? Probably not.

I look back down at my lap. At my hand that was tightly being held by Mack.

"What about, Martha?"

There was another moment of silence before she answered me.

"I got a text from her this morning explaining what just happened to me last night. She experienced the same thing."

We both jump to a loud knocking at the door. Another wave of fear hit me hard, and I flinch. I caught Mack doing the same thing at the corner of my eye.

Mack slowly rises from the couch.

"That must be Martha."

*side note- feel free to criticise(love will be accepted too :P). I haven't really wrapped my head around this topic, but I'm trying my best. Trying to come up with a beginning was a pain in the ass, btw haha. Hopefully the rest of the chapters will turn out better. I hope you enjoy my sketchy first chapter. Lots of love <3*