Growing Colder

Chapter 1, Stress

I've been crying for the past couple of weeks. This damn locket is so cold it keeps me up at night. I always have trouble with my locket, sometimes it will stop or spazz out and shock me. Doctors don't know what's wrong, though. I am not going to survive! It's impossible! I've been travelling all over the country and the warmest it has gotten was when I was five years old.

Today, Winnie is going to take me to a goodbye party for my death. I only have two months, and it's really sad. Crying two weeks in a row isn't good, but crying for four weeks in a row is terrible. I cry so often now, I drink nine water bottles a day. Everyone should be there, mum, dad, Winnie, Rin, James, Kathy and more.

Rin and I met at a support group for those that have little time left on this earth. Rin's locket was lost in the ocean when he went swimming once, even though the lockers are sewn into our skin, James' locket will kill him a year earlier than expected, and Kathy's locket is warm near all human beings. Rin doesn't know how old he is because our lockets tell us, James is 16, and Kathy is 14. Kathy has the most time, but her defect is rare and can kill her at random.

Like most boys do before they die, Rin and I play video games with each other whenever possible.

If you're wondering, Winnie is married. She found her lover at a library and has been married since she was 12. She's older than me by five years, so 22 years old.

After I quickly eat toast, I put on the tux I will be buried in two months, and wipe tears from my eyes. I have dealt with my feelings better than Rin. Rin self-harms and has a serious cigarette addiction along with an addiction to prescription drugs. Therapy hasn't helped, so I try to be there for him as people tell me how rarely he smiles when I'm not around. I'm his only friend, we're like true best friends.

Kathy and I also hang out every day since every day can be her last. She looks up to me, especially since she's way shorter. Most times I hold her if she's crying because she can have panic attacks since her locket shocks her severely every now and then.

James and I are the same in multiple ways. We handle our feelings well, and we are always there for Kathy and Rin.

Putting on my tie, I walk down the stairs to Winnie holding mother as she cries with dad by her side. My dad looks at me with disappointment, and Winnie is too busy holding mum to look at me. This is my mum, and she's crying because her son is going to die without her say.

***
At the death party, we are all dressed in vibrant colours so I can remember them in the after life. I sat with Rin, James, and Kathy on the couch as everyone prayed for us and wished me luck, even though I'm not religious, but I still appreciate them praying as a sign of respect and hope. I can't believe in a god who throws such a tragic fate at everyone. Kathy was crying on my shoulder, ruining the tux, and Rin was grabbing my hand tightly because I'm the only one who understands him.

Since Rin doesn't have a locket, he can't really die like the rest of us, he'll have to be tortured to death for losing such a precious item. Such a precious item... such a deadly item.

People handed around gifts and I received flowers to hold in my grave and a pin of participation since I tried but failed. The only ones who want me alive are James, Rin, Kathy, Mom, and Winnie. Everyone else didn't care, I'm good for nothing. I'm not even good enough a role model for Kathy.

Before I knew it, a tear was rolling down my face and everyone around chuckled quietly. Everyone except Rin. He looked furious, and Kathy looked at him scared and said, "Rin it's okay! Did you take your me-" "You guys are fucking retarded!" Rin stood from the couch and looked around at the people with smiles fading into horrified frowns as he had cut off Kathy's words.
He continued to speak loudly, vibrations shaking water inside of cups sitting on tables,

"This boy, this honour roll human with better grades than most of you, and some of you combined is going to die, and I don't care if you think it's funny or not! You guys aren't the ones being buried alone, it's Owen! So you need to stop laughing and realise he is literally going to go through so much pain it is going to kill him! He's your fucking family and you motherfucking asshats need to realise that Owen is just as important as your spouses are because his intelligence could save lives! His dedication to fixing locket defects can save thousands yearly against our dying community! So, Sandra, you and Elliot need to be a good aunt and uncle and sit down and be supportive as you waste your lives on alcohol!"

The dead silence chilled me bones as Rin didn't mind his scars down his arms showing with a jacket around his waist. His fists so clenched, his knuckles beg for air.

Standing, James sits Rin down as I wipe tears from my eyes and lock my sight on the ground. A sense of coldness wrapped around me as I sucked up my tears and tucked them in the back of my mind with an emotionless face. It's hard for me to feel emotions so I cry instead of smiling.

Thanks, Rin.

Kathy is wrapped around my arm like what I imagine a little sister is like.  Petting her hair, I can feel her locket shock her and my brows furrow in hurt. "Rin..." I begin, "You need to calm down, Kathy is in pain." I declared. He looks at me and sighs. As Kathy gently weeps, i notice my mother weeping too, on Winnie's shoulder once more. 

Another day, another broken mirror.

Such a tragic fate.