February 11th

"Oh no, this is terrible." She wrapped one hand around her waist while the other held the thermometer. "There is no way you can go to school with a 103 fever. I'll call your school now and let them know you won't be coming back for a few days."

"Mom… I'm sorry." Everything was fuzzy. My body ached all over. Is this karma? I guess I could be lucky because now I don't have to face Dylan. Mom gently patted me on the head.

"I'm going to get you some medicine from the store. I'll leave you some water for right now. When I get back, I'll warm up some soup so you can take the medicine, so get some rest."

I shut my eyes. I felt myself slowly being drifted off. Everything was black. I feel so alone here. I began walking around in the darkness, but there is nothing here. "Is anyone there? Hello? Can someone hear me?" my voice echoed in the darkness, but nothing responded back to me. Where am I?

"You're in your own mind."

I began frantically looking around in the darkness. There is nothing, but who said that?

"If anything I am 'you'."

I stopped spinning in circles and calmed myself. "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said."

"Why is it so dark here?"

"Hmm, good question. It wasn't always like this, but you made it this way."

"What do you mean I made it this way?"

"You sure do ask a lot of questions."

"Answer me."

"Well, your mind is clouded with fear and doubt. You can't see or hear anything because you choose not to."

"I want out! I don't want to be here anymore!"

"You say that as if I could help."

"You can't?"

"As I said before, I am 'you'. I can only do as much as you can."

"The can you tell me how to get rid of the darkness."

"Well that's simple, just come to terms with your fear and what you doubt."

"I am not afraid and I don't doubt anything!"

"We really are stubborn. So, you're not afraid of being left behind? You're not afraid of being forgotten?"

"Well yes, but I-"

"You doubt your relationship, correct? You doubt that he loves you. You doubt that he will stay faithful even after everything he said. You doubt your worth"

"I don't doubt his feelings for me! I know he loves me, but I don't want to become a set back for his future! He has so much potential, yet he holds himself back because of me. I don't want him to stay stuck in one place because he loves me!"

"I do believe that man is stupid enough to wait for you, but I don't believe you are holding back his future."

"What do you mean?"

"He wants his future to include you, but that doesn't mean he will stop pursuing his dreams."

"But I'm scared…"

"Do you love him?"

"Of course!"

"Do you want to leave him?"

"Never!"

"Then what is stopping you? Yes, you are moving, but who said you would never see each other again? You're sixteen. You can live on your own in two more years. Your love is worth the wait. I mean he still has to graduate too. Haha. At least hear him out, Fawn. Don't decide everything for yourself."

"Thank you." As I closed my eyes with a sense of security, a huge gust of wind blew past me. I opened my eyes to an amazing view of green flower-covered fields with a bright blue sky above me. I've decided.

A cold sensation rushed over my body and my fogged over eyes opened to my mom leaning over me with a wet rag. "Mom…"

"Ah. Did I wake you? You were covered in sweat and looked like you were in pain, so I went to grab a rag to wipe you off but when I came back you seemed at peace."

"Mom, I decided that I want to stay with him…" my voice was faint, but my mom had put a small smile on her face.

"You know you will have a lot of problems coming your way if you decide to stay with him." She continued to wipe my face with the cold rag.

"I know, but I want to be with him. I- I love him…"

"Youth sure is wonderful." She smiled at me again with a sense of relief.

"Also, mom, when I get better, can you help me make something…"

She looked slightly shocked, but the goofy smile came back again. "Of course. Anything you like."