Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm still tinkering with it, but this is what I came up with yesterday during a thunderstorm. It's part of a series of shorts of mine called 'A Thousand Ways to Forget.' I as hoping to get some feedback on it. And I'm sorry if it's in the wrong section. I didn't think it belonged in the Mature section because there isn't anything overly-graphic. Oh and anything in italics is a flashback. Well, hopefully you'll enjoy!

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Leaning against the glass, she could feel the cold air pouring through the cracks, rain pounding in the background. The wind pushed violently against the walls as she slowly got up from my chair, leaving the computer open on the last page used - major household poisons.

Two bottles lay on the floor, both part of the deadly plan, chosen carefully from an array of items in the kitchen. Another teetered over the edge, breaking into a thousand and one shards of glass when it reached the tile floor. The only thing to survive from the crash: A ripped Vodka label.

Swaying, heart hurting from un-wanted strain, she paid no heed to the crystal-like shards, leting them pierce soft feet, drawing blood. Memories and hallucinations filled her mind, some sharp and clear, others as blurry and distorted as the stormy afternoon outside.

'Crap, we need to leave to go to piano in five minutes! You better practice, now, before we need to leave!' Her mother's voice rang out as she klinked on the keys on the large wooden piano. The livingroom was full of sun, her English 9 book splayed on the floor with other papers and such from school. Unsteady notes played as two young boys ran around, pretending to shoot each other. 'Hurry up! We need to leave, like now!' Books were scooped up and the piano was left, sun kissed, behind them.

She was getting dizzy, the throbbing in her chest was getting worse. Yet she still stopped to let cold fingers fall onto the begining notes of Ein Klein Nacht Musik, before she turned away. More memories forced themselves forward as she entered the hallway, this time from much longer ago.

'This is Michael and that's Gabriela. They're my friends.' A young girl smiled pointing behind her at an empty space. Another voice sounded, from the brunette in front of her, 'Nobody is there, May-May. Are you crazy?'

The child looked at the brunette and then behind her, and there stood two more children. A boy and a girl. Both wore long white gowns and seemed to glow, from the tops of their golden hair to their small white sandals.

'What do you mean? Gabriela is right there! And Michael is right next to her.' The girl protested once more. 'Can't you see them?' She asked in a whisper and the chesnut-haired girl shook her head. No.

'Wow, you mena you have imaginary friends, still? May-May, you're...five!' The friend snorted in laughter as she watched the other girl look between her and behind them. She stopped laughing though, when the five year-old smiled. 'Gotcha.

Why would I have any imaginary friends, Amber?' She asked and her friend nodded.

'Good. Now come on! Mark and Brittany set up a baseball field in their backyard!' The Brunette rushed out of the hallway, dissapearing behind the front door. Meanwhile her young friend looked over her shoulder to see two figures smiling at her as they too dissapeared.

She leaned against the bathroom door, looking at the spot she had last seen her childhood imaginary friends. She smiled slightly, as her vision started to focus and unfocus with every movement she made. Slowly, the girl pushed herself off the support of the door and stumbled forward, hitting the floor. The carpet caught her floor, but she could do nothing but prop herself up on her elbows, stomach touching the ground. Her senses started to fail her and soon enough, she felt hre muscles give way. She fell again to the floor. Images took place of her now broken sight.

A small peck on the lips....the taste of candy. Fantasies where sweet nothings were whispered and hiding under a blanket cuddling with a best friend. First days at new schools, rushing towards the garage door for fear of something in the night.

Warm arms seemed to wrap themselves around her waist. With failing strength, and heavy eyelids she turned her head up to see glittering golden hair, a childish face. White robes and glowing hands. She did not see the EMT's lift her up onto a strencher or feel the air mask tighten around her cheeks. All she saw in her hallucinatory state were her two childhood friends, the angels she could only see.

She never heard the ambulance sirens or orders for medication. She only heard the sweet laughter and a tune that seemed so far away yet so close to her. Her eyes closed for a moment, yet she willed them open, if only for one more time. She could see the dark stormy sky, could feel the rain this time. But she paid it no mind, because there, in the corner of her vision, flew a bright red butterfly. Another flew after it, and thousands after that one. Reachign out, she tried to touch one of the winged creatures. She couldn't quite reach.

Then a steady high pitched note played, all went dark and she finally touched her butterfly. She finally got her wings.

Thank you whee I'm glad you liked it, Halo!

Thank you! 3nodding I was actually worried about how I worked the memories inand wether or not they just looked added on. But once again. thanks!