Why Nickie Died

"Alas, I am a woman friendless, hopeless!"
-William Shakespeare

***

Nickie looked down at her cereal bowl without a word.

"What is up with you? You're always down.", her mom said.
"Nothing. Just...school.", Nickie lied.
"What about school?"
"I think I'm failing two subjects in school."
"What?"
"No, don't mind it. I just need to pass the finals and I'll move on to being a junior."
"Okay." Mom sighed. "Pack your books. You don't wanna be late."

Nickie stood up.

She felt so bad for lying to her mom all the time. It's not school that's worrying her. It's her dad, obviously.

She got in her mom's car with worry painted over her face.

***

Nickie was the last one to leave the classroom. She went out to call her mom.

"Mom? Pick me up.", she said.
"I'm coming, Nickie. Stay outside."
"'kay. Bye." She shut her phone.

As she waited outside the school gates, someone came up to her.

"Hi.", someone greeted.
"Um, hi." It was pretty weird for Nickie. No one talks to her.
"So, are you coming to the party tonight?"
"Sorry. I don't party.", she replied.

The guy shot him a weird look.

"The name's Mike."
"I'm Nickie." She stared at his blonde curls. "Oh, my mom's here. Gotta go."

***

"So, who's that boy you're talking to, dear?"
"He isn't my boyfriend!", Nickie protested.

Then she rested her head on the car window as she remembered the times when her dad used to pick her up.