"Blessed" with a Curse

“Austin…Austin…?”
I opened my eyes to my dark room, Alan nudging me on the shoulder.

He’s been here for two weeks now. You think he would let me sleep when I actually could…

“What is it?”

There was a flash of lightning outside, causing him to squeak and scramble into the corner nearest to the bed.
I could barely see his quivering body in the room.

“Alan…?”
He only whimpered as a response.

I got up from the bed and walked over to where he was.

“Alan…”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes.

Another flash of lighting.
He whimpered again and curled up into a ball. I sat next to him and pulled him into my arms.

I didn’t really have to say anything. I knew what the problem was.
The poor kid was scared of storms…

I hummed him a lullaby and rubbed calming circles on his back. He rested his head against my shoulder and still whimpered slightly.

“Shh…it’s okay, Alan…it’s gonna be okay…”
I ran one of my hands through his hair once and moved it away.
He whined a little.

“What is it…?”
“Again…can you pet my hair again…?”

I gave him a confused look even though he couldn’t see me.

“My…my dad used to pet my hair every time I get scared…it calms me down a little…please…?”
I continued to pet his hair and hummed the lullaby.

Soon, he was able to fall asleep in my arms, and soon after that, I drifted off as well.
~*~*~*~*~

“Austin…Alan…time to get up!”

My back hurts…there’s something heavy on my chest…
I really don’t want to get up…

“Come on you two! You have to go to work!”

I groaned and opened my eyes to see Kellin hovering over me, since I was lying on the floor.
That explains the back pain…but the heavy object…?

I lifted my head up slightly and saw Alan, his head resting on my chest.

I quickly moved away from Alan and walked into the bathroom, locking the door.

I’m not supposed to get close to him…I’m not supposed to get attached to him…

“You can’t just walk away from him like that…”
I turned around to face Kellin.

“You know that I’m not supposed to get close to anyone else! You know what happens, Kellin! You…! My best friend…! My mom…!”

“Austin…”
“Just go away…I want to be alone…”
He bit down on his lip, then turned away from me.

“Okay…just…don’t be late to work…”

With that, he vanished.

I groaned and ran a hand through my hair.

I didn’t mean to snap at him…I was just overwhelmed…
I don’t want another innocent person to lose their life…

“A-Austin…?”

Alan’s muffed voice sounded through the door. My heart skipped a beat and started to race once again.

Please…stop doing that…!

“Are you okay?”

I looked down at the floor and saw my razor.
It’s still there from last time.

“I-I’ll be out in a minute…!”

One more time. I’ll do it one more time.

“I’m sorry, Kellin…”

I picked up the razor from off the floor and stared at it for a minute.
I can’t do my wrists…it’s too noticeable now…

I’ll do the hips…no one would look there…

I took a deep breath as I slightly tugged down the hem of my boxers.

I didn’t have to think…I already made the first cut without hesitation.
I smiled slightly. I almost forgot how good the pain felt.

“Austin.”

I dropped the razor in shock.
It wasn’t Alan’s voice…or Kellin’s…

I turned around and tears were instantly rolling down my face.

He stood there, a hurt expression on his face, but he still managed to give me his usual warm smile.

“Mitch…”

“Austin…you know better than to resort to that...”
He picked up the razor from off of the floor and threw it into the trash.

“Mitch…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…! It’s my fault…! You wouldn’t be dead if it wasn’t for me…!”
I shuddered as painful memories played through my head.

“It wasn’t your fault, Austin. I had to protect you…you would have been dead too if I didn’t do anything.”
I shook my head and continued to let the tears fall.

“Austin, listen to me. I know it’s been rough, I know how much it hurts, but it’s not your time. You can’t keep starving yourself to death. You can’t keep bleeding yourself out. You have to keep on living. If not for your own sake, then for the person you have to look out for.”

I bit down on my lip and choked back a sob.
“Kellin’s dead, Mitch. He’s been dead for two years…”

He shook his head.
“I’m not talking about, Kellin.” “What…?”

“I’m talking about Alan. He needs you, Austin. More than you know…you’ll understand sooner or later.”
He turned around and stared at the back wall for a moment.

“What is it…?”
He turned back to look at me and gave me a sad smile.

“Looks like Heaven’s calling me.”
My eyes widened.

“W-Will I ever see you again?” “Who knows? Maybe. Maybe not…”
He pulled me into a hug, then moved away, giving me his famous smile again.

“Good-bye, Austin.”

I collapsed to the ground as he disappeared from my sight.
I pulled my knees to my chest and cried into them.

“Good-bye…Mitch…”