The Way Things Were

Frankie stirred in her bed that night like always. Silent, but kept awake by the quiet, sobbing inhales of the one on the other side of the room.

Cheryl and Saint were in the living room, crashing on their furniture. Mom and Dad were long asleep in their own room.

The two of them were the only ones awake. Though the sound of her sister wasn’t what kept Frankie’s eyes open, rather just the emotional feedback of it all. Used to it as she was, Frankie still couldn’t get caught up on her sister, and the very idea of what she must have been feeling then.

She understood completely. Should’ve, at least. She’d broken down, too- many, many times these past few months. But… those were incidents. This was a depression. Her sister didn’t think about anything that wasn’t the end. It could’ve been years, maybe a decade even… but having a time limit at all would’ve easily done this to her no matter what.

…Not that they even had that long.

Arrow said June. Possibly May. There’s no reason he could’ve known exactly, and yet… the way he said it, Frankie just knew that would be it.

It’s a wonder Katie even went this long without breaking down existentially, the girl was reminded. Katie always did fear her end, and… well, there’s no way she was ever going to see every park there was out there.

But being able to trick herself into thinking she would see those parks… being able to forget she’d ever parish… that was Katie, Frankie thought. That was her sister. That was the person that no matter what, couldn’t be stopped in the mindless pursuit of her dream. Even if that dream were impossible.

Frankie herself began to shudder, only now noticing the wetness in her eyes.

This is hell, she thought. This has always been hell.

Unlike her ill-fortuned sister, the sadness at least had the mercy to put her to sleep.

She didn’t remember dreaming that night. All she saw was the cold blackness of the inside of her eyes as she ceased to think for an hour… maybe two.

In that blackness, she forgot she would die. She forgot she was even alive.

In that blackness, for a brief moment, Frankie was free.

Katie didn’t receive this gift.

“…Hey.”

Frankie awoke to a nudge. Her sister was staring down at her from the darkness of the room. It was hours before the first drop of morning.

Finding she wasn’t awake enough to respond, Katie just kept talking.

“Frankie? You should get up.”

It was bizarre… out of nowhere, the little sister saw the sibling she used to know. The same happy face, the same determination… or was it… perverted by something…?

“Come on.”

Katie rose Frankie to her feet.

“Katie… what time is it?”

“Late. That doesn’t matter.”

Wearing the same nightgown she had been for the past week, Katie was smiling.

“Frankie, come on.”

“What…? Katie, why are you…”

Katie seized her sister’s hand and gingerly stepped towards their door, pushing it open.

“Come on. We’re going.”