• "How does it feel, Lou?" asks one of your closest friends. He grins, the excitement bubbling out of him. "You're healed! You've finally been released from the hospital! You've gotta feel great!"

    You nod and smile happily at him. "Of course I do," you respond. "It feels like it's been ages since I've felt this free." Your friends miss the glazed look in your eye and the hollow tone of voice as they rejoice amongst themselves.

    "Man, Louis, I'd never'a thought that you'd be out so quickly!"

    "Heh, it's a miracle, ain't it, Cal?"

    "Sure is, Ralphy," he laughs.

    "Say, Lou, whaddya wanna do first?" asks Ralphy, smiling lopsidedly as he nudges your arm.

    You don't bother to turn to your friend as you continue on, sighing contentedly. "You know, I'm not too sure, but Equot; a soft smile lights up your face "—I'm really aching to see my sister again."

    With just those words, both friends' excitement dies out, and the group suddenly lapses into silence.

    But the sudden change in atmosphere doesn't affect your state of happiness in the least—in fact, you don't even notice it.

    Ralphy and Cal exchange worried glances, but the two decide to leave it at that, instead filling the silence with the same mindless chatter you always hear, all the while you're oblivious to everything.

    *.*.*.*.*.*

    "Hey, what's up, Lou?"

    It's been almost a year since your release from the hospital, and you currently sit out on your back porch, enjoying the calm spring day.

    You watch as Ralph and Calvin stroll up to you, familiar bright smiles on their faces.

    "I'm having a snack right now," you respond, gesturing to the table before you. Two sandwiches are set out on paper plates opposite each other, both accompanied by a glass of water.

    Calvin and Ralph exchange the glance you so often see nowadays. "Who're you eating with?" asks Calvin slowly, eyeing the empty seat across from you.

    "Liz, of course," you say, a smile that doesn't quite reach your eyes on face.

    Calvin inhales deeply, his smile melting away as he turns to you with a worried look.

    "Louis," he says, his tone firm but soft, "we've already told you this, but Elizabeth is gone. She's been gone for over a year now."

    You simply stare at them in bewilderment. They had been going off about that nonsense a lot lately. "Why do you keep saying that? Don't you see her?" You point to the other chair; "She's sitting there, quietly reading her book, as always."

    Your blank eyes remain glued on the two, and you shake your head in disappointment as if they were crazy. You miss the look of pain and worry that Ralph wears, instead focusing on Liz. You miss the concern that coats Calvin's voice, instead staring out with the same glazed eyes you've been wearing for a year.

    "Louis... Won't you list Equot;

    You snap, annoyed with his ridiculous joke. "Look, I know you two are my friends, but can't I spend one day alone with my sister? You've come to check on me every day since my release! Can I not have one day without your jokes?" you shout, frustrated.

    The angry look on your face is the only genuine look they've seen from you in a year, and Calvin is quick to step backwards, lips pursed as he pulls Ralph away from you as well.

    You sigh in relief and look at Liz, smiling. "You were upsetting her, don't you see? All this nonsense of her being gone really hurts Equot;

    "Lou, she's gone," chokes Ralph, his fists clenched tightly by his sides. Calvin grabs his shoulder, but he pulls away.

    "She's gone, Lou! Why can't you see?!" he shouts. "Why won't you listen to us?"

    You stare at Ralph, the tears streaming down his face a surprise to you. Your eyes are open for the first time in a year as you watch your best friend.

    Calvin grabs at his arms, pulling him away as he tries to advance towards you, his face twisted in pain.

    You open your mouth, but all of your words vanish as Ralph speaks.

    "LOU! SHE'S DEAD, LOU!" he yells. "Lizzie has been dead for over a year! She's a dead girl!" he hiccups. "Stop playing make-believe!"

    You stare in horror, but your eyes are dull. He was spouting nonsense again, but so angrily.

    His anger soon fades though, and he hands his head, sobbing quietly as Calvin gently pulls him away from you.

    "I'm sorry, Louis," Calvin says, shooting you a sad smile.

    You watch with a blank expression as the two liars finally leave your house.

    You shake your head, trying to rid their words from your mind, and glance at the other seat.

    "…Oh. Liz has gone," you say. "She must have run off in the commotion."

    You hastily stand to clean up your half-eaten sandwich and glass of water.

    "…Oh. How odd," you murmur, pausing as you stare as Liz's plate. "She hadn't eaten one bit of her sandwich today. Hm. Perhaps she's not feeling well today."

    With not another thought of it, you quickly take all of the things inside before dropping off to a nap.

    *.*.*.*.*.*

    You sit on your couch, worried an anxious. Your two best friends are beside you, both looking weary, but they're not the object of your concern.

    Liz hasn't eaten her meals for the last three days—in fact, she hasn't even come out of her room once since Ralph had shouted at you.

    You believe it's his fault, but you've already voiced that, and, right now, you're oblivious to the world around you, your thoughts solely on your reclusive sister.

    You don't even remember that your friends are in your house, and their conversation passes by unnoticed.

    "Cal, I can't take it, man! Seeing him like this…"

    "I know, I feel the same. But what are we gonna do? What can we do for him?"

    "I'm not sure, man, but we sure can't leave him like this! He's worrying over a dead girl like she's really here, Cal. A dead girl!"

    "He can't help it, Ralph. He may have already lost it the moment he had heard the news. Maybe he simply pushed the notion of her death out of his head. He wasn't so extreme before, but I think this is him trying to fill the emptiness."

    "But it can't be healthy for him! He's losing it—no, he's already lost it. If only we had caught onto this sooner!"

    Ralph slams his hand down on the table, drawing your attention. Your eyes slowly move to meet his, and you wonder just what the two are even doing in your home in the first place.

    "…Hey, Louis?"

    Your eyes flicker over to Calvin. You lick your lips; "Yes?"

    The sound of your own voice surprises even you, and Calvin shoots you a worried look.

    "Ralph, would you get Louis a glass of water, please?"

    He's gone in a flash, leaving you and Calvin alone for a bit.

    You stare at him with glazed eyes, waiting for him to say something.

    "Um, hey…Louis, why don't we go out tomorrow? It can't be good for you to stay inside all day like this."

    You swallow. "I can't leave Liz alone like this, though," you respond.

    Calvin purses his lips; "Louis…Elizabeth isn't here right no Equot;

    "I'm not taking any more of that!" you say, cutting him off.

    "I'm not talking about that, Louis. I mean, she's run off. She… She told me not to tell anybody."

    Your eyes widen. "What?" you croak.

    "I couldn't stand keeping it a secret any longer, Louis… I'm sorry. She's not in her room though. You can check, but…"

    You stand swiftly despite your tired muscles and make your way to Liz's room.

    It's not locked, as you had believed, and you push open the door. Your eyes dart around the room, searching, but not a soul is in sight.

    You stand there, dumbfounded, your mouth half-open. You don't know whether you should cry or be angry.

    A hand taps your shoulder, but you don't move an inch.

    "Louis…why don't I take you to where she is? Tomorrow? Maybe she'll be convinced to, well, come back."

    You nod in consent, but you don't turn around. You don't want your friend to see the gathering tears in your eyes, and you're glad when you hear your two best friends exit the house.

    The tears cascade down your cheeks as you lie down on Liz's bed. It's the first time you've cried in a year, but for what reasons, you don't know.

    *.*.*.*.*.*

    The passing scenery of the world outside is just a blur to you as you sit in the car, staring lifelessly out the window.

    Your two chauffeurs try to make conversation with you, but you don't hear them.

    All that's on your mind is Liz. She take up every thought of yours. All you can think of is her, where she is, what she's doing. All you can think of it what you'll say to her to bring her back.

    Already, the car comes to a halt, and the two people step out of it.

    A feeling of dread hits you, and suddenly, you don't want to see your sister. You might break. You might lose it.

    You're already losing it.

    Your door is suddenly wrenched open, and you hear your two kidnappers trying to soothe your nerves and persuade you to move.

    It's for Liz, they say. But you know it's not. You know that if you see your sister, your world will come crashing down around you.

    You feel numb, but you no longer have any will to fight. One of your acquaintances grabs you by the arm and pulls you from the car, supporting you as you walk.

    You don't want to do this. You can't even see where you are; a veil of water coats your eyes, distorting your vision.

    The two kidnappers continue to try and soothe you, but their words go unheard. An unpleasant aura sends a shiver down your spine, and your fighting spirit returns. You struggle to escape from the grasps of your friends.

    You cry out to go back, you plead, but they continue walking.

    You give up.

    And after what feels like hours, your friends release you, sitting you down on a field.

    You sniffle and blink, feeling as warm tears stream down your cheeks.

    Your vision clears.

    "No…" you breathe. You choke up.

    The rock in front of you is your biggest fear.

    Frantically, you look around for something to grab on to, to anchor you to the fantasy you've created, but nothing is there.

    Slowly and reluctantly, you turn back to what sits in front of you.

    You read the tombstone's inscription aloud with a shaky voice as you wipe away your tears.

    "E-Elizabeth Hope Runner… May 28th, 1998 to December 27, 2012 Equot;

    You choke on your words as the tears race down your face.

    The one rock in front of you was the only thing that could bring reality crashing back.

    The one rock in front of you was the only thing that could break you again.

    The one rock in front of you was the only thing that could make you feel so much better.