Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

*I'm so sorry*

The funeral was very private-it was held in a small town in Glasgow, away from the prying eyes of the media. The last glimpse of her mother's stiff whitish body was at the hospital, just before the doctor zipped the leather corpse bag over her lifeless face.

"Time of death 8:45 pm, 10th of August, 2009". The doctor had announced.

Her eyes had brimmed with unshed tears, blurring her vision and before she realized what was happening, she was rushed to the emergency ward right there in the hospital. It was a tragic moment for the Jordans. Her father was barely getting by and her condition made things even worse as he had to nurse the death of his significant other and his daughter collapsing in the hospital at the same time. She had felt really bad for him, adding to his headache like that. But it can't be helped-she couldn't control the mixed emotions welling up inside of her, threatening to explode any second so her body did the natural thing by shutting down momentarily.

After her mother's demise, life wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs. Hence, She found consolation in hard drugs. Although, her dad was unaware about this-he'd be depressed and broken as hell, however, her best friend, Hannah knew about it and had relentlessly warned her against it but she can't help it.

One evening, Hannah had barged into her bedroom, unannounced and had literally caught Janice sniffing some coke at the side table. She had jerked her head up at her gaping friend, with her eyes hazy as hell from the drugs.

Hannah was evidently dumbfounded to speak for some minutes. She had kept blinking her eyes as though to snap her senses from a nightmare.

Her jaws clenched with fury when she spoke. Her tone was gruff. " W-What the actual fuck are you doing Jane?! Drugs really?!" She had growled through gritted teeth.

Janice shrugged, her features were aloof. This fueled Hannah's anger all the more.

"I know you're going through a lot Jane but this... " she waved at Janice's pitiable state then continued with an admonishing tone." this is utterly pathetic! I can't believe you would stoop so low Jane. Get over yourself!"

Janice had scoffed with disdain evident in her face as she stared at her friend through squinted eyes. She sniffed some more coke, basking in the exhilaration effect of it as her eyelashes fluttered in satisfaction. Hannah couldn't be more disgusted by her boldness. She was like a different person entirely. Is this her best friend she used to play tag with? She shook her head in disappointment at her, while her feet repeatedly tapped the flooring impatiently.

Janice heaved a deep long sigh. A mocking laugh escaped her chapped lips.

"Oh, Hannah we both know you have always got your life figured out. You don't have any idea how hard this is for me do you? How you feel your whole world is breaking apart but you can't do anything but simply watch it fade right before your eyes."

"Jane no one understands you better than I do. I'm your best friend idiot! Snap outta this!" Hannah shrieked at her, pain evident in her voice.

Janice shook her head frantically.

"No, you don't! You're just fucking lucky to have both parents and your brother by your side. Parents that invest not only their wealth but their time in you. You should be thankful for that. That's why, my friend, you can never understand how deeply broken I am right now. Life just doesn't excite me anymore. Maybe I should have joined my mother when I had the chance to take my own life!"

"Please don't say that Jane! No matter what happens, I am always here for you. My family is your family too. Never doubt that." She implored, tears almost welling up at the corners of her eyes as she closed the gap between them and attempted to hug her friend when she pushed her away rather roughly and lurched away from her to the window with her back facing her.

Hannah was shocked by her reaction.

"Jane? What is the matter? I don't get it. Why are you suddenly doubting our friendship after all these years? Could it be because of the drugs? You've got to quit them. You don't want your already distressed father finding out about this, do you?

At the mention of her father, her eyes softened with concern. She sincerely doesn't want to cause him more damage than he could handle. I mean, he's still grieving her mother and if he finds out about this... He'd be shattered. Hannah was right after all. But it's going to be hard to just quit. As it is, she's been on them for two months now.

"You can do this! I'm always here for you. First thing is first, we would get rid of these drugs and stop all chains of supply or wherever the hell you've been getting them from. Perhaps take you to rehab. Trust me, your Dad wouldn't even know a thing." Janice said calmly to her.

Janice bit her lower lip in resignation. Why was she pushing her only true friend that had been with her through thick and thin away? What had come over her? These drugs are turning her into some kind of monster.

She turned to face her best friend with guilt written all over her face.

"I-I am sorry Hannah, I'm a jerk. These drugs are getting to me."

Hannah smiled at her with tears trickling down her flushed face. She hugged her friend deeply. Janice couldn't keep the tears at bay any longer so she let them flow freely.

"I am so sorry. I am so sorry" she kept muttering in between the gentle hiccups escaping her lips as she held her friend close.

"It's okay it's okay" Hannah kept saying in return as she patted her back in circular motions.

Her eyes were so heavy as her eyes fluttered open slowly. The first thing that welcomed her, in reality, was the dull light on the roof. The beeping sound of the heart rate monitor was steady and heavy breathing beside her was even louder. She was so weak getup. The searing pain in her head made her wince. She let out a weak cough that startled the man behind her as he abruptly jerked his head up and looked up with relief.

It was her father.

"Oh my God Janice are you okay baby girl?" his voice sounded broken. Just like that time they lost her mother.

From the corner of her eyes, she spotted the demi-god standing in front of her. Wait! Did his blue eyes just darken with concern for her? He'd save her after all...

She managed to smile rather weakly at her father. Her hands were decorated with all sorts of medical tapes

Her lips parted to speak but she could feel a bulge in her throat. She wanted to rant, to tell her father how truly sorry she is for all the trouble she had caused him.

Eventually, he'd find out that she had been on drugs. True, she was sober after Hannah came to her rescue but she returned to them after... He left her. When she taught she won't have to fill empty again, she did when he disappeared but she hid this from Hannah and her father.

She tried to speak again. Her father edged closed and clutched her hands in his, looking genuinely worried for her, his wrinkles more pronounced with exhaustion etched in his brows.

Did he already know? She wondered as tears stung her eyes. She bit her lip in a bid to hold the tears at bay but it was too difficult when she saw how petrified her father had been.

"I'm so sorry"...

That was all she could say. Her body trembled as she cried profusely.