Cherry contact

Chapter 3

Cherries

I hate cherries.

Why?

Thinking of Hailey and that fateful night brings a bitter taste in my mouth.

The taste of cherries.

The psycho kidnappers made me do insane things. They made me dance n***d. I vividly remember dancing to shake it off in nothing but heels. I remember hazy eyesight and drinking. Heavy drinking. Smoking too. I almost lost it. I was so intoxicated. I knew because I couldn't feel pain. I didn't feel pain of losing my father at 5.I didn't remember and it didn't matter.

I felt indestructible.

I kept on tripping over my heels and laughing so hard that I'd cry. I remember taking my heels off only to be laid in bed by one of those men. At  dawn, I felt myself moving, kissing and falling---

My head hurt and I crawled to my bed. Memories like these were always hard to remember. I buried my head in the soft sweetness of my bed. I heard a sigh.

Hailey is still here.

She climbed on my bed an sat opposite me. Gently, she laid her pristine body on the white sheets and drew herself nearer to my face. She put her ghostly fingers on my cheeks and tried to cup them. As usual, I didn't feel anything. Her face was so close. I could see through her.

"Visit my grave"

She said it strictly and stonily like I had to do that. Like I needed to be forced. Her face was round and beautiful. Like a cherry.

Ugh.

I hate cherries.

"What if I don't?"

I'm away from the bed now. Just sitting on the rug with my legs tucked underneath my laps. My arms are folded and I'm looking straight at her.

"It's the only way we can free each other. Do you think I enjoy haunting? It's been two years now .Look at yourself. Are you truly HAPPY?". Hailey looks like she's about to burst. I take a quick glance at the mirror on my desk. Am I truly happy?. Do I enjoy having a ghost in my room? .I feel my cheeks. They're cold. I have dark circles under my eyes and I'm a bit fat.

Ok. I'm chubby in a way. I ate way too much due to stress and depression.

The red tips of my brown hair are fading. I look miserable. Pathetic. Sad

Just like Hailey said.

"Come down here, honey!". Mom's shouting brought me out of my self-loathing. "Someone's here to see you!". Who could be here to see ME?.I grabbed my love handles and sighed. Probably a free gym membership. I left Hailey and went downstairs.

A girl about my age was standing there in a short pink skirt, transparent blue crop top and black heels. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders and she looked beautiful. I saw a golden pin in her hair with the letter E in it. Her hazel eyes caught sight of me quickly and a bright smile the size of the moon flashed across her face. She grabbed my hand.

"Name's Elodie Farren. I'm the girl next door"