Cursed by Death

Chapter 2

        I wave out the window as Mom and Dad leave for work. "Bye, guys!" I call. When their cars disappear, I pad over to the couch and pick up my breakfast plate and the remote. I turn the TV on and shovel a spoonful of scrambled eggs into my mouth.
        The news reporter looks grim. "Good morning, Riverview, and today, we have a very sad story."
        I sit down, interested.
        The man sitting next to the woman nods. "Yes. A local resident committed suicide late last night. Let's turn it over to Wilson."
        The television shows a house. My heart catches in my throat. Is that-?
        Wilson speaks into the microphone. "Local teenager Amber Hart bled to death last night in her bedroom," He begins.
        I let out a cry. Tears leak from my eyes, and my vision fills with black spots. "What?" I say out loud. "But I just texted her last-"
        I grab my phone and pull up our conversation. My heart aches as I realize. "She wasn't joking..." I murmur. "And... and I said to her... I said 'stop being mysterious.' It's all my fault."
        Wilson is still talking. "...mother found her when she came home at midnight last night. She was lying on her bed. It appears she slit her wrists and waited to-"
        I shut off the TV and sit in stunned silence.
        Suddenly, the phone rings, startling me. I ignore it. The answering machine turns on, and the caller starts to leave a message. "Callista, honey, we're coming right home. We saw the news." It's Mom. I pick the phone up and manage to mumble, "Okay" before my voice dissolves into tears. Mom says "I love you," and hangs up. I'm standing there in the kitchen, staring at the floor, when they come in just a few minutes later.
        Dad gives me a bear hug. "Oh, Callista. Oh, sweetheart."
        I talk through my sobs. "Why- why would she kill herself? She was so- so happy!"
        Dad sighs. "Well, honey, sometimes people pretend to be happy because they don't want you to know what they're going through."
        I wipe my eyes and release him, turning to Mom. She gives me a sad smile. "You're father's right, Callista. Unfortunately, some people-"
        She trails off. My eyebrows crease. "Mom?"
        Her hand flies to her chest. "Just heartburn. I'm.. I'm okay." She takes a few steps, but I notice she's breathing hard, and sweat coats her face. "I.. I feel a tad lightheaded."
        And with that, she falls to her knees.