15. Coraline
15
Coraline
Seven years ago
Freshman year at the Maple Grove Institute, this will be the best year yet. I just know it. I get out of the car and take a deep breath in and inhale the smell of the crisp, fall air.
Fall is my favorite time of year. It’s not too hot but also not too cold. You get to dress in cute sweaters and go to fall festivals and pumpkin patches. It's also football season.
This will be my first year since I was four years old that I won’t be supporting a football team from the sidelines.Instead, I will be supporting them from the stands like everybody else. It’s one of the few things, besides school dances, that I feel like I already miss. I loved cheerleading so much.
Jesse was the quarterback at our high school and I was the head cheerleader. We were always together and he was my best friend. We really were something straight out of a movie.
Living a life without Jesse has felt impossible lately, considering I just broke up with him three weeks ago. He’s my first and only love. He was my first everything but I had to leave. I don’t ever want to be the reason someone is miserable with their life.
Scottsdale will always be home to me. Maybe I’ll go back one day, but my new adventure starts now. I need a change. That’s why I picked Maple Grove. It’s four hours away and right smack dab in the city.
Like a typical freshman, I have on my Maple Grove t-shirt and matching hat. I have my hair pulled back into a ponytail and I put on a full face of makeup.
I want to make a good first impression in this city. Everyone in Scottsdale knows me as Jesse’s girlfriend. I want to be known for being me this time.
The atmosphere feels so alive here. Families and students are unloading their cars and moving into their dorms. This will be my new home for the next four years and I’m full of butterflies and excitement.
I turn to my grandfather and give him a hug. “Thank you, Pappy. I’m going to miss you but I promise to call every evening.” I feel him take a deep breath and wipe at his eyes.
Pappy is dressed in his typical papaw attire; dress pants, a button down with a pocket and dress shoes. His white and gray hair is combed to the side and his reading glasses are tucked into his shirt pocket with his handkerchief.
“I love you Coraline. Make smart choices.” Pappy takes out a small, square piece of fabric. “Make sure to keep this with you.”
I look down at his hand and see a prayer quilt. It's a four inch by four inch square made out of quilted fabric with a bible verse in the middle of it that has been anointed. He places it in my hand and hugs me one last time.
“I will Pappy,” I squeeze him harder. “I love you too.”
Two weeks later
I feel something cold on my face. I try to open my eyes and realize that I’m laying on the tile floor in my dorm bathroom. I’m wearing the same outfit I had on last night. Everything is too bright and my head feels like it’s about to split open. What happened?
I sluggishly push myself up into a sitting position and pull my legs to my chest. I’ve never felt this sick in my entire life. I’ve been feeling queasy the past few days, all day long, but this is the worst it's ever been.
The entire room feels like it’s spinning in one big circle. My stomach starts to churn and my mouth begins to water. I’m definitely going to throw up again.
My eyes start to burn with unshed tears and a sob threatens to tear its way out of my throat. I wish my grandparents were here to help me. I miss them so much.
I don’t know how long I’ve been in here. I can’t believe how careless I've been.
At this point I don’t think I can even keep my head up. I know I need to go to the hospital, but how am I going to get there? My family is four hours away and I haven’t made that many friends yet.
Last night was all one big blur. The last thing I remember was playing a drinking game at a fraternity house with my roommate. I can’t recall anything that happened after that. She promised to take care of me if something ever happened and I promised her the same.
I crawl out of the bathroom on my hands and knees and move to my tiny, cot size bed. Our dorm room is small but it has been completely updated as of two years ago— so, at least it’s not outdated and small.
Sleep. I need to sleep. If I can just get into my bed and sleep I will feel better. I reach over to my nightstand, grab the prayer quilt that my grandpa gave me and hold it to my chest. I mutter a quick prayer that I will feel better soon.
I need to find my phone. I’ve got to call someone to take me to the hospital. I start to pull myself up so I can get into the bed when my stomach churns again. This time I really am going to throw up. I grab the closest thing I can reach and empty my stomach contents.
I lay my head back down and everything fades to black again.