Page 62 of Letters to the Lost

“Shit!” Jumping up from my spot on the floor, I run to the kitchen to grab a dish towel to clean it up.

We spend the next hour watching Twilight and drinking more cocktails. It was very much needed, and I love these girls so fucking much for standing by me even when I fell off the edge. Something I end up word vomiting once I’ve gone over my limit of alcohol consumption.

“Did you feel like the program helped at all?” Shan asks me.

“Completely. I’m not one hundred percent okay but I’m getting there. I think once everything with Jane is done, I can try to move on with my life but right now it just feels like I have this dark shadow following me around. Sort of like the feeling you get when you are walking up the stairs at night after turning the light off.”

“I hate that feeling. I always end up sprinting up the stairs,” Ellie chimes.

“Aren’t you supposed to be all badass?”

“Hey! I resent that; I can be scared too.”

“Okay, so what ridiculous thing are you scared of?” I ask them.

“Belly buttons,” Shan replies with no hesitation.

“What?!” Ellie laughs “What is so scary about belly buttons?”

“They are just scar tissue! If someone poked you in the belly button too hard, it could go right through!” Her full body shuddering, “Also, they are just really gross.”

“I feel sick. That is disgusting.”

“See! Totally valid! What’s yours, Ellie?” Shan turns to her. Ellie still looks green from Shan’s explanation.

“I think my new one just became the same,” Ellie says.

“Nope. You have to tell us what it was,” I goad her, enjoying the uncomfortable look that crosses her face.

She mumbles something under her breath, too low for us to hear, her face turning bright red.

“What was that?”

“I said ducks! Okay, it's ducks. I am absolutely terrified of the little soul-leeching demons; it's not even funny.”

She whines, glaring when me and Shan break out in a fit of laughter. If anyone had ever told me that one of my best friends was scared of ducks and the other belly buttons, I don’t think I would have believed them. Once we all stop laughing the evil duo now turn on me, sinister smiles on their faces.

“What about you, Autumn?” They both say at the same time.

“That!” I point at them both.

“What?” they both say again looking at each other confused.

“Again, that! The creepy thing where people say something at the same time, in the same tone. Absolutely not, have you seen The Shining? The creepy ass twins all like ‘Come play with us, Danny’. It's just a no from me!”

Shan and Ellie both get matching evil grins on their faces as they look at each other and then at me.

“No! If you both continue it I will bring your worst nightmares to life! I will get a pet duck and name him Waddles and he can be best buddies with Nanook and Parzival, and I will pay someone to poke your belly button!” I threaten them both.

“So cute,” Ellie laughs.

“I swear, woman! We have had this argument before, I will make you fear me!”

“CUTE.”

Before the argument can continue, the front door bangs open.

“Honey we’re homeee…'' a very slurred shout comes from the foyer.

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