At Saint Evelyn Hospital Purdy Moon was over to see Terra Pritchard. The clouds were hanging in the sky, just begging for rain. There was a cold wind that ripped through her jacket. It was a summer jacket but it was one of her favorite, a jean jacket with wings embroidered on the back. Her red hair was tamed and straight, in an up and down. She had no makeup but the little on her face from last night that she didn’t fully wipe away. She had a simple Sleeveless turtleneck and jeans that had seen better days. She had Blue tennis shoes and a pair of yellow rain boots in her bag along with a matching rain jacket. She had walked to the hospital as she did not trust herself to drive with so many tears in her eyes. The hospital was less than a half-hour walk. It was not a very big town.

Saint Evelyn Hospital was one of the biggest hospitals in town. Purdy had dropped Terra and her godson off at this hospital before. The white walls and antiseptic smell were something that she hated. All hospitals were the same way. At least the good ones are the bad ones smell of rot. She walked through the confusing halls, with her misspelled name tag that said ‘Pretty Moon’, It was a common mistake. She didn’t find this funny but there was too much on her mind to care. She felt that she had failed her best friend. She should have not gotten drunk as well. Even though she was grieving as well. She knew that it was a bad road to go down. Couldn't she have just gone one night without drinking? When did that become so hard?

She had seen her mother drink herself to oblivion after her father had disappeared. Her mother was not a strong woman Emotionally so Purdy had always tried to be strong for her friends and what was left of her family even though they didn't talk to her anymore. She didn’t talk about her own drinking.

And here she was with her closest friend who was doing the same thing out of grief. She had thought that one night would be okay but she was wrong. One night of drinking had ruined another life.

Terra had been a good parent even though she was young. She had gotten pregnant in the last year of high school. She would have funked out if it hadn’t been for Purdy being with her every step of the way. The father had skipped town to avoid responsibility, the bastard. That bastard and his family had skipped town and never paid a penny in child support but even though she was alone Terra had loved her son deeply. She was devastated when he had gone missing. It had been four months of fading hope that they would see him again. Those hopes were dashed on the rocks of reality.

Thomas is dead.

Thomas was only 4 years old.

It was a tragedy and it was happening all over town.

She walked into room 457, the white walls with art on the wall. The beeping of machines slowly drove one insane. In a plan room lay her friend, wires, and tubes were all over the place. She seemed smaller than she actually was. There is a terrible awning in her heart as if she is leaning over a cliff. Her heart caught in her throat and there were tears in her eyes. They had known each other since they were little girls. Terra never felt so small in her eyes before. She was her best friend and she had always loved her.

With tears starting the well in her eyes she said “I’m so sorry I should have never left you alone last night.” Purdy balled her tears were two waterfalls. She sat in the uncomfortable chair, she was pulling at her hair. She bit her lip and tried to think of the words. The pressure in her heart stole her words. There was only a lump where her tongue should be. After a minute She got control of her mouth again her throat Relaxing.

“If I knew that it would get so out of hand, I would have never let you drink, you’re always so responsible I would always follow your lead” the tears dripped down her face.

“But that is not what you needed last night. You needed me to lead. I should have just held you as you cried and not let you touch a lick of alcohol” She brushed a stray curl out of her face and behind her ear.

“I didn’t know that it was your last hurrah, I wonder if you had that plan, or was it just despair when you were alone?” her voice was wavering. The tightness in her chest threatened to remove her voice again.

“I thought that… I would be enough… that your family would be enough, I am here for you. I want… I miss him too. He was a good kid, so sweet. He didn’t deserve what happened to him. But just don’t go into that light, I will miss you too much.” Her voice breaks and she sobs.

After a minute of sobbing, she said “Remember When we were so small, we didn’t have a care in the world. It’s so different now, we have grown up into women but I will always be remembered as the little child that I knew. Of course, I see the changes that you've made in your life. You are a wonderful woman I'm so sorry that this broke you. I should have supported you more… I wish I could have done more! I wish I understood how to do what needed to be done…” there was hopelessness in her voice. She really didn’t know what to do. Well the first thing first, she was going to have to call him.

“What am I going to do? What am I going to do? I just don't know how to function without you. you were always the one that I came to listen to when I needed it you always know what to say.” She cried in till she could cry no more, Her eyes were nearly swollen shut, and she was empty, both emotionally and Physically, then the hunger Drove her to the hospital cafe, Terra wasn’t waking up any time soon, she could afford to get some lunch. She still felt guilty.

It was unmemorable with the cashier, she didn’t even remember his face. She got coffee that she didn't even want Along with a small pastry and she couldn't pronounce the name of it.

There was one other person in the cafe setting area. It was the mousy-est man she had ever seen. He had brown hair and brown eyes and she was surprised that he didn't have glasses. His face seemed empty without it. He smiled at nothing but it didn't seem to reach his eyes. She always had the habit of looking at the eyes when somebody smiled. She found it was a great Indicator she was talking too much.

She sat a few tables away from him. She had no energy to Entertain other people. She is barely hanging on. Grief It was just around the corner. Her hand starts to shake subtly. There was so much to think of her father's disappearance to her mother's death, and the inheritance on the gym. Thomas's birth and death. He had been a lovely boy. Oh, it hurts. Terra, Sean, and Tyler. Oh, Tyler! She needs to hear his voice.

She unlocks her phone so that she can call Tyler. She hated to say it but he was her on-and-off boyfriend. But she had known him for a long time, Surely he would be there for her, even just this once.

“Hello.” The voice was ice on her burning soul but it wasn't a friendly voice it lacked warmth it lacked what she needed right now. He knew it was her because Her number was in his phone but he treated her like a stranger.

“Hello love, I just need you right now” There were tears in her voice and it noticeably wavered. She was happy he picked up.

“I’m at work, I don’t have time for this.” Tyler's voice was even colder. An Arctic chill. It made her hackles rise. He was one of in one of his moods, they usually only last of the day, but this was not the day that had them.

“I know but Terra is in the hospital. She is in horrible condition.” She was slowly losing control of her voice. Tyler was often hot and cold with her but this was a time that she really wished he was warm.

“That is horrible but I don’t see how this is important to me.”It was set in such a flippant tone that it infuriated Purdy. Tyler knew Terra for as long as she had. It was crazy that he didn’t seem to care.

“Terra is your friend too,” She said in a calm tone that was dangerous.

“Terra is your friend, not mine, I think she Is too serious,” he said As if she was talking about the weather not the life of her friend.

“She is important to me. Thomas was important to me, you should… You should understand that this is important to me. It should be important to you.” She knew that he was an epenthetic but this was crossing a line.

“They aren’t your Family.” He said like that mattered to her. Like he didn't know her past.

“My family is gone, my mother, dead! Father, missing!, now Thomas Who was my godson, by the way, is dead. My brother lives in a different country, and my sister Tini isn’t talking to me. My best friend is on death's door and I am freaking out, I need you!” She was raising her voice. The breaking of her voice was obvious. The mousy man smiled deeper, the smile reached his eyes; it was not a good smile. She gave him a disgusted like. He made her more nauseous than she already was.

“You’re just too much drama! Get over it!” Tyler was hissing the words at her, he didn’t want to be heard and it was almost working.

“What the fuck! It is some really fucked up shit! The was a lot of meat missing from the body! He was just a little boy and they could barely recognize the body!” her face was hot with rage. There were rage tears in her eyes blinding for from the world but she could feel the mousy man's smile on her skin.

“I don’t want to know that! That was so gross!” he did yell this time. But there was no sympathy in his voice.

“This is my life! Do you want to be part of my life? Or not?” She yelled finally tired of his behavior. This was the last straw that she was gonna put up with.

“You know what?!”He screamed back.

“What!” She said not even caring about her volume.

“I don’t want to be with you anymore!” Tyler was yelling, that was normal. Not good but normal. They have been off and on for a few years now but it's still It took a second for what he said to hit her.

“What? What are you saying?” Purdy was stunned, this was not what she needed right now. This was what last thing she needed! It broke her heart. There was a stopping pain in her chest.

“You heard me! I want out of this Drama out of my life!” Tyler yelled not caring how he sounded.

“Oh my god!” Purdy was shrill “I can’t believe that you are such a coward!” Purdy knew that he had problems but she thought that he would be there for her.

“I don’t need this. I’m out! Get your stuff tomorrow!” Tyler yelled not caring anymore if his co-worker heard him.

“Fine, I will!” It’s not like she had much at his place. He had more at her place. She was done. They had done this off and on for some time now but this was the end. She was not going to take him back.

“Bye,” Tyler said with no politeness in his voice.

“Good b-” the phone clicked “ye” she was not taking this bastard back. It was her money that paid for his shit. She was done this was over this had been a long time coming but she had finally reached her point of no return. She couldn't be with someone so callous.

She looked at the mousy man, he looked look he was having the time of his life, and she hated him.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She had another call to make. Terra’s brother was not her biggest fan. He was always cold and distant to her. It did not help that he and Terra were not on speaking terms. Terra had never told her why but it happened when she was pregnant with Thomas. When the boy that she was with just up and disappeared. Terra was heartbroken for months. But she wanted Thomas so she gave birth and Purdy was there in the room with her. She was a good friend, she thought she was a good friend. “But I failed this time.” she thought with a sob.

She was not up to talking to anyone but it was for Terra. Anything for Terra. Terra was there for her when her father disappeared and her mother died in the car crash. Tini had never forgiven her. Like it was her fault that their mother was drunk when she called for a ride, they were coming to get her from a party that she wasn’t supposed to be there. Her sister moved in with her uncle and never talked to her again. It broke her heart.

So she called Sean, he should see her especially if Terra was to die.

The phone rings and rings and she is hoping not to get a voicemail. She was always shit at voicemails she ended up mumbling and giving too much information.

“What do you want?” Sean's deep voice answered the phone

‘Great start, maybe the voicemail would have been better.” She thought then said “Hello Sean, I have some bad news” Sean was a busy man, who was rough around the edges but was a good man it was too bad that he hated her guts.

“And you think I care why?” Sean was upset to be called during work.

“You should care, it is about your sister!” Purdy was on her last nerve

“Wait, what happened?” Sean's voice changed from rough to soft.

“She is in a coma!” Purdy burst into tears, the stress of the day was getting to her and the mousy man was not even trying to look like he wasn't staring at her. His hands were folded in front of him and he was staring with a creepy smile.

“Was she in a car accident?” Sean was sure that was it

There was a long pause as Purdy thought of what to say “...No…”

“Why the pause? What happened?” Sean was worried and confused way she was so hesitant to tell him what happened.

She paused but then said “...we were drinking last night, and when she went home she swallowed a bottle of pills” Purdy still felt guilty that she wasn’t there to stop her. The guilty was killing her.

“She tried to kill herself? Why?!” Sean would never have guessed that was the reason.

“Why do you think you asshole, her son is dead!” Purdy yelled not caring that this was a hospital cafeteria. That mousy man was grinning, she hated him.

“…” Sean was shocked, he didn’t know that Thomas had been found dead. His sister didn’t tell him. If she woke up he was going to change things.

“Do you have nothing to say?” Purdy snapped. This whole day was getting on her nerves and the mousy man just made her feel under a microscope.

“I’m sorry, you’re right. It's just that I never thought she was the type to…” Sean was telling the truth. Terra was a strong woman who never asked him for help even when they were young.

Purdy sighed “There is no type, despair hits everyone mostly when we’re not expecting it.” she had known Despair when her mother had died and Tini had refused to forgive her. She wanted to end her life there and then but Terra had been there for her.

“When did Thomas die?” Sean was calm, as he knew how to be for work. Questions now crying later.

“You didn’t know?” she almost wanted to laugh, this day was getting to her “He has been missing for four months, they found the body Buried in the woods yesterday morning, with chunks missing. They think someone has eaten parts of him. Apparently some nature photographer saw what happened. ” Purdy wanted this day to be over.

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Sean was near tears. She could hear it in his voice.

“You’re still not speaking with her?” She said in a softer tone.

“we… talk… sometimes,” Sean said but thought ‘Rarely.’

“Maybe she was worried that you wouldn't be supportive,” Purdy said knowing that it would be a blow to him.

“That’s my failure. I want to be a good brother to her” Sean was gutted, he knew that their relationship was in the dumps but he didn’t think it was this bad.

“Well, here and now you can be. If she wakes up she is going to need both of us.” Purdy was willing to reach out the hand of friendship, Terra would need everyone she could get. On a plus note, the mousy man looked like he sucked a lemon. ‘Take That mousy man.’

“Thank you for calling me, I know we don’t talk much anymore but I want to be there for her. What hospital is she at?” Sean was much nicer at the end of the conversation than he was at the beginning.

“Saint Evelyn Hospital, I’ll text you the room number” She didn’t want the mousy man to know the number. He was not even trying to hide that he was eavesdropping she wanted to flip him off.

“Thank you, I’ll have to call off from work, so I got to go,” Sean said

“You’re welcome, she will appreciate you being here,” Purdy said

They said their goodbyes, it was a much better conversation than with Tyler, ‘You know what? Fuck him!’ and she left the cafeteria to be away from the mousy man.

Purdy was wandering around, she had no place to go. It was over with Tyler and she couldn't go to Terra's place. That would be a recipe for disaster. She was not in the right head space to go to work she had already called off. The place could run without her for a few days. She was lucky that she had inherited the staff as well. So she was wondering having no place to go and no one to call what she was going to do with her life. It didn't take her long maybe 15 minutes before she ran into the store that would fit her needs. The generically named liquor store, She forgot the name when she looked away, it was what she wanted. Not to feel anything. This store and her Credit card. She got a text as she was at The store.

2:45 pm

Tyler 😍:

-😂😂😂 by the way Casey's Pussy is better than yours!-

She knew all he wanted was a reaction so she wasn't gonna give him it. She had suspicions about Casey. This was just confirmation that she wasn't paranoid.

Inside the liquor smelled of Incense. Both burning and some to sell. It was a powerful potpourri smell. It had a row that was just wine, but she wanted something stronger. She passed the candy row, ah there it was. The hard liquor aisle. Old favorites like tequila and Bacardi were there but she didn't wanna remember last night she wanted new memories of well she didn't know what she wanted the memories of last night by the taste. She just didn't want to remember this. During this entire situation, she doesn't wanna remember the months of waiting to see if he was alive or dead to Confirmation of the death she doesn't wanna remember the coma she doesn't really wanna remember Tyl- the break-up.

Rum always left her with a stomach ache. Vodka was a better choice oh and they have mango Vodka! And, with some Whiskey for the burn, she wanted to feel that heat. That wasn’t all she bought a new travel mug that she thought was funny.

It said

“fuck this

fuck that

fuck them

fuck it

fuck you

fuck everything” The fucks were in rainbow colors the Laid on top in cursive in a black font…

It had a handle and a sealable lid. She had every intention of drinking herself silly but if she could avoid it she would like to not have her outfit stained or soaking wet.

She grabbed a Push Pop and Two Donuts from the little plastic box that they made their home. She was going to need something in her stomach. She grabs a blue electrolyte full drink.

She paid with her credit card. Payday was not today. Future Purdy was paying for these drinks.

Then She went to the parking lot. And sat on a parking stop. The Donuts went down quickly as she was still hungry from a light breakfast. She popped the lid of the fuck mug and poured in the mango vodka. She did it with intent and shut both lids she was earnest about not getting wet. The Plastic Bag straining by the weight of the two liquors. Then she slowly ate the push-pop, enjoying the Citrus flavor. She was ready to drink but she chose to enjoy that moment, it was just her and the ice cream, The tartness of lime the brightness of the orange, this was her favorite But they didn't sell it most of the time only in summer. Push pops are made for much smaller children and therefore much smaller treats so it wouldn't take long for the push pop to be over.

The first shot was sharp on her tongue. The worst bit was before it hit and She could feel it. The taste was better than plain Vodka but it was bite was still there. When she had drunk about three shots she stopped for air, she was going to just make herself sick if she did not pace herself. It was a beautiful sunny day with clouds in the sky and big fluffy things, she was starting to feel it, so she took another drink, and it went down more smoothly. She was on her way to being back out drunk, it was about three more shots. Soon she was going to lose count. She did another sip. Two shots. The sun was great in her skin. She never just sat outside anymore. She was dizzy but that was okay, everything was okay. All she had to do was sit here and drink.

“Hey, ma'am! You can’t drink here” The Store Owner was trying to be nice and wasn’t paying attention. He let her stay too long and now it was going to be a pain.

“Of course, I can drink here, 'cause I’m here drinking,” she said not understanding that it was a command not a statement of fact. She wasn’t trying to be a smart ass, it just turned out that way.

“I don’t want you drinking in front of my store! It is bad for business!” the owner of the store was a big man, who smelled of incense, and his bald head was shaved. He was not an uncaring man but he had seen where this had gone before.

“I have had the worst day, I need this!” Purdy cried, in her drunk state that would be a good enough answer.

“If I had to let someone stay outside my store every time they have the worst day I would never have a moment's peace and it would be hard to navigate to the store. There would be so much vomit, I'll let you have a few drinks no but now it's time for you to move along.” he was not uncaring but it was true, bad days happen every day to someone, and those someone then came to his store.

“I’m not bugging anyone,” She said in a whiny tone.

“You are bugging me! You need to leave people, can’t park because you are sitting there” He said

“Fine, I’ll head out” She starts walking away with her many drinks, and then she runs into a man,

“Watch it bitch!” The thin man had brown hair like the mousy man and that pissed her off.

“Want to run that by me again mother fucker?” Purdy was ready for a fight. She wanted a fight. She was too drunk to remember that there was a reason that one doesn’t just pick fights. She took a swig of her vodka.

“You heard me bitch!” The thin man was not having it today, he wanted a fight. He was laid off today and was never a really good man.

“Oh, you do not want to try me today! Trust me! You don’t want anything I am bringing” Purdy yelled, all of her hurt coming out on the wrong person.

“I’m calling the cops!” the shop owner said and both failed to back down.

“I'm not afraid of you! little girl!” The thin man was not going to let this slide.

“I can kick your ass!” and she could, she was a very fit woman. Her training in kickboxing from a very young age. She had kept it up and now was a trainer at her gym.

“Oh, I want to see you try!” The thin man was not strong for a man but felt that he was stronger than any woman.

“You're not taking me seriously! Seriously I can kick your ass” Part of Purdy was wondering why she wasn’t just attacking the thin man. Something was stopping her but she couldn't remember why.

“Hello, 336? I had someone who won't leave and she is picking fights with Customers” The owner was talking into the phone but Purdy was not listening.

“Is that all you can do? You talk big, I bet there is nothing under it” The thin man was angry but smart enough not to pull the first punch.

“Seriously go, you are not wanted here.” the Shop owner said

The thin man and the woman stood and argued till the police came.

She was put in the back seat and the thin man walked into the store to buy his liquor.

“your name is Pretty Moon? The hilarious!” the female cop said, and the other cop, the older man shushed her. She had forgotten to take off her name tag. Her mother had found it hilarious to name her children with moon puns. Maximus Moon, Tini Moon, and Purdy Moon. She'd never found it funny she never even found it amusing she found it was God darn annoying.

“The name is Purdy! With a U” she said not it was true that Purdy Moon did not find her name funny, didn’t find it funny in school, and not now. She knew better but she was drunk and couldn’t remember why it was a bad idea to yell at cops. She was just so angry, angry at the world for being so cruel.

They were not driving long when a car drove past them at full speed, the cops were not going to let that disrespect go unchecked. The black and yellow car flashed its green and red lights were on and they were flying down the road.