Looks Can Be Deceiving

Pandora’s POV-
I woke up lying on the floor on top of the jacket that Austin had given me earlier at the restaurant. I sat up, rubbing my head. I had blacked out during an attack. Tears formed in my eyes as I sat in my foyer, picking at the hem of Hannah’s dress. They freely rolled down my cheeks, falling harder than I had wished. I pushed Austin away when all I really wanted in this moment, was for him to hold me and tell in that everything would be okay. I wish I could just tell him everything. I put my hands on the floor and slowly stood up, dizzily walking into the kitchen as tears blurred my vision. I grabbed my phone off the counter and dialed my brother’s number. It rang a few times before he picked up.
“Hello?” He had been sleeping.
“August?” I blurted, crying harder as I said his name.
“What’s wrong, Pan? What happened?”
“I blacked out again…” I whispered. He sighed.
“What did you get yourself all wound up over, love? Did you take your medicine?”
“No… I just needed to talk to you; someone who understands.”
“It’s all going to be okay, I promise. What brought your attack on?”
“I went out to dinner with Hannah and Oliver’s friend, Austin. He was really nice, August. I want so badly to trust him and let him in, but the voices… they won’t let me. They’re telling me he’s a bad guy.”
“Don’t listen to them, Pan. Do you feel in your heart that he’s a good guy?”
“Yes, I know he’s a good guy. He gave me his jacket at dinner and took me out for lobster… he bought me flowers.”
“Then go with what your heart feels. Your heart is always right. Why don’t you tell him what’s going on?”
“He’s gonna think I’m a freak, August. Who wants to date a girl who hears voices in her head? No sane man that I know.”
“If he’s a genuine guy, he’ll hear you out and understand what’s going on. He’s probably really confused right now.”
“I’ve never told anyone. Not even Hannah or Oliver knows that I’m sick. What if he finds out and doesn’t want me… just like…” I broke down in tears again, feeling whispers in my ears.
“Dad,” he finished the sentence for me. “If he doesn’t want you because of something as stupid as an illness, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
“I just… I want to talk to mom and sissy…” I whispered. “It’s all my fault that they’re gone and-”
“No, no it’s not your fault, Pandora. It’s dad’s fault and you know it. It’s dad’s fault that they died. He put you in an unfair position and there was nothing you could do to control it.”
“If I wouldn’t have ran-”
“If you wouldn’t have run, then you’d be buried in the ground too, Pan.” I sighed. “Now, please go take your meds and make a hot cup of tea. Lie in bed and close your eyes.”
“I don’t want to be alone, Augie… the voices will start again. I just want to be left alone tonight. I want them to leave me alone,” I cried, running my hand through my hair.
“So tell them to go away. You know they will if you make it clear you don’t want to talk to them. You’ve done it before, you can do it again.” I sighed, tired of crying.
“Okay… thanks for picking up, August.”
“Anything for my little sister,” he chuckled lightly. “Now go get some sleep, okay?” he was smiling.
“Love you.”
“Love you too Pandora.”

Notes

QOTD: How many of you have met any of the members from Of Mice & Men? And what was it like? Were they cool? :P
~ Sampiternal