"I'm better off alone." I went back to practicing, I couldn't even tell the time. I was out for maybe 2 or 3 hours before Ray walked up to me and grabbed me by the wrist. "Let's go to class." A younger version of me stared at me, his face steady. His stare made the hair on my arms stand up as his ice cold breath climbed out of his dead mouth. "I'm better off alone." I didn't even look at Ray before pulling my hand away from her. There was no light in his eyes, he was an empty shell. No energy in his youthful voice as his lips moved with mine. "Don't fucking touch me." Ray's jaw dropped and smacked me on the shoulder. "Calm down! You know if you fail you're gonna get kicked off the team right?"
"I'm better off alone." My voice shook as I whispered a response. "I'll just move schools if that happens." "Stop being delusional." She said, but I didn't respond. I just stood there…I sighed and walked back to the locker room. I got into the shower and thought about Sora's words. Maybe she's ri- "I'm better off alone."
I walked into class and the teacher had the audacity to tell me I'm late. I ignored him and went to my seat. I feel nothing yet I feel something. Is it regret, or is it hate? I looked out of the window and instead of looking at my reflection I looked at what's outside. Looking at the beauty of the world in opposition to my black and ugly inside. "I'm better off alone." Sora sat next to me and stared at me. I'm a lost boy who appears to already have a path, but what do I want? Do I even have the ability to choose? I continued to look out the window, unaware of anything outside of my own mind. The teacher told me to pay attention but my mind was too cloudy to hear anything but my own thoughts. The younger version of me tapped on my desk and walked in front of it. He put his forehead on mine so there was no mistake at who he was looking at. "You're better off alone." I couldn't accept those words if they came from someone else. If I'm gonna be alone. I'm gonna be the one who allows myself to be alone. At least I chose my solitude. There's at least a little bit of comfort in that.
"Shut the fuck up." The class grew silent as everybody looked at me and then the teacher. Yoichi walked up to me and grabbed me by the wrist. "Chill out bro." I looked at him before yanking my hand away. "Don't fucking touch me." I pushed Yoichi to the side and walked out of the classroom.