~WARNING~

This chapter contains themes of suicide.  It is advised that you proceed with caution or refrain from reading if you are affected by this type of content.

Tasmin's pov

I rub the tender sore spot on the back of my head from when I fainted on the hardwood floor. "Damn, I need to start passing out in softer places," I wince. 

The slam of the front door and the click of heels on the staircase echoes through the house. Harriet's back. She saunters in our room, tossing her handbag on her bed, leaping dramatically on it with a sigh.

"Oh Taz, that was soooooo boring. We did nothing, you wouldn't of liked it anyway."

I nod, absentmindedly gazing at the sail boats drifting on the lake. Harriet's chatter blurs into the background of tui bird chirps and singsong. I wish she would just be quiet for once.

"Um hello, Tasmin, are you even listening?" Harriet plonks herself beside me on the window seat, snapping her fingers to get my attention.

"So, as I was saying, Ash has something really big he wants to ask you and is waiting by his car  to see you now." 

"What?" I squeak, I dart over to the window facing the drive way to see Ash decked in his signature black, leaning against his car.  "I cant go meet him Harriet! I look horrible today, look at me." Harriet cocks her head on one side observing me with small smile. "Hush Taz, you look great!" I narrow my eyes at her "That's not what you sai-" 

"Whatever Tasmin, I was only teasing." She interrupted, rolling her eyes. tugging my sleeve, she pulls me away from the window. "Lets go, you cant keep him waiting." 

Harriet drags me down the stairs to the front door. I catch a glance of mum staring vacantly at  the fireplace  clutching her wedding photo with white knuckles. "Hey is mum ok? she looks distressed." Without a warning Harriet pushes me out the door. Before slamming it behind me she hisses in my ear "Your mum is fine,  don't worry I'll deal with her, you go talk to Ash." 

I feel stupid standing idly on the porch, like Im ready to dart back inside. before I could do anything, Ash swaggers over to me smoothly, unveiling a bouquet of pink roses from behind his back with a cocky grin. "I got these for you."

"Oh! Um Thanks." I nervously reply, my eyes averted as I take the blush colored flowers. What is going on? I wonder anxiously.

He runs his fingers through his jetty hair taking a deep breath, seeming hesitant.

"So Tasmin, I was wondering if you would like to go to prom with me."

My jaw drops on the ground as I stutter some foreign words I cannot decipher.  "Uh I uhhh ye?"

Thankfully, Ash takes it as a yes, nodding with his hands in his pockets.  "Ill see you around then, text me any details." I stand dumbfounded on the driveway clutching the roses as he waves goodbye.

Harriet bursts through the front door, breaking my frozen stance as she runs up to hug me. "Did you say yes Tasmin? Tell me you said yes!" I listen to her squeal with excitement, some of her energy rubbing off on me as I laugh for the first time in ages. "We have to go dress shopping this weekend," She exclaims. "Prom is months away." I reply giggling like a mad man. We walk with a bounce in our step back inside with our arms linked. I shoot another worried glance at mum over my shoulder as we bound upstairs to my room.

Hours pass as we crowd around my laptop discussing shoes, dresses and purses. In the midst of our chatter, Brian meekly pokes his had around the door, biting his thumb nail distractedly. 

"Hey Brian, whats going on bud?" I beckon him over beside us.  He sits on the edge of the bed fidgeting with his hands.

"Mum is acting strange" his voice quivers. "Shes saying scary things."

"What kind of things Brian?" Worriedly I get off the bed, Harriet avoids my questioning glance as I look to her for answers. Brian takes a quick breath, he speaks quickly, as if he didn't want to hear it himself.

"Shes talking weird about dad.... like hes dead." 

I choke slightly, my voice cracking as I speak. "what do you mean?" 

Harriet starts walking for the door. "Stay here Tasmin, I'll go deal with this. I push past her, my stomach in knots. "No you stay here Harriet," I hiss "Mum needs me right now." I spin around and stumble over to the staircase, gripping the handrail as I hurriedly stagger down. Harriet doesn't follow.

 By the fireplace, surrounded by wedding photos, I see Mum crouching in the middle. A handful of pills in one hand, a glass of water in the other.  I cry out, running as fast as I can over to Mum to stop her from swallowing the deadly pills. 

"Mum no, please no" I seize the pills out of her hand, barely uttering any words as I hold her, tears gushing down the face. The pills lay scattered on the floor, spread around the photos. Mum feels ridged beneath my arms. Her composure stiff. 

"I cant live with him gone" she whispers quietly. "After the funeral yesterday......Im sorry."

A chill runs up my spine, I let my arms fall away from her like a dead weight. "Funeral? There hasn't been any funeral. Dad is still recovering in hospital. Doctors said yesterday that he will be awake soon." 

Brows furrowed, mum shakes her head. "No Tasmin don't start feeding me lies, the funeral was yesterday, we buried your father.....my husband. His death..... It was all my fault." she sobs loudly, letting the glass of water fall from her grasp to a puddle beneath her feet. We watch the pills fizz and the photos curl. 

"Does Harriet have anything to do with this," I ask sternly.

Wiping her eyes mum shook her head slightly. "Harriet has been helping me cope, until....... I'm sorry Tasmin for this, you are so young and Brian too, I'm sorry for my selfishness. I don't know what is going on anymore." 

I shake my head and hug Mum tightly. "Im sorry for not being there for you," I whisper horsey. I try not to talk sense into her when sense doesn't even seem possible right now, to tell her Dad is ok and that everything else is ok. There's a time and place for that; Mum isn't ready. Until then she needs help. I call a local psychiatrist and explain my mothers current state. 

"Your mother, by the sounds of it, is suffering from a type of delusional disorder and needs to be checked into a mental health facility immediately. I will call for a team to pick her up, how old are you, do you need to call a guardian?" 

"I'm 18." I lie, there's no where else for me and Brian to go.  The psychiatrist doesn't ask anymore questions, letting me wait with mum until help arrives. 

"Help will come soon Mum, hang in there."

 I lean my head on her shoulder with a sigh. Mum rubs the back of her neck gingerly, her face contorted in pain. Gently, I move her hand away to see whats causing discomfort. 

I breathe in sharply as I see the familiar x shaped bruise on the back of her neck. 

.................................................................................................

~Authors note

Hey, 

This chapter was a tough one to write about, but I hope that it brings to light to look for the warning signs of someone experiencing difficulties or mental illness. I have left clues throughout my chapters that something with Mrs woods wasn't right, some of you may of picked up on that, for most it goes unnoticed. Again, it was very subtle so I wasn't expecting anything of you. 

Its been a long time since I last updated, I hope to continue writing and updating often as I can as these past few months have been full on. Now that things have seemed to have slowed down a bit, I can get right on track.

My chapters aren't all going to be this dark, but be ready for some twists and turns as this story is about to get a lot more sinister. Remember to vote if you are enjoying it so far! I do appreciate it.