Not So Normal
•Chapter Two•
Kaitlin’s Point Of View.
Cole and I hadn’t talked since the sandwich incident. It had been four days, and he was still avoiding me at all costs. I wanted to brush off his immaturity, but I couldn’t. As much as he didn’t need me, I needed him. He was the father of my child. Whether I liked it or not, he was going to be a part of my life forever.
I brushed the thought out of my mind and sat up in bed. Cole’s side of the bed wasn’t made, but he wasn’t in the room. I glanced over at Kaelyn. She was still sleeping, so I turned on a baby monitor and sat it beside her crib. I grabbed the matching monitor, turned it on, and walked out into the kitchen. After setting my monitor down on the kitchen counter, I poured myself a cup of caramel hot chocolate. I nibbled at a golden apple as I skimmed through the news. My heart stopped as I came across an article: Teen Commits Suicide In Virginia Beach. I choked on my apple as I read the article about the now-dead seventeen-year-old, complete with a picture of Cole. Cole. My Cole. My boyfriend Cole. The father of my daughter Cole.
Surely this can’t be right, I thought in shock, as I grabbed the phone and dialed my dad’s number. He picked up right away.
“Hello?”
“Dad! Have you seen Cole today?” I asked, my voice quivering.
“No, why?” my dad asked, a sincere concern in his voice that I hadn’t heard since Kaelyn was born.
“Never mind. He’s probably at the grocery store,” I lied, trying to maintain a level tone of voice.
“All right,” my dad responded. “See you later. I’ll be home tonight at around seven. I’m staying at work an extra hour to help with a conference set-up.”
“’Kay, Dad. See ya,” I said. I slammed down the phone and read over the news article once more. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and a thin layer of sweat covered the palms of my hands. My eyes started to water as I called the local police. I asked them about Cole. A teardrop dripped down my cheek as the police officer gave me the information that I had asked for. I thanked him, hung up the phone, and ran into my room to get Kaelyn. Something stopped me as I ran into the room. There was a yellow piece of paper taped to Cole’s bedside table. I got closer and read it.
”Dear Kaitlin,
By the time you read this, I won’t be here to give you the support you need. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you. I just want you to know that I think you should keep Kaelyn. Let her be one last thing to remind you of me. I really love you, Kaitlin. I do. And I’m sorry that I can’t be here to say it one more time.
With love,
Cole Rightman”
Tears poured down my face. My whole world was falling apart.