I held back the urge to cry as I looked at my beloved pet's grave. I noticed Crystal get all tense and fidgety, and I knew what was going on. I went over to her and made her sit down next to me.
"You are strong, you can get through this," I said calmingly.
A memory flashed through my mind. An incident a few months ago. She was fine one moment, then she got a weird look in her eyes and started throwing a fit. When she returned to normal, she couldn't remember anything happening at all. It wasn't the first time this had happened, and I was making it my personal responsibility for it to be her last.
"Thanks, Raven," She whispered. She sounded hopeless, like she had already given up. She looked up at me, giving me a weak smile. Her eyes scanned across my face, stopping for a moment when they reached my lips, and again when they reached my eyes. She was using my face as an anchor to the world.
"It just flared up again. I don't want that thing to take over, I don't want it to," She said, her voice breaking.
I wanted to protect her. I know her home life was awful, but nobody could do anything about that since there was no evidence. A lot of times when I was looking at her, I felt I couldn't control myself, and I just wanted to tell her. I always stopped myself, because I know she's straight, there's no way she likes me the same. I would never make her to do something she didn't want to do. She's too kind for her own good, and might do something because she thinks it will make someone else happy, at the expense of herself. Sometimes I felt like Crystal was all that mattered to me, and I didn't want anyone to take advantage of her good nature.
"I think it's time to head home," I said, "I heard there were a few murders in the area, and I don't want anything to happen."
Crystal flinched when she heard the word "murders". I understood that she was paranoid, and didn't ask about it. We headed back the way we came, and I heard shouting. Crystal stuck to my side while Maddie gripped the small shovel in her hand a bit tighter. Crystal flinched and shook every time she heard a noise that wasn't made by the three of us. Maddie had to go straight home, so Crystal and I were alone when we got back to my house. She still looked pale and worried when we got there. She muttered a few things under her breath and started to cry. I rushed over to her, and wrapped her in my arms. She calmed down for a few seconds, before she started to whisper little. It seemed as if she was lost in memory, because she did something unexpected.
"Please stop... it's not my fault... " She whispered.
I held her closer to me, and said some encouraging words. She looked into my eyes. Her eyes were gleaming, because of the tears. She had this look in her eyes that made me shudder. She looked broken, and I wanted to help her.
"Crystal, it isn't real. It isn't real. Focus on my voice," I said.
"But it was! It just keeps replaying in my mind over and over, and I don't know what to do! It's always there, the memory haunting me, and it seems like it's never gonna go away. GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" She yelled. Tears were now streaming down her face.
I leaned in closer to her, and I heard little whispers that I was sure weren't real.
"Look at her. Can't handle ~~~~~~~~~ memory."
"Shame, I thought she was strong~~~~~~~~~ so long."
"It's time we~~~~~~~~~~?"
"Crystal? You want some food, or something to drink?" I asked, ignoring what I heard earlier.
She nodded. I got up, grabbing a large bag of chips and getting her some water with a bit of ice in it. I sat down next to her, handing her the glass. I ripped open the chip bag with a bit of difficulty. I offered it to her, noticing the water glass in her hand was empty. I gave her the chip bag and took the empty glass and filled it up again. I set it down on the coffee table in front of us. I turned on my TV, putting on a show that I know she enjoyed. She relaxed a bit, leaning her head on my shoulder.
"You are the reason I've survived so long," she said, smiling at me. I could tell it was actually her this time.
I wrapped my arms around her. "Same with me."