The next day, I awoke with a throbbing headache. Not the 'it feels like someone is banging a hammer inside my head' ones but the 'it feels like I'm hungover and someone whammed a hammer in my face and whacked me upside the head with a metal bar a hundred times' ones.

You ever get those?

Anyway, my mind blurry with pain, I stumbled out of bed and hobbled down the stairs. I bumped into someone.

"Woah, Iris, are you okay?" They asked. I winced; their voice way too loud.

I shoved them away and made my way to the kitchen, where I knew the painkillers were. I harshly opened the cupboards and swore under my breath until I located the white bottle. However, I probably shouldn't have taken the pills while in this state. Tears blurred my vision, and I swallowed some, hoping to ease the pain. Instead of doing so, the world tilted sideways, and I collapsed. The bottle fell out of my hand, spilling all over the cold floor. I retched, realising I must've accidentally taken too many. The last thing I saw was my brothers barging in, their eyes wide and frantic.

Then everything went black.

X

The next time I awoke, I was in a meadow. The sun shone merrily, hanging in the azure sky. The grass felt soft underneath me, and the sweet scent of flowers wafted in the air.

"Am I dead?" I wondered aloud.

"Nope. But you gave it your best shot," a wonderfully familiar voice said behind me.

"Alex?" I whispered, turning around. There was my best friend standing in all his glory. His dark blue eyes filled with happiness, "Alex!" I ran forward and hugged him tightly.

"Shhh Prinkípissa," he whispered, "it's okay." ().

"Where am I?" I asked, breaking away from the hug.

"Heaven- or whatever you want to call it," Alex replied.

"But I thought you said I didn't die?"

"You didn't," Alex said, "let's talk."

We sat down, and he looked at me expectantly.

"I didn't mean to almost OD," I whispered, "my head was hurting, and I took too many. But... it's hard, Alex. The past haunts me, and I don't know what to do! I sometimes feel like Atlas. Like the weight of the sky is resting in my shoulders. What should I do, Al?"

Alex just listened patiently. When I was done, he said, "Rainbow, you are the strongest girl I know. So many people have been through half of what you've been through and cracked long ago. Yet you're still standing strong, and that's so brave. Sometimes, you need to share what you're feeling. Share the weight of the world. Talk to someone. You're not alone, Rainbow. There are people down on Earth who love you and would take a hundred bullets for you. You gotta trust someone," the best thing about Alex was that he said nothing patronisingly. He merely stated the facts, and it was my choice what to do.

"I'm scared," I admitted, "I'm scared of trusting and making myself vulnerable. I'm scared of hurting the ones I love. I'm scared that if I trust, I'll end up being hurt."

"We're all scared sometimes," Alex smiled gently, "it's our choice whether we want to let the fear rule us, or face them and become stronger."

"I'm tired of being scared," I said quietly, feeling a wave of exhaustion overcome me. I laid my head in Alex's lap, and he stroke my hair, "how much time left?"

"That depends," Alex said, "you have two choices. You can stay, or you can go back."

His words sunk in. I could stay and escape it all-that would be the easy option. Or, I could go back and face my fears- that was the harder option.

"I have to go back," I said quietly.

I sat up and saw he was smiling proudly at me.

"I love you," I whispered, "I wish you didn't have to go. I'm sorry," I looked down, tears pricking my eyes.

Alex grabbed my chin and gently tilted my head up, "Listen to me, Iris," he said firmly, "my death was not your fault. It was my time. Don't blame yourself. I'm always watching over you and I never truly left. I'm always in here," he pointed to my heart and a warm feeling spread through me.

"By the way," he smiled lopsidedly, "I always hear your prayers. They never fail to bring a smile to my face," he hugged me, and I hugged him back. I knew this would be the last time I see Alex, and it filled me with sadness. However, I knew it was for the best.

"I have to go," he said quietly, "remember what I said: trust your family, Se agapó," he kissed the side of my head, and I openly wept. (').

"I love you too, Al," I said. I watched him being dragged back by some invisible force. I felt his hand slip out of mine. I saw his smile for the last time. I heard him whisper 'I love you' for the final time.

And then, he was gone.

Actually, that was a lie. He was never really gone. He would always stay with me, in my heart.

Breathing deeply, I looked up towards the sky, "I'm ready to go back," I said loudly.

The ground rumbled slightly, and I fell into a deep sleep, welcoming the darkness.

X

My eyes fluttered open, and I immediately squeezed them shut, the bright white lights too much. I heard the heart monitor beeping beside me and deduced I was in the hospital. I groaned and felt someone's grip on my hand tighten.

"Iris?" They whispered, and I saw it was Brandon. He had worrying bags under his eyes but was looking at me like I was lost treasure.

"Hi," my voice was croaky, "can I have some water, please?"

Brandon quickly poured me a glass and handed it to me. I drank it, and he assessed me worryingly- as if I was about to start sobbing and screaming.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked.

"You just tried to kill yourself," his eyebrows furrowed.

I did a spit take. Where the blazed did he get that idea from?! Then, I realised what it must've looked like to my family. Ah, gummy bears. This is going to be interesting.

The door burst open, and the rest of my family came in, followed by Jax.

"Jax," I said happily.

"Rainbow," he looked relieved, "are you okay? What happened?"

"I didn't try to OD," I replied, "I had a headache and took too many painkillers. It was an accident; please believe me."

He grinned, "course I do."

I felt an enormous weight lift off my chest. At least someone believed me.

"Great. Now, when can I get out of here?" I looked expectantly at my family.

"Later today; after the doctor checks you over," David assessed me with the same look as Brandon.

"I didn't OD," I repeated slowly, "I had a headache, and it was an accident," I shook my head slightly. They didn't believe me.

"Get out of my way!" I heard a voice say outside.

"Ma'am, we can't let anyone who's not family in!" A doctor cried out.

"I've known her for a long time! She's practically family and if you don't get out of my way, I'll show you such pain that no medicine in the world will be able to cure!" The female voice yelled back.

"Looks like Tracy is getting angry," Jax smiled wryly.

"Tracy is here?" I sat up eagerly.

The door burst open and the girl stormed in. Her pink hair flew around her angrily, but her grey eyes softened when she saw me. She wore a black skirt and a long sleeved white shirt with a denim jacket over it. The Doctor followed in and made to grab her out, but one harsh glare from Jax made him change his mind.

"Iris!" She squealed and engulfed me in a hug, "oh I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too, Trace," I grinned.

Tracy pulled her brother out of the chair beside me and sat on it. Jax grumbled, "she hasn't seen me in over six months and it's like I'm a stranger. I'm only her brother for Heaven's sake!" He pouted and we laughed. Tracy hugged him and ruffled his hair before turning her attention back to me.

"Sooo how's your life been?" Trace asked.

I told her everything in as little detail as possible. When I was done, she glared at my family, "so, which ones are the biological family and which ones are the stepfamily?"

I laughed and introduced her to everyone.

"I didn't OD, Trace," I gripped her hand, "I had a headache and I took too many pills. It was an accident!"

"I believe you," Trace said firmly. I could've jumped for joy, "now, we need to get you out of this hospital. The food here sucks."

Classic Tracy. Always thinking about food.