Absolute Dark - Coraline

Coraline - Bright Lights

From the journal of Coraline Abernathy.

My name is Coraline Abernathy. I'm trying to record the last few days here, just in case.

I'll continue entries when I can, while I can.

The greyhound must have hit a bump because I'm shocked out of a deep sleep, now barely awake. Quickly checking my pockets before grabbing a sip of water from my hot pink bottle, I'm groggy but hydrated and ready to get to town.

I turn to the few seats across the aisle from my spot, the only other passenger on this route asleep. It is a boring stretch, I've taken this bus enough times to know.

Looks like a middle-aged Timothy Chalamet, cute sleeper. The last Brightmane highway sign flashes by and I bring my bag up to the front seats, flopping down while waiting for the motel stop to appear in the distance.

I'm usually an anxious mess, but now I remember that I kind of hate this bus driver, I don't always get him when I visit using this route. He's smiling, humming along to the old school CD player he's got equally old school headphones running out of.

Very strange but a nice relief, he must love that album because I've never seen this man smile once. The motel creeps into the distance so I lean over the window seat next to me and I pull the rope, dinging my intentions.

I couldn't bring myself to look at the driver on the way out, but I did say thank you, always saying thank you, never meaning it to this guy until today. 

Taking a breath of the country air, I pull out my phone to look for my conversation with Sabrina, before I can open the app I hear,

"Hello dear, it's been a little while since you've been around!", The sweet old lady that owns the motel. Martha, I believe her name is.

"Oh hi, Martha right?"

"That's right dear, I run the motel."

"I remember, it's nice to see you again, you're right it's been a month or two since I've visited. I'm Coraline."

"Well I know you're friends with the Clemens girl, lord knows she needs a good influence." Martha smiles at me with sympathy.

"Yeah, she's had it rough, to put it lightly."

"Indeed love." I smile back at her. "Well, I should get back to work dear." Martha starts to walk away. 

"Have a good day Martha." 

Checking my phone again, I finally see that Sabrina replied to me 12 minutes ago. They're at the diner across the street, I look up and see her and Andrew waving at me.

Picking up my bag and starting to walk across the 4 lane street, I realize I hear a buzzing behind me. Looking quickly, I have to do a double take because it's Martha, she's stuck in place, mid stride.

"Martha?" I ask her gently.

She's.. Humming? Her body vibrating, no voice, I'm getting closer, she starts to groan. I place my hand on her shoulder. She gasps then breathes deeply, shocking me and setting my anxiety alight again. Catching her breath, she turns around slowly.

Dribble on her lip, eyes watering, she smiles at me, yellow crooked teeth once invoking parental vibes now making me feel like I'm looking at an old witch.

"Leave while you can Coraline." Her smile falls away, and she runs into the motel rental office. I feel nauseous, and a bit sweaty. Trying to shake it off, I look both ways and run across the road. I take a few pulls off of my vape before checking behind me, she's watching me, I can see her outline behind the curtains in the office. At least she's not next to me anymore. 

Pushing the door to the Diner open I smell burger grease and apple pie, before I can turn to the table I imagine Sabrina & Andrew are sitting at, I feel her rush into me. She takes me into her arms, and she kisses me on my chapped lips. I still feel guilt when I kiss either of them, I'm starting to regret opening up our friendships sexually. I miss Violet right now. Nevertheless I kiss her back and she pulls me along to our table, Sabrina pulls me into the booth while Andrew slides a creamsicle milkshake over to me, they are cute. I do love them, I just need a break from my own emotions after Violet. 

"Did you guys see that?" I ask no one in particular as I try to quiet my mind and my nerves.

"See what?" Andrew asks while Sabrina leans her head on my shoulder.

"The old lady from the motel, you didn't see her freaky vibrating thing?"

Andrew looks across to the motel. Sabrina grabs her burger from the table, eyeing the optimal second bite. "That sounds like her lately, honestly I think she's losing it, she's old."

"I mean, I guess so, she always creeped me out though, since we were kids." Andrew says slowly, still looking across the road. 

"I think I need to run by Violet's house, without you guys. Just a fast visit before we go out tonight." They looked at each other. 

Empathetically, Sabrina tells me, "Hey, that's totally okay. Andrew & I have been talking and, we think maybe the three of us should take a break while He and I work on our issues. And I know none of us feel great about whatever is going on with Violet these days."

Andrew seemed calm but braced, avoiding my eyeline. Thank god, I wanted to jump up and scream in selfish joy.

"That makes a lot of sense." I speak as smoothly as I can.

"We were all so happy" Andrew lets out meekly, "I'm sorry Sabrina."

"I know, me too. We want to start again and try to get our friends back." Sabrina says to us while holding our hands.

Soon enough we're smiling and chuckling while I mentally brace myself to walk over to Violet's house. Again my anxiety peaked to a painful high only to be largely eased by those I was worried about. I started to feel hopeful, maybe we can have Violet back. We really were happy, Andrew was right about that.

Until I kissed Violet one of our camping nights. I spiraled for the first time in a long time. I'd spent years trying to prove myself to Abi, and to my friends, I needed to fix this. 

I needed to see my best friend.