I was suffocating. Not a breath passed my lips. I felt tired. My movements were jerky. "I have to get upstairs," I thought desperately. "There's not much time."

As quickly as I could, I went up the stairs, heart pounding; lungs collapsing. Surely I was about to pass out from lack of oxygen. Just a little farther. Only a tiny bit farther....

Quietly I removed it from my hiding place. I sat on the toilet seat, breathing heavily, but not seeming to get nearly enough air into my barren lungs.

"Do it!" She screamed.

Not hesitating a beat I listened to her, gliding the sharp, silver hotness over my arms.

My lungs filled.

I sat there exhausted, gasping for this newly found air that surrounded me. I shivered suddenly as my muscles turned cold. My arms however were a different story. Warm with crimson liquid, I started down at them as my breath caught itself in my throat.

She knows me. She's my best friend and my worst enemy. Recently I had the feeling that she had gone away and left me here to pick up the shattered pieces of my life.

No. I smiled to myself. I felt a warm hand on my frigid fingers. "Still here." She said softly.

She was right. She's right here... and she always will be. With her grace to watch over me and a soft light to guide me, she'll weather me through this.

Welcome back, my lady of peace. Now is where the real adventure shall begin.