Carriber Stone

Carriber switches off the television. He finds nothing interesting. Or rather, he isn't feeling anything. His mood is bad, nowadays. He can't concentrate on anything and also his exams are ahead.

"Ugh!" he says. "Why does this need to happen to me?!"

He gets up, fast, and leaves the house without informing his father - who is present in the house - even though he knows he'd be in trouble later.

It is a hot day, out. The sun is too bright and the hot wind adds more misery to it. Carriber starts sweating, but yet he finds no peace within himself.

And except for Allie, he told no one. He is afraid he would be termed as 'Attention Seeker' or be constantly judged.

But now - in the hot sun and dry wind - he suddenly feels like sharing his problems with someone.

And before he knows it, he is in front of Ashton's house.

He rings the bell until someone opens the door. It is Ashton, himself. And also Shanely is standing behind him.

"Carriber!" she yells and hugs him.

"Dude, come on in."

Ashton takes the two to his room and they settle on the floor.

"Carr," he starts. "What the hell. We called you so many times since one hour! First, we called you so that you would join us in here but you didn't pick it up. And then we called your home number and your dad picked up. He was tensed that you were gone and weren't in the house! You didn't even tell him you were going out? What the hell. We were so tensed!"

Carriber doesn't answer. He instead, keeps quite and hungs his head low.

Damn! he thinks. I should've told dad and not troubled him! And really? One hour? I have been out for one hour?!

Shanely realises something is wrong. "Carriber," she says, softly. "What's wrong? Tell us."

And before he knows Carriber spills everything to them that how he might be battling through depression.

"It's not full fledge though," he says in the end.

His two best friends hug him and console him. They also promise to help him.

"I'm so glad I told you guys," says Carriber.

~*~

Carriber gets Allie's letter after his dad's half-hearted scoldings. He got to know about Carriber's starting of depression.

A small tingle of happiness crawls through his neck as he opens the letter and starts reading it.

Dear Carriber,
Oh god, are you fine?! Please tell me you are. It your mood swing just as little as you mention it to me? I hope so. Oh my god, Amsterdam was so fun! We stayed at my cousin's place and roamed around. The place was beautiful. Like... beautiful. It was absolutely splendid to tour around. I always wanted to go there since I read The Fault In Our Stars. Haha! Have you read that book? If you didn't, you should. Trust me. I have seen Gone Girl, but haven't read it yet. I'll surely check it out. And YES! SHANELY LIKES ASHTON! Woo-hoo! Oh wow. That was fast, wasn't it? By the way, how is your Track Team? I almost forgot about it. Nina is fine. Fantastic, in fact. She got a new boyfriend! Carriber, please don't get into trouble. Not when there is barely two months left for exams! Oh, poor Dave. Is he fine yet? I really hope so. And I really wish that your internships would go awesome, buddy! In Amsterdam, I kind of imagined myself as Hazel Grace (TFIOS reference) and sipped champagne! Haha! Couldn't stop laughing about it! There were many places that I visited and they were so much fun! Okay, reply soon.
Allie (P.S. the list is inside)

Carriber fishes for the fish as soon as he finishes reading the letter. He slides his hand down, and finds a paper almost the size of the letter.

He opens it and begins reading it.

Places To Visit Before I Die List

By: Allie Watson.

1) Paris
2) Kenya
3) Montana (DONE)
4) Tokyo
5) Los Angeles
6) Las Vegas
7) London (DONE)
8) India
9) Texas
10) UAE (DONE)
11) China
12) Nepal
13) Russia
14) Milan
15) Rome
16) Greece
17) Sydney
18) Hawai (DONE)
19) Washington D.C.
20) Denmark
21) Tanzania
22) Amsterdam (DONE)

Carriber finishes the list and smiles genuinely. He always loves the letters Allie sends to him. She is his companion.

The more number of letters, the more attached he is to her. Even now. Even when he is actually sad on in the inside, he is able to forget it for a few moments while reading.

Allie is special to him.

He suddenly has an urge to tell her every damn thing.

He picks up a papaer and a pen and begins writing.

Dear Allie,
No. This is not just a bloody, stupid mood swing. I carry signs of depression. God knows why, but yes. I just fell into, or started, depression. But I don't want to be a victim of depression. Not at all. I really want to be normal again. Absolutely. I am going to beat this, Allie. I really am going to. I hope the result comes out fast. I still don't get why me? That too at a time like this? It is bad. It is really bad. I told Ashton and Shanely and also my dad, today. So basically, Dave and mom will get to know by... dinner, probably. Anyways, enough about me. I am glad you loved it in Amsterdam. Yeah, I read The Fault In Our Stars too. It was a very nice book. Track team is on hold for now. Exams are coming up, right? Thats why. And wow. Good luck to Nina with her relationship. To be honest, I don't know when I'll be able to reply to you again, Allie. I know it won't regular at all. I have a lot in my plate. But I want your letters. I am being selfish, Allie. I am. You get what I am saying, right? Okay... bye fornow. Reply soon.
Carriber.

Carriber stops writing. He feels light-shouldered after pouring out his feeling on a piece of paper that is going to be read by one of his special friends.

"I'm sorry, Allie," he says as he folds the letter and dumps it into an envelope.

Standing up, he starts heading downstairs to post it.