Imageless by Michaela Noelle (top 100 books of all time checklist TXT) 📕

 Alexis though for a moment before turning the knob as she devised a plan for the rest of the evening. She decided that after she made it in to his room she would grab the flashlight that always sat on the top of his shelf, look at the note, and then she would sleep in Emile's bed until the family, hopefully including Emile, returned home. Finally gaining some confidence and losing worry, Alexis turned the knob and walked into his room. On the way to the bookshelf something hit her foot and blocked her steps, it wasn't little either. Trying to decide what it was, Alexis nudged it with her foot. After she nudged it, the object shifted and wiggled. 

Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind raced, and her body went stiff and numb. It was a struggle to pick up her leg and lift it over the strange obstacle in front of her. What ever it was she didn't really want to know, but she found it necessary to be safe and for her mind to be at rest.  She stretched her arm as far as she could manage and tapped along the very top of the shelf. Her fingers collected a small amount of dust as she carried out this task until she knocked over the flashlight. She's glad she didn't knock it over onto her fingers or else she would have multiple problems. A heavy duty MagLite versus flesh and bone, who do you think will win?         

 Alexis took a deep breath and bit her lip, whatever it is she will find out right now. The front door groaned and squeaked somewhat gaining Alexis' attention as she tried to decide what the noise was. Seconds later, the door slammed and echoed throughout the house. At first Alexis was slightly worried and thought that it could possibly be an intruder or someone after her. Her next thought was that it could be Emile and the minute that thought crossed her mind she dashed down the stairs and peeked from behind the kitchen entrance.          

 Alexis' excitement and thrill dropped, and her heart plummeted down into her stomach. On one hand she was glad she was no longer alone in the atrocious storm , but on the other Alexis only wanted Emile or to be alone at the moment. Emile's brother rounded the corner to where Alexis was, but paid no attention to her. She really was invisible wasn't she? This thought grasped Alexis' mind and shook it until it was unbearable. She thought of all the things she would miss out on with her issue, she didn't even know what to call this problem and had no idea what it could be. Other than in science fiction novels and fairy tales she didn't think such an odd thing could happen. She looked down at her pale arm and pinched it until it left nail marks and a patch of white and red. Apparently she isn't dreaming.         

 She tried her best to ignore her thoughts and focus on her curiosity and safety. Her ascent up to Emile's room seem to take forever as she clutched the flashlight tightly in her hand. Her temples throbbed and her heart began to race, she hit her pocket to make sure the folded piece of paper was still there. Alexis ran her finger over the flashlight's soft button and closed her eyes as she pressed down on it with her thumb. Was she really ready to see what was there, especially with how her day has gone so far? Taking her time and breathing out slowly she opened her eyes and pointed the flashlight at the object. Filled with fright and shock she dropped the flashlight and her mouth hung open. Alexis decided she's had enough and was completely tired of all the weird and awful things happening to her. Was she seeing things correctly? Slowly she walked back over to the flashlight that still shone on the object and picked it up off of Emile's floor. She noticed the crimson stain laying underneath the object and began to probe it with the flashlight. How did this happen and why?         

 Her finger slid into her pockets to grasp the folded piece of paper. She snatched it from her pocket to examine it with the flashlight. She exhaled loudly as she was very afraid for the outcome of what seemed to be a letter of some sort. Meandering around Emile's bedroom, Alexis finally decided to read the letter as she sat on his bed. Her eyes scanned and read every single word and took it all in, with every word a part of herself slowly died. Tears streamed down her face as she read the remnants of the letter with shaky hands. The last sentence killed whatever was left of her to begin with, but she didn't fully understand what it meant. What has she done? She had killed the thing she loved most, the person she had loved most.          

 She sobbed the most disturbing cry known to man. Her fresh and desperate tears fell upon his body that will forever remain at rest. This was the only part of her beloved Emile she had left and she enveloped him in her arms and continued her weeping. It didn't matter to her that the object she was clutching was no longer her Emile, but it still felt like him. His beauty was covered with death and blood but underneath she could see everything that ever mattered and she loved. It wasn't much but in the situations she had been placed in today, it reassured her. The steps creaked under Erin's, Emile's oldest brother, feet and Alexis flinched. She picked up Emile and hid him underneath his covers in fear that Erin might find out the horrible truth. Erin passed by Emile's room and peered inside, he made a hmm sound and shrugged off whatever he must have thought. He continued the hallway that wrapped around until he reached his room and slipped in shutting the door behind him.          

 Alexis decided that staying awake was not the best thing for her, especially in this state. She laid down next her beloved Emile and wrapped her arms around him and shut her eyes. At the moment, this was the most peaceful, relieved, and awful she had felt all day. She still tried to understand and grasp what had happened today so she went over all the most important facts. I Alexis beck woke up this morning and couldn't see myself in my mirror or any reflection, including shadows. My parents are obviously hurting from something and my mother sobbed a lot. No one else I've seen today can see or hear me and for that reason alone I'm very confused and afraid. I discovered Emile had passed today by his own choosing, as later discovered I was one of the reasons why. Seeing Emile laying there on his floor lifeless highlighted with red is the worst thing I've ever seen. I'm now clutching and holding on to the outer shelf of Emile because I already miss him so much, and there's one phrase that'll haunt me for the rest of my life.   

 To everyone that has ever mattered most to me, please forgive me for choosing to go through with this. There is no pain that exists as great as the one I've experienced today and there is only one solution and cure to it. I'll always love Alexis and that is the greatest reason of why I can no longer stay. She is not to blame, but it is my heart.

Forever with Love,

Emile

 Alexis woke up with her arms wrapped tightly around Emile. Her eyes were still blurry from slumber and confusion ran its course. Every time she closed her eyes, disturbing flashbacks flew through her mind from her nightmare. Alexis found relief in the fact that this was only derived from a dream and not something that had really happened. She looked to her left to see Emile laying beside her and gently shook him to wake him up. That's when the unnerving truth hit her and all her memories came rushing back with a brutal blow. Tears flooded her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. Each new fallen tear raced the other down her face and dripped off her chin. She carefully sat up in Emile's bed and scooted her way over to the foot of the bed listening for any sign of the storm. A gentle and hushed sprinkle of rain fell outside still, but the worst of the storm had passed. Her biggest fear right now was that the Sanders would return and see Emile and what happened. If she didn't understand what happened, why would they? Emile and Alexis shared almost everything with each other and wanted to be together forever, even if it wasn't love.        

 It all started in kindergarten where Alexis was the quiet and awkward child that had just move to Nessmond feeling terrified and alone. She hadn't started at the begin of the year like everyone else, but instead she had to start it three quarters of the way through. Mrs. Beck had already talked to the teacher about keeping an eye out for her and taking her under her wing, but kinks in life seem to work themselves out over time. The minute Alexis was introduced to her new class taught by Regina Lylesman, Emile knew he had to talk to Alexis during snack and break. They talked about their favorite color, what they loved to draw and make during art time, and their favorite bedtime stories and cartoons. Snack time, thanks to having each other, was Alexis' and Emile's favorite time of the day. Their parents would constantly hear how amazing the other was and it wasn't long before they had their first play date. From there on, a great bond grew between Alexis and Emile and the Becks and the Sanders.         

 It all flashed by the parents' eyes watching their children walk across the stage for sixth grade graduation, Alexis and Emile attending the winter formal and eight grade graduation dance together as friends, their first day of high school, their first date,