Thank You For Today [H.S]

Chasing Cars

Dying, Dahlia was dying. The thought of it was somewhat comical because technically she had been dying for months, if not years, but now, now it wasn't just spoken word it was actually coming to pass.  Any moment from now could be her last and just like that her warm smile and  euphoric laughter would be ripped away from this world, never to be seen or heard again. He'd never get to roll his eyes at one of her stupid jokes or frown in confusion whenever she made a reference to a film or show he'd never seen. He'd never get to see her wear those scuffed up combat boots she always wore, the ones he had been saving up for so he could replace them with a new pair, but now he'd never get the chance. He'd never get the chance to hold her again and tell her how much he loved her, he'd never get look forward to coming back next summer or every holiday because she wouldn't be there. She'd never get to see him graduate and he won't ever get to stand on the stage, a smile on his face as he searches the crowd for Dahlia's sweet face.

His grip on the steering wheel was tight, foot pressed firmly on the gas pedal as he drove as fast as he could towards the hospital. It was past midnight and the road was empty, making Harry's journey to the hospital that much easier. He couldn't focus, mind fearing that he'd be too late, that he wouldn't get to at least say goodbye. Tears blurred his vision as he shook his head he needed to get to her, that was all he could think about. He needed to get to her so bad that he couldn't focus on anything else. He needed to get to her so bad that he didn't feel the tires of his car swerve slightly due to the slipperiness of the road. He needed to get to her so bad that he didn't notice the red light he had just crossed, he needed to get to her so bad that he didn't notice the car speeding towards him from his right. He needed to get to her so bad that he was too late to react, the car collided into his own, the impact, coupled with the slipperiness of the road sending Harry into the air. He needed to get to her so bad that he didn't get to go to her.

It all happened so quickly; one minute he was driving on the road, the hospital already in sight and then suddenly he was in the air, the car throwing his weak body around mercilessly as it somersaulted before crashing into the ground. In the panic of getting to the hospital in time he had forgotten to put on his seat belt and he was about pay the price for that small mistake, with his life. With one final flip the car landed on the side of the road, with an impact so heavy it shattered any remaining glass.

Pain, that was all Harry could feel at first, a blinding sense of pain that shot through his body and seemed never ending. He blinked, trying to make sense of his blurred vision and was only able to pick up the blaring sounds of siren and the flashing of its light. "Dahlia." He tried to make out and willed his body to move but nothing seemed to work, it was like he was there but he wasn't. His mind separated from his body. Suddenly a woman hovered over him, her mouth was moving, she was saying something but Harry couldn't comprehend the words that were coming out of her mouth only one thought on his mind "Dahlia." He had to get to her.

"Harry." Someone sang, "Harry." The voice repeated softy and suddenly the woman hovering over him was replaced with the sweet and pulchritudinous face of Dahlia Somers. "Harry, come, there's no pain now. Come, follow me." She whispered into his ear, he felt her warm touch against his cheek before she disappeared from sight. And so he did, he closed his eyes and followed her, a small smile on his face as his heart slowly came to a stop.

Mrs Somers was outside, when Harry was brought in, her cheeks stained with tears as her daughter's life slowly dwindled to an end. She needed a moment, she wasn't ready to say goodbye, not to the girl that brought her nothing but joy, the girl she watched grow from a waddling toddler to an independent woman despite everything life threw at her, the girl she was proud to call her daughter. The loud noise of the blaring siren grew closer and she watched, slightly intrigued as the vehicle came to an abrupt halt, staff rushing to save whoever was inside. She couldn't see much from where she was standing but all she needed was but a glimpse of his dark brown curls to know who it was.

"Harry?" She called out, rushing after the gurney that he had been placed on to. She gasped as she neared him, seeing the state he was in. His body was disfigured, limbs bent in a way that was horrific to see. His face, his handsome and sweet face was now littered with cuts a large gash running from his forehead across his face. "Harry." She whispered in shock as tears fell from her eyes, a trembling hand reaching for him before she was abruptly pulled away.

"Mrs, I'm sorry but you can't be here."

"You don't understand, that's my daughter's boyfriend." She cried the nurse's expression softened and was replaced with that of sympathy.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mrs. He, he was in an accident and I-" Before the nurse could continue a sound was heard that broke Mrs Somers heart to pieces.

"He's gone!" An EMT called out through the emergency area and Mr Somers didn't know how to cope. She was being spoken to but she couldn't register their words. Harry was gone, Harry was gone, he was dead. The sweet boy that managed to fill the void in Dahlia's life, the boy that had managed to fill her daughter with so much joy, the sweet boy that had loved Dahlia more than life itself was gone and once again she was proven how  cruel fate was, allowing the worst things to happen to good people. This wasn't how it was supposed to end, as much as it hurt her to say it, Harry wasn't the one who was supposed to die. Her mind jumped to his mother, she had never had the privilege to meet her but Dahlia had said so many good things about her and she could imagine how she would when the news would be broken to her. A part of her felt guilty, Harry had only been in this accident because she had called for Harry to get here as soon as possible, this was her fault, if she hadn't called him, he'd still be alive and well. This brought her back to the thought of her own daughter and without warning she took off running, heels clicking loudly against the floor as she rushed to Dahlia's hospital room. There were nurses and doctors surrounding, people who have been treating Dahlia since she was a child. The laughed at her weak jokes, tears trickling down their faces, saddened at the thought that despite all the medical advancements that filled the world, none had been enough to save the young girl. They all smiled at her sadly,  one by leaving the room as they gave the mother and daughter their last moment together.

"Hey," Dahlia spoke weakly as her mother got in next to her in bed, heart and mind at war over whether she should tell Dahlia about Harry or not.

"Hey." She replied. Her daughter's breaths were shallow, face pale and her body could to touch. Dahlia glanced wearily at the door, eyes welling up with tears when she realized the one person she needed most wasn't here yet.

"Where's Harry? I need him here, I need to say goodbye, I need him." She cried weakly and her mother stayed silent as tears streamed down her face, unsure of what to say. "He's not coming is he?" She asked her mother lethargically, eyes dropping as it suddenly became very difficult for her to stay awake. Dahlia's mother turned away from her daughter, covering her mouth with her hand as she tried to muffle her cries. How was she going to tell her this? As she she turned back to face Dahlia, she saw that it didn't matter, Dahlia's eyes were practically closed and she could tell from the heart monitor that her heart was slowing down, there was no time to tell her.

"Dahlia, honey." Mrs Somers cried as she kissed her daughter's forehead and stroked her head gently. "I love you,ok, you are the best daughter I could have ever asked for and not a day will go by where I won't miss your presence. I love you." Dahlia smiled weakly at her mother, using the last of her strength to grip on to her hand. " Harry's not here because he's gone , he's, uhm, he's waiting for you. He's not here anymore, he's not with us but he's waiting for you, so go ok? Go be with him, it's ok." She wasn't sure if Dahlia understood her words but there was no other way that she could put it, she wanted Dahlia to go peacefully not distraught or upset.

"He's waiting for me?" Dahlia asked with eyes closed,

"Yes, darling, he's waiting for you. " Her mother replied quietly. When Dahlia ceased to reply and her breaths were so shallow it was practically non-existent, a heart-wrenching sob escaped Mrs Somers throat and she leaned over, grabbing her daughter's hand as her body moved violently up and down as she cried, unable to handle the loss of two innocent souls in one night. Her loud cries muffled out the sound of Dahlia taking her last breath, the sorrow of dying being replaced with the fact that  she knew was going to see Harry, her Harry, again soon.

A/N: No words, too much pain, just let's get to the next chapter, remember to vote!