The Fork Road

It was the easy way out after all. I thought, as I looked at the light shining from the exit. I told her so. I told her I knew the way and that I'm familiar with this place like the back of my head. Then, I laughed at this thought. 

Who am I kidding? I'm the dumb kid of the lot and she's smart enough to not ignore the red light. I can't blame her. Coming from the kid who brought her to a place she normally doesn't go to she knows not to trust me.

I looked back at the narrow tunnel I came from. I'm worried. Though smart as she is, she's stubborn and prideful. I knew that yet I provoked her.

With a heavy sigh, I traced back narrow maze I came from. The path went completely dark as my eyes adjusted to the lack of light. 

I wondered where she went off to. Which turn did she take? Did she get stuck at a dead end? Did she go there?

The thought of somebody else discovering that place excited me and at the same time made me unhappy. Finding that place has been the most euphoric moment of my life as if I was an adventurer who found the lost pirate treasure. 

The thought of that place had me unconsciously navigating towards there. I slowly tread the narrow path as it slowly opened its mouth. Then, I reached the fork road. Where the paths lead to, I know little but I've explored enough to be familiar with every bend, rock formation and tunnels to crawl to reach my haven.

Soon enough, I reached the place. The breath taking clear blue waters glistened as light crept into the place from the hole from above. I covered my eyes at the onslaught of light and smiled. 

This place was perfect for a quiet kid like me. When the bullying was too much, when circumstances at home feel too much to handle, and when my dog died, coming here always felt comforting. 

A splash drew my attention and from where the clear waters were dancing I saw her standing. Her feet were wet from when she dipped it in the water. 

I smiled at her. "I see you found this place."

"Uhh. Yeah. It's beautiful." She replied with an awkward smile then it turned haughty. 

"You said you knew this place so I thought you'll be out of here already." she remarked.

"I did but you weren't out yet so I was worried." I replied ignoring her snarky tone. 

"It's not that I can't, I just don't want to. I like this place." She snapped then proceeded to climb to the stone.

"Be careful you might slip." I warned her.

"Oh shut up, stupid. As if I'm y---" And she did slip falling head-first towards the rocky edge of the water.

"NO!!!" My heart raced as I ran towards her. 

As I reached her, my hand trembled as I witnessed the blood flowing from her head. She was unconscious so I shook her awake but her eyes remain closed. My vision turned blurry as tears flowed from my eyes. I tore my shirt and tied it on her head to somehow stop the bleeding.

I carried her on my back. Suppressing my sobs, I scurried out as fast as my adrenaline fueled body could while mumbling things I don't even understand myself. My nerves were on high that I didn't even feel tired nor the pain from the cuts I got through the many times I stumbled in my hurry. All I know is that I needed her treated immediately. 

I ran to the nearest populated area and shouted help as loud as my voice allowed. People around the beach turned their heads at me and went towards me, alarmed at the state I was in. People started gathering around me

"Kid, what happened to you to get so many cuts like this?" A woman said as she knelt towards me.

"That's not important. My friend is bleeding. Help her." I managed to squeeze out with my air deprived lungs. I lowered my back so they would see my friend. 

"Friend? Where?" The woman asked sounding worried but I wonder if she's blind or if she's pretending not to see.

"Are you blind? I'm carrying her." as I said this, people started to whisper. Then I heard the woman's confused voice.

"But there's no one."

"You know what kid, this is not a good joke. Come here, let's get you treated." She added as she reached out to me.

"NO! Treat my friend first. Can't you see she's bleeding to death?!!!" I slapped her hand and looked at her. She looked annoyed no, affright.  Not just her. I looked at the people around me. Their eyes looked familiar. Yes, these eyes were the same ones I see from the kids at school, from teachers and even from my family. These were the eyes that said I was a freak - deranged, crazy.

Like a splash of cold water, their gaze woke me and I realized, they couldn't see her. 

Did I, once again, make a mistake? 

But she's here bleeding to death. Her blood still felt warm to the touch. I still feel her shallow breathing at my nape. 

She exists! 

She does! 

She does... Or... Does she?

Looking at the eyes directed to me made my blood ran cold. I felt the bile rush up from my stomach and I ran with her seemingly realistic body. 

I could hear them shout telling me to stop, but this only spurred me to run faster. Away from them, from people, I hid, as I always did. I found a shed an hid us behind an inconspicuous pile of sacks waiting till people forgot the fiasco pulled by a kid at the beach. 

But they never did and soon enough, I was caught and loaded into the familiar truck that carried me in and out of the white-walled and noisy hospital full of muddle-brained people. I looked back at my friend and saw her eyes opened with her arrogant smile back into place as she mouthed "bye bye".  

That damned girl did that on purpose...