Friendship Beyond Love (Love Shots Contest)

Beginning After The End

Round4 Entry!
***
Funerals have always been a tough task to handle and to top it off, attending your best friend’s funeral is unimaginable. The thought itself makes your heart ache.
But Melissa has always been strong enough to fight whatever comes her way. Presently, she was standing at a corner of the graveyard, witnessing Alex’s funeral. The ceremony was almost wrapped up. The casket was nearly buried but something that still lived was ‘Hope’.
   Every person standing there hoped for him to return which seemed impossible. Melissa could see herself grieving and sobbing over Alex’s death.
A painful image, isn’t it? Well, presently she was not in present but in past. Ironic huh? As much unbelievable as it sounds, truth has its strange ways.
  Standing in the corner, no one could see her except one. She turned her head in the direction of the voice when he said, “You looked awful”
“I was devastated but seems we all are going to get rid of that now.” She replied.
“Indeed we shall. Hurry up and tell your reflection the news.” He suggested.
“Well, it’s more like she’s the real one and I am the reflection” She replied, with an amusing look.

Having said that, Melissa moved towards her reflection. She was aware of the fact that her news would create a havoc there but its better sooner than never.
“Open the casket, Alex is alive” She whispered in the ear of her reflection.
She could see the sudden wave of fear mixed with confusion cross her face. She looked around to follow the voice but all she saw was group of people sobbing.

“I have done my job. Let’s wait back and see what happens.” Melissa said.
“I hope this works”
“As far as I know myself, it will. Thank you Evan” Melissa replied to him, winking.

Soon enough, the Melissa from past had spread the word around.
“Open the casket now! Alex cannot be dead” She screamed for someone to hear her out.
People stared at her blankly as if she had gone crazy. Just moments ago he was lying there lifeless and now she was stating that he’s alive.

“Melissa dear, I understand that my son’s death is too much for you to take in. But you need to gain some senses now.” Alex’s dad spoke.
“Sir, I am in my senses. If you have ever trusted me for even a minute then please open the casket. I know it’s going to hurt many people but please, I request.” Melissa pleaded.
  Thinking for a moment, he agreed and gave instructions to open the casket. People including the Priest started to oppose this decision. But Alex’s dad was firm enough.
   Against all odds, the casket was opened. There were so many questions that followed soon after.

“How is this possible?” “Where’s the body?" “This got to be some kind of a joke”

“Silence everyone” Alex’s dad screamed at the top of his voice.
“Melissa, where’s Alex?” He asked her.
“I don’t know Sir. My heart was just not ready to accept that he was dead.” She replied, hiding the other part of the story.
“I can’t believe this is happening. It is beyond my reasoning capacity” He replied, strolling around in shock.

“Our plan worked” Evan jumped in joy.
“Not yet” Melissa said back.
   Just then her reflection walked over to the coffin and looked into it. Unexpectedly, she found a note in it. She picked it up and opening the letter slowly, she read….

*I’ll wipe away all the tears that you have cried,
Throughout my life you have been my guide,
Destiny took me away and its rules, I had to abide,
But at every point, life has lied,
And so I am back to move on with my pride,
Waiting for you with arms open wide,
Come meet me at another side.*

By the time Melissa’s reflection finished reading the letter, everyone out there was stunned. People had no clue as to what was really happening. How could a dead man move out of the casket and on top of it leave a letter behind? This was the common question popping up in everyone’s mind.
  Melissa’s reflection was terribly shocked. She couldn’t decipher the recent events. But she wasn’t the only one who gave that reaction. Surprisingly, the Melissa from the present was equally shocked and clueless.

“This letter was not a part of our plan. How come it’s here?” She asked Evan.
“May be someone else put it there” He tried to reason.
“No one has ever opened the casket Evan. It was because of us that Alex was not there in it. We saved him from the accident and that’s why his body disappeared” She replied back.
“Someone’s playing a game then” He stated bluntly.
“No Evan…Alex has always written great poems. It has to be written by him” She stated as a matter of fact.
“Well then you need to decode it” Evan replied, suggesting a solution.
“Okay so he means to say that he wants to move on with me and that he’s waiting for me at another side. But what does another side mean?” Melissa asked, confused.

A wave of confusion crossed Evan’s face too but then it changed.
“I guess I found it Melissa” He quickly added.
A look of curiosity and hope flashed on Melissa’s face.
“Spit it out fast” She said excitedly.
“Do you realize we are in the past? Using that ring that I stole from the clan, we came back here to save Alex but saving him here would cause changes in the our present.” He said slowly, analyzing every aspect.
“Umm…can you be more clear and direct?” She asked.
“This is your past. Your present is the another side he’s talking about. You’ll find him there.”

As if digesting every word he just said and relating it to the letter, it was as if something clicked in her mind. Melissa found the answer and rushed back to a spot with Evan following her.

“Evan, I am using the ring….let’s go back into present” She chirped happily.
But Evan looked sad and hurt.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I can’t go back Lisa. I died a long time back. I’ll make things worse. Besides, I just can’t walk back into their lives after being dead for two years”
“You are making sense Evan but how about you don’t return to them? How about you start a fresh life with us?” Melissa suggested.
“It’s not that easy”
“Agreed….but it’s not impossible. Come on let’s go back”

Having said that, she removed the golden ring from her pocket and used it. In no time, they both were back into present time.
“Wohaa….which place is this?” Evan inquired.
“It’s my drawing room”
   Just then Melissa saw her mom walking downstairs.
“Melissa dear, who’s this handsome hunk?” She asked, pointing at Evan.
“Well mom that’s Evan, my new friend at park”
  Smiling at him, she continued “Have a sit Evan. Melissa, Alex is waiting for you in your room.”

Melissa’s eyes suddenly popped up at the mention of Alex. She was tensed and excited at the same time. Now that they both had confessed their love for each other, it was kind of nervous to be around him. But now that life had given them another chance, she was not going to waste it.
  Smiling at Evan, she quickly rushed up the stairs. There was no looking back now.
Swinging the door open, there stood in front of her eyes, the person who meant the world to her. His ocean blue eyes were staring back at her hazel green ones. A look was enough to connect. Just like he mentioned, he was standing there with open arms, smiling at her showing his cute dimples.

Without even thinking for a minute, she ran and jumped into his arms. He held her close to him while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pulling apart they were now facing each other. 

"You are back Alex" She said, grinning.
"So does that mean we are back?" He mocked.
"If you want to"
"Why did you tell me no when I had once asked you if you have any feelings for me?" He asked honestly.
"I lied because I didn't wanted to risk our friendship" She replied straightaway.
"I thought you were a preacher of truth" He said with a playful smirk.
"Yes but sometimes lies are enough"
"They would never be enough. Secrets never stay buried for long." 
   Having said that, he pulled her back into his arms. It was as if suggesting their worlds were about to collide again. Not just collide but blend with love.