Pills, The Past and a Pontiac

Prologue

All I remember from the night is cold. Edge of fingertips blue, pursed purple lips cold. It might have been snowing or a slight drizzle in the breeze. It was dark, a yellow moon hung low in the sky, about to fall under the enveloping blanket of stars. Just under it was a pink and I remember that exact moment, he pulled me on the edge of the sidewalk with a smile. Which made my coffee splatter on his shirt. 

Before I could mumble a single apology, he pointed to the pink I was gazing at before and swirked. "It's remarkable isn't it Albany? That the world could create an actual color that matches your hair." He laughed as he glanced at me. He's expecting something back. 

"I have nothing." I giggled, putting my head on his shoulder. 

"Come on Al, you had to have something witty to say back." 

"Sorry." 

His hand flips my braid teasingly, twisting the ponytail holder around his ring finger. He stands there for a moment, his coffee stained shirt overshadowed by his smile. He stands there, giddy, just looking at the diminishing stars. 

"Life sucks." He finally muttered, digging his shoe in the pavement. 

"What?" I asked, tightening my trench coat around my body. I looked up at his face, blue-green eyes staring off in the distance. His face was flushed, as he shook his head. 

I don't persist, just slipping my hand into his. He put his face into my hair as we stood there on the edge of the sidewalk with people walking past. 

"Do you realize that everyone is looking at us?" His eyes darted around, uncomfortable by the attention. 

"Yeah and I bet they are jealous." I bit my lip, leaning towards his ear. "We are the only couple I've seen tonight." 

"But we live in a town with five retirement homes. You shouldn't be expecting young couples to be around." 

I smiled, sighing. "When did you get to be a smartass?" 

He shrugged, digging his hands in his pockets. "Guess you rub off on me." 

"I am better than you first met me." 

"Keep telling yourself that Al." 

His hair was curled from the moisture in the air; his lips cracked. Yet I didn't care. He was still perfect. I stayed myself - emotional, foul-mouthed, naive. 

He looked at his wrist, muttering. "Shit." 

"What?" 

""My mom's going to kick my ass." He turns his wrist turns to me. 

"It's only...thirty minutes after curfew..." I winced.

"She's going to think I'm-"  I start before I hear him yell.

"Come on Al, hurry. I really don't feel like..." 

Something screeched across the street. We both turned around quickly to see what it was. A silver speck in the distance. 

Then I recognized it. The sound of a car swerving across the road in swirls.

When I look back to him he was looking at the front of a silver Pontiac screaming towards him. His eyes are wide, the lights coming closer. 

"Trystan." I tried to yell, only to come in a whisper. "Move." 

As he stepped to the side in comprehension, the car swerved, knocking him to the ground.

The car didn't stop. 

I ran towards him and pulled his heaving body to the side of the road. His breaths were rigid as his body violently shook. 

His hand reached to my limp braid, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. They then fell back to his chest as he pants, trying to ignore the glass stuck inside his chest. 

"I'm going to die aren't I?" He muttered, squeezing his eyes shut. 

Ambulances rushed by in the distance. 

I paused, trying to think of a response that would be the least regretful thing later. "We were going to be the best god damn couple this town has seen." 

He looks as me as his eyes start diminishing. The blue turns to sludge and his eyes water. 

"Who doesn't say we are?" 

Medics rush towards him, pulling oxygen masks to his mouth. 

He never took one more breath. 

I don't remember much more, except the cold. The snow was falling down heavily now. The cold was almost calming as I sat there, staring at the stars. the pink sky that matched my hair, the moon almost completely gone. 

The light came in as I stood still in the chaos of cops and nurses. They asked me question, but I didn't answer. The only question I did was that if I was related to him. 

"He's my brother." I mutter, trying to gain composure inside me but ultimately failing. 

Everyone looked at me with a different lense now, leaving me alone for the rest of the time, explaining to his mother what happened. 

"I know that it is hard Ms. Bryne..." The officer started.

She was horrified, glaring at me in the process. 

The officer took her to the side and explains something as I moved towards his limp body. 

They never saw me kiss his cheek. They never heard my cries as I held him tight. Glass pierced my hand, yet I had no feeling. 

I combed my fingers through his hair as I brushed his eyelids closed.

He looked like he was asleep in an eternal dream as he was taken away. 

I walked away, tears glistening in the early light. His parents muttered something under their breath as my heels clap the pavement in rhythmic time.

It was the last I ever saw of him.