Short Stories (without happy end)

Elijah (part. 3)

Tom's Point of View:

I end sanding the piece of furniture I just finished and step back to get a better look at the result before varnishing it. I hear the characteristic sound of a notification coming from my phone. I hurry to pick it up to check that it's not bad news and I see that I've just been added to a group called "Farewell". I look at what it says and see a message from Elijah: I'm sorry, I feel like it's almost the end and I would like you to stop coming to see me. I hope you will understand that I want to face death alone. I love you but you must not sink. We all die one day. I listen to the song he sent. The hardest part of this is leaving you. I stop what I am doing and rush to the hospital. As I expected, he is no longer in his room and all his stuff is gone. I think about where he could have gone and a place comes to my mind. I decided to try everything and go there without being sure that he will be there. It's a kind of cove that we discovered on vacation when we were teenagers. I have about 100 miles of road to go but I don't hesitate to go on the road without really respecting the speed limit.

I'm almost there and my phone won't stop ringing. Without even looking at it, I know it's my mom. I pull over as soon as I spot my brother's car. I take a quick look at my messages and see that Elijah sent a new song two minutes ago. I read the title, Nobody Can Save Me, and start running to the cliff overlooking the creek and see my brother standing over the void. ''Elijah!" I scream as loud as my lungs will allow. ''It's too late Tom. Look at me, I don't look like anything anymore, let me finish!'' ''Just wait for a little! You can't leave with so much regret. I understand you, to tell you the truth, I thought you would think about it sooner.''. ''Death doesn't care about regrets!" he says to me. ''Elijah! I... I'm happy to have had you as my little brother and I swear that if I could go back, I would, but I know that it's impossible. Also, I agree with you, I understand that you don't want to die in the hospital and that you don't want anyone to see you like this. I love you and will always love you, no matter what you may look like.''. ''I love you too. Goodbye Tom," he said in a placid voice before throwing something in my hands and plunging into the void. I rush to the edge but it's too late. I see my brother's body break like a rag doll against the rocks. He is quickly swept away by the waves and I can no longer see him.

•              •                •

Two years have passed since my brother's death. Lindsay has rebuilt her life, but she still comes back regularly to put flowers on his grave. My parents are just starting to get over it. Antony got married and created a dish in Elijah's honor. The notary gave him a booklet filled with recipes created by my brother and that allowed him to win the hearts of more and more customers.
As for me, I am still a carpenter. My life remains similar to what it was before, at least in appearance. I cut ties with my old friends and took up the guitar to fill my lonely hours, the ones I would normally spend with Elijah.
In my many sleepless nights, I remember his face distorted with sadness, the way he threw his car keys at me, and the note I found in his car. I knew you would come. I also knew you would understand me. You mustn't blame yourself. It was meant to be. Now try to live for yourself.