The Boy Who Made Flowers Sing

2 | Don't Go

The dimming lamps along the side of the neighbourhood road periodically flashed in Elena's peripheral vision as they rode in silence. It was just Elena and Melissa heading home from a usual party. Elena could sense her friend was agitated.

She realized they had taken a wrong turn and frowned at Melissa. "You forgot to take a left, Mel."

"Oh, shoot," Melissa said with glazed-over eyes, slamming her foot on the brake and making a quick u-turn.

"You alright?" Elena furrowed her eyebrows in concern, looking into her distracted, brown eyes.

"Yeah," She chuckled. "Probably drank more than I should have today."

Melissa never did that.

Soon enough, they rounded the corner into a dark, narrow roadway where Elena lived. "You wanna come in?"

"Sure," Melissa smiled.

Elena took out the house key from the pocket of her bell-bottoms while Melissa exited the car.

"Let's stay outside," Melissa said, resting her right hand on Elena's shoulder. "The summer breeze is nice."

Melissa smiled and gazed at Elena. "You're like my sister, you know?"

Elena frowned and then smiled wide. "I know."

Melissa made fists with her hands and then released them. She looked back at her car and then at Elena. Her big, brown eyes couldn't hide her emotions.

"What is it?" Elena asked, leaning against the side of the door and furrowing her eyebrows in concern.

Melissa shifted uncomfortably in place and rolled the sleeves of her hoodie up to her elbows. The summer night was hot. Even in the faint light from the street lamp, Elena could see a relatively large, red bruise on her left forearm.

"What happened?" Elena pointed to her arm.

Oh!" Melissa was taken aback and rested her hand on the bruise to cover it up.

She turned red and crossed her arms. "You know me. I'm so clumsy and always bumping into things. I probably...Just...Hit it against a pole or something."

"That bad?" Elena exclaimed, suspecting her mendacious eyes.

"Are you gonna go to bed now?" Melissa avoided the question, her cheeks still burning hot with embarrassment. 

She tried to casually pull her sleeves back down regretting getting too comfortable and rolling them up in the first place.

"Answer me, Mel," Elena demanded softly.

Melissa sighed. "It's nothing. Really." 

"You can tell me," Elena looked into her eyes seriously.

Melissa blinked back tears and felt trapped. She turned towards the car but Elena grabbed her by the sleeve.

"Is someone hurting you?" Elena demanded. 

"What? No! Of course not. Look, Elena, I gotta go," Her voice cracked on the last word and Elena knew she was lying. 

Elena stared at her softly but kept her grip on her arm. A tear rolled down Melissa's face and she suddenly fell into Elena, hugging her.

Elena hugged her friend back and frowned. When Melissa pulled away, her face was puffy from so much crying. 

Elena stared at her and then she was hit with the realization that almost made her faint.

"Evelyn did this to you, didn't she?" Elena's eyes widened, suddenly feeling nauseous and a surge of fury.

Melissa swallowed dry air and Elena could see the quick contemplation in her eyes of whether she should open up. "She stresses a lot. It's understandable." 

"Understandable?!"

"She's done so much for me."

Elena was bewildered.

"She's the one who pays our rent, works two jobs, you know," Melissa stated as if she were proud of her step-sister.

"But she hurts you! We need to report this," Elena quickly exclaimed.

"What? No!" Melissa suddenly exclaimed, her trembling voice cutting through the quiet, summer night.

Elena was confused and angry. "Why not?"

"Let me talk to her first."

Elena gritted her teeth in frustration. "There's nothing to talk about! I don't feel comfortable letting you go home; just stay here. We're going to the police."

"She's not here. She's out of town," Melissa quickly lied. "She's gone on a trip with her friends."

"Oh," Elena stared at her, unable to comprehend the tranquility that Melissa possessed.

"My parents are probably wondering where I am," Melissa quickly said turning around. "Take care, Elena. Love you."

"No. We're going now to report this," Elena stepped down the stairs with her and grabbed her arm. "We need to report this now

"No! Let's do it tomorrow. I'm really tired," Melissa smiled through pleading eyes. "Please."

Elena stared at her.

"Please," Melissa looked as if she were about to have a nervous breakdown on the cracked sidewalk. 

"Fine," Elena couldn't figure out if she was making a terrible mistake. "Tomorrow morning, though. First thing."

Melissa smiled warmly, ignoring her question. "You're wonderful." 

Elena frowned; Melissa was never this emotional. "I'll see you tomorrow, right? First thing?"

Melissa darted down the cement stairs to the car and then stopped abruptly on the sidewalk.

Her calm, brown eyes looked back at Elena but an unusual darkness was settled upon them, barely visible under the faint streetlight. "You will."

And Elena did see her the next morning - in her coffin.