In The Blink Of An Eye

Siren Sounds

I threw the bag that I had been carrying and fell to my knees right next to his bleeding body. I wasn't even sure where he had got shot or if he was even alive. My hands were shaking so hard I felt like I couldn't even hold still to feel his heart. It's crazy how many thoughts can cross your mind in a single second. As I put my hands on his chest, which was covered in blood, I just cried; "Silas, please stay with me. Don't you dare leave me here all alone. I need you! You hang on. Do you hear me? Hang on!!!"

I frantically search around for my phone like a crazy person on drugs. I must have passed over it a good ten times before I finally grabbed it and called the emergency line. I feel like before they even had the chance to answer, I was screaming on the phone, crying out for help.

"I need someone right now! My friend has just been shot. Please help!!!"

"Mam, please try to calm down. Where are you calling from?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I.. we were just walking down the street and... and he, ummm, he just got shot."

"Do you see a street name or anything that you could describe to me to help me find where you're at?"

"I don't know. We're in an alley!!! I just need help right now. He is bleeding so much!!!"

At this point, I was crying so hard I felt like I was going to pass out! I couldn't even catch a breath properly, I was hyperventilating!

"Do me a favor, check to see if your friend is still alive. Can you feel a heartbeat? Is he breathing?"

I put my hand on his chest, trying to feel a heartbeat as I got down looking for even the slightest sound of breathing coming from him. After a few seconds, I felt it. It was a heartbeat, but it was very weak. As crazy as it sounds, even the weakest heartbeat was hope, hope that he was going to make it out alive.

"Yes, yes.. he is still breathing and has a heartbeat. But it's very weak and it's getting slower fast... please hurry up."

I left Silas and ran to the end of the alley where I was facing the streets. I couldn't believe I hadn't even realized how many people have been surrounding us. Why was everyone just staring? Why was nobody helping or doing anything?? What kind of sick world do we live in where someone is lying on the ground, bleeding to death, and the first things everyone decides to do is record on their phones? I was shaken to my core!!! As I ran towards the main street, a guy grabbed me and said; "Hey, calm down. He's going to be fine. The ambulance and cops are on their way. I called them as soon as I saw him get shot."

I couldn't even say anything to him, I just fell to the ground crying my eyes out. Was my life seriously that miserable that bad things just kept happening to me and around me no matter where I was? Why was this happening? Why Silas? I would never be able to get over seeing him die in front of my eyes!!! As I was holding onto him and crying, I heard the sound of ambulances and cops filling the air. Suddenly, it's as if everything went blank, and the only sound I could hear was the sirens as they got louder the closer they got. The sounds of the sirens should have brought me relief, but instead, fear filled my heart.

The sound of the sirens weren't a sign of hope, to me... they were a sign of death. I was sure that Silas was dead and I couldn't do anything. I froze in fear. It was at that moment that every single memory, emotion, fear and person that I met the last year crossed my mind. Hannah and everything she went through. Richy, being attacked, replayed in my mind over and over again. The man without a face, Michael, Phil, my friends and most importantly Jake. I wasn't sure at that moment if Jake was even alive anymore!

Suddenly, the cops and the paramedics rushed in pushing and pulling me as if I was some kind of monster holding him down. I'm sure I was so into my thoughts that I hadn't even heard when they came and were nicely trying to get me off the ground.