broken//matthew espinosa

Chapter 38: forever

stephanie
I step into the airport, and a rush of fear goes over me. What if I'm too late? What if I miss my flight? I shake off the terrifying thoughts that run around my head and just think good things. I will see Matt. The boy I love. And who I thought loved me. Whether he's high, or drunk, or nothing at all. I love him more than anything or anyone. I look on the flight list and read down.

Pennsylvania- On Schedule
New York- 2 Hour Delay
Virginia- 24 Hour Delay

Delay? Oh, gosh... I begin to panic. What if I don't make it in time? What if when I get there it's too late... I sit down near my plane terminal and put my head in my hands. I feel someone occupy the chair next to me.

"Are you alright?" A hand is suddenly tapping my shoulder and I realize I've been sitting here for a while. I look up and nod, offering a smile.

"Yeah, just a little stressed, I guess." I say, sighing. She nods as if she understands.

"I'm Johanna Allen, just so you know." She says, offering a handshake. I return it.

"I'm Stephanie Brooks." I smile at her, "Thanks, by the way. I'm kind of alone right now for, well, a full day."

"Me, too. Headed to Virginia also?" She asks reapplying a light pink lipstick to her chapped lips. I admire how her lips now match her pastel shoes.

"Yeah, visiting my boyfriend. We're working it long distance." I say nodding, "Its tough sometimes." She grasps my hand and gives me a knowledgeable look.

"I'm in the same boat. But, we just broke up. He decided it would be nice to date my old best friend." She says, her eyes getting tears caught in her bottom lashes. She wipes them off, her eyes staying perfect without a smudge. I squeeze her hand tight and give her a reassuring smile.

"Oh, I'm sure you're way better than him anyway. He's not worth getting upset over if he's low enough to cheat." I say, giving myself advice as well as her. She laughs and looks down into her lap.

"I guess if you put it that way. It's just annoying that he would break my heart that way. After all that we had together." She shakes her head and pushes her short side bangs off her oblong face.

"Tell me more. About you guys. We'll, if it's alright..." I said looking at a clock that hung on the wall. I had 23 hours until my flight would arrive. She nods and starts telling me a story.

"We'll, we first met a while ago. About 3 years back. We were both in 8th grade. It was love at first sight, though we were too young and scared to admit it. It was when Junior Prom came around when he asked me and we had been going out since. I moved earlier this year and my other friend informed me about his cheating. It hurt but of course I kind of understood. I was just so... So... Betrayed, that's it, betrayed." She explained. I nod, taking in all the information.

"Oh. Junior prom was awful for me. I wasn't asked and I was so upset for weeks. It was not a good time." I say, remembering the moment.

"Oh, don't worry. I got puked on at mine." She says. We share a laugh and she explains what happened.

-----------------------------------------------
I feel the airplane drifting down, and I slowly open my eyes. I look out the window, and see that the airplane just touched the ground. I quickly stand up and hurry out of the plane, grabbing my luggage, and then walk out of the airport. I see a taxi, and wave my hand. At this moment, I don't really have time to rent a car. I needed to get in a car, and drive to him. To Matthew.
"Where to?" The driver asks, as I slide into the back seat.
"Bishop Ireton? The high school." I tell him. He nods, and starts to drive. My fingers start fidgeting with each other, as we get closer and closer to the school. I can see the school now, and everything is the way it was when I left. Except there are a lot more cars. He pulls up to the school, and I take in a deep breath.
"$25 dollars." He tells me.
"Oh uh yeah." I pull out the money, and hand it to the driver. I step out of the car with my bag and smile a little.
Tonight is prom.
I step into the school, and walk into the gym, where everyone is dancing. I scam the room, and spot Matt, standing with....Chloe?
"No..." I whisper to myself. Cole walks up to me and smirks.
"You showed up. Where's your dress?" He asks. I look down and realize that I'm wearing my airport clothes. But, I don't care anymore. I walk up to Matt and tap his shoulder. He turns around and his smile turns into a frown.
"Stephanie.." A tear rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away.
"How could you?" I tell him, and walk away. I hear footsteps behind me, and I know who's they are.
"Stephanie wait." Matt says. I walk out of the school and cross the street. Im standing in the sidewalk now, and I'm looking at Matt. He starts to walk across the street.
Lights shine on him, as he squints at the bright beam of light. His face drops, and everything happens so fast.
The car pushes him down, crushing him. I hear screeching, I hear screams.
"Matt!" I yell. I run out to him, and look at his lifeless body. I kneel down to him, and hold him close to me. His brown eyes open slowly.
"I'm sorry." He whispers.
And that's when his eyes closed.
Forever.