Stronger (Sequel to Fix You)

Stranger In The Park

Trish's POV:

I hear it. Him. His voice. I hear him again.

Every night I have the same dream. I'm running through a forest. Branches brush against my body, small twigs sting my face. I keep running. Towards the voice. Towards his voice.

"Trish?" he calls out to me, " Are you there?" He sounds so familiar. He sounds so lonely. So lost. He sounds desperate. I run faster.
"Trish!" He screams, more urgently now. Panic echoes among the surrounding trees as he cries out my name.

" Trish." He sobs. The sadness in his voice is overwhelming. It washes over me like a tidal wave of grief and despair. I stop running. I fall to the ground, leaves sticking to me, itching at my bare skin. "Who are you!" I scream. But nobody answers. They never do. It's the same thing every night.

I wake up, breathing heavily. Beads of sweat cover my burning head. A stream of hot tears runs down my face. My body trembles. I let out a shaky gasp, "who are you?" I say into the darkness of my room. Darkness that seems to almost swallow me up. The darkness that is beginning to consume my everyday life.

After a matter of tossing and turning, I figure that I will not get any more sleep tonight. I throw off my blankets and stumble into the bathroom. I allow the cold water to run over my body, until I go numb. I lean against the wall and sink to my knees, pulling at my messy hair. A shaky sob leaves my mouth and I don't even try stopping it. I just want to remember him so bad! Who is he? Where is he? What happened? Why is he gone?

I feel as if nobody in the world understands where I'm coming from. Nobody understands my frustration. I am so angry with myself. Why can't I remember him? I can't contain my rage. I turn off the water and get out. I slam open one of the bathroom cabinets. I snap the razor. I get a hold of one of the blades. I press the cold metal to my skin. I prick my wrist slightly. I stop. It feels as if I've been here before. Done this. I mean, I know I used to cut. I have the scars to prove it. I just. I get a funny feeling wash over me. I can't quite explain it. I drop the razor into the bin and get dressed slowly.

Even though it's 2 o'clock in the morning, I decide that I need to go somewhere and clear my mind. I walk the few blocks to the nearest place I can think of. The park. I sit on a seat and toss some pebbles into the lake. I watch the water ripple as the small stone breaks the surface. I hear footsteps on the path across the lake. I squint into the darkness and see a tall figure walking along. My heart speeds up. The figure continues in my direction. The next moment is a blur. It feels as if I am in one of my dreams again.

The figure comes into view. He is looking down at his hands, studying something. The moonlight shines upon his red hair. I gasp. He hears me and looks up. His tear filled eyes lock with my gaze for just a millisecond. He drops whatever he was holding. And then he is gone. I blink in shock. Did I imagine that? It seemed so real! But it can't have been. Feeling slightly shaken, I decide to leave. As I walk around the lake and towards my house, I notice something lying on the pathway. I bend down and bring the small square of paper to my face. It's too dark to see. I stand under the light of a lamp. I can't believe my eyes. It's a photo. Of me and the boy from my locket. So somebody was here! I didn't imagine him! I put the photo into my pocket to take it back home and look at in more detail. I basically run the entire way back.

I dive onto my bed, once I return home. I pull out the photo. There he is. Standing behind me with his arms wrapped around my waist. We are both grinning at the camera. After a while my eyes rest upon something else that grabs my attention. The place we are hugging. The place this photo was taken. It seems so familiar. It dawns upon me.

I put on a my coat and run back outside. I run all the way to Austin's house. I remember his parents are away, so without the worry of disturbing them, I ring the doorbell. A sleeping Austin comes to the door, slightly startled once he sees me.
" Trish? It's.." He looks at his watch," 3am! What do you want?"
I barge past him and into his house. He closes the door and goes to the kitchen to make coffees. I just march up to him, shoving the photo to his chest.
" Who is he? I know you know because look where this photo was taken. Right over there!" I say pointing to the living room. He sighs.

" Where did you find this?"
I sit at the kitchen bench.
"I saw him. At the park. Just before I came here. He dropped this when he saw me. He ran away" I say truthfully.
Austin nods thoughtfully.
" He was crying." I add, looking down at my lap.

Austin's POV:

" He was crying." She says softly.
My heart aches. I know she saw Dez tonight. She knows that I know who he is. But do I tell her? I mean. Dez made us promise that no matter what, we do not tell her about him.

I look at my friend. She looks absolutely miserable. She sniffles.
" Who is he Austin?"
I sigh, " I.. I can't say"
She lets out a small choked sob.
" Please?" She begs
I walk over to her and she stands up. I open my arms, allowing her to walk into them. I wrap my arms around her tightly. I can't do this to her. Not knowing who Dez is, is killing her on the inside. It's not her fault she can't remember him!

I lead her to the couch. I take a seat and pat the spot next to me. She lies down, putting her head in my lap. I stroke her hair and stare into her eyes. Eyes swimming with pain, grief and sadness. With hurt, loneliness and frustration.

" He wasn't just your boyfriend. He was my best friend. I met him in preschool. When we were 5. He was my best buddy in the entire world. We were close, all four of us. You, me, Ally and him. We did absolutely everything together. He was hilarious. He was kind. He was caring. He was in love with you. And that's why he left. Because he was so in love with you that the thought of not being with you terrified him. The thought that your cancer made you forget him. It broke his heart. So he left. But wherever he is. I know for sure, he still loves you."

Tears run down her face and I feel as if my heart has shattered into millions of pieces. I miss my best friend. I want him back. I want Trish to remember him. I want them to go back to the way they were. With my thumb, I wipe away her tears.
" What if I never remember? What if he never comes back?" She whispers.
I smile softly, but out of sympathy rather than happiness.
" I promise you, one day you will remember him. I promise you, I will do my very best to find him. I promise you I will try my hardest to bring him home."

Well.. what does everybody think? Please let me know what you are thinking. I'm sorry it's been a while since I updated, but I'm on Easter holidays right now, so for the next two weeks I'll be able to update faster (hopefully!) Byeee!