Toppled Over!

Chapter 16

Chapter 16
24th September

Jamie

I was depressed and dejected by all that was happening today. I sat beside Carl, his hand in mine, waiting for him to get up and tell me he's there, he's listening. I keep my head on his chest, desperate to hear something, desperate for his heartbeat. I close my eyes, my tears blotting Carl's shirt. I stay still keen to hear something. I just did, I heard his heartbeat. I stand up and tell the nurse that I can hear his heartbeat. She shook her head and told me to stay strong.
"How in the world should I stay strong when you're saying that my friend is dead!? I heard his heartbeat, I really did." I said, enraged. "You haven't checked well enough! Do your job! Check him again!" I screamed. She walked towards me, lifted Carl's hand, and told me there was no pulse. She told me to try and feel, but I didn't get a pulse. She pointed towards the screen, "Look at the heart rate on the screen, It's a flat line. I know it's painful, but it is the truth. I'm sorry"

I'm just making up stuff. My brain knows, I know what has happened but my heart.... Who's gonna convince my heart.. that his best friend, a fragment of his soul is no more. I can't..... I just can't.

I stare at the screen, the flat line beeping. I've completely zoned out, thinking of all the things we've been through together. Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder, a very hard one. I turn around to look at the resort's manager, beside him Calarie. Her face was tear-stained, the tears still rolling down her cheeks.

The resort manager wants to speak to me, he asked me to follow him out and I did.
"We have to call the cops. It's not his age to die and I'm certain that you'll be the prime suspect."

"Sure, you can call the cops, but I haven't done a thing, that's my best friend you're talking about. Why would I ever do anything?" I said, heartbroken.

I go back in and see Calarie sitting beside Carl, whispering and crying in Carl's ear. She seemed depressed, they were childhood besties after all.
The nurse calls me and tells me that I have to complete filling some forms.
"Does Carl have any parents, relatives, anyone?" she asked.
"He doesn't, He lost his parents young and I was.....I AM his best....... his best friend" my voice stuttered and my eyes filled up.

"Then, you'll have to fill the form as his only guardian."

"I will, can you tell me how... how all this happened? How did he die? When did he die? He's just 20 for god's sake!! How can something happen to him? Just how?! Is this his age to die? Tell me!" I asked angrily. The nurse stood before me puzzled and shocked.

"I don't have answers to all your questions. I'm a nurse, not a doctor and this room you see is a check-up room and not a professional unit. I don't have any of the equipment required to do any checks on the victim. I know that he hasn't died naturally, and it has occurred not more than 2 hours from now. The blood still looks fresh. You should wait for the autopsy team, they will look into everything. Can I ask you how you noticed that he was dead?"

"We came here on a trip, we stayed together in the house nearby. He.. he... didn't move when I was waking him up. He had a blot of blood on the pillow, as soon as I saw that, I brought him here." I said, answering her question.

"You are the prime suspect, the cops will be after you, I'm sure they already are."

"Why will they be after me? I brought him here to safety, I'm his best friend. How... do ....they possibly think... think that I'll kill him?" I said, tears rolling down my cheeks. I was sobbing, my lungs feeling like they're being squeezed. I was desperately trying to calm myself down.

"I know, I feel that you're not the guy who's killed the victim, but the cops, are never going to believe you. The cops here aren't like you think you'll either be sentenced for death or murdered by them. They don't listen to anyone but people with money. They don't care, your life is completely worthless to them. I think you should take all you have and leave, I'll keep you updated about Carl if you want, just write down your number here." She said.

I nod my head and wrote down my number on the card she handed. I just sat down, feeling blank as ever. I can't comprehend anything. My life feels like an absolute void. The nurse's words were just.... just constantly coming into my mind. I wanted her to be lying about Carl, I wanted her to be lying about everything she's said to me since the time I've come, but her eyes. It had fear, worry and distress. Her eyes were surely not lying.