The Victim

02| lifeless

S E R I N E

Two years earlier

I cried.

Her body was still, she wasn't moving.

Lifeless.

That's how she was, I hated it. I hated the sight. "S-Sarah come on now," I ignore the coldness brushing against my bare skin. Her eyes were slightly opened, her lips were crippled. She was cold. "Take care of yourself," she whispers.

"No no! Sarah you are not doing this to me! No, not today," I panic. "They're almost here- just d-don't close your eyes," she blinks slowly, only making me slap her face slightly. "Don't. You. Dare,"

"Sarah, don't leave me. Stay for me, your parents, your brother- your entire family damnit,"

"Excuse me miss?" I whip my head to the the door and see two paramedics. "She- she needs help. Help her!" I yell. "Okay miss, we will need you to step out of the way." I immediately do. I remove myself from her. "Just please help her," I cry. "Please,"

"Did you check her vitals?" the one medic asks the other and I completely zone out and just stare at her body lying there. No, she couldn't die. She couldn't. I prayed on everything that was holy- praying for her to be alive and well. I believed she'd get better. I knew she would. All that faded when the medics  looked at me, pity was what I saw and instantly knew it.

"No," I shook my head, refusing to believe it. "No she can't be dead! NO! Not her damn it! Not another person, no,"  I cried. "Do something damn it! It's like you didn't even try- I know she's still somewhere in there, I know,"

"We're sorry miss-" I didn't even bother to listen- my eyes still on my best friend. I ran towards her and hugged her lifeless body. I hated saying that.

It was like I was already giving up on her. "AHHHH," I cried. "How could you leave me like this Sar, how?" I cry onto her, her blood covering my top but I didn't care. "Miss, you cannot be close to the victim,"

I ignored him- hanging onto the body like if I were to let it go, an entire brighter side of me would die. She was the brightness, that only happy side that existed because she  was the one who believed in happiness.

"Happiness is the most beautiful thing, don't take it for granted,"

She used to say.

Used.

It was like everything had become past tense the moment her body fell onto the ground. "S-sarah?" I heard a familiar voice. I look to my left and see a pair of green eyes, Darek. "I'm sorry for your loss," the medic says and I want to punch him in the face but I didn't have the energy for that right now.

My heart was bleeding.

I moved away, giving him space with her. I stood up slowly- feeling as if my world had crumbled apart. Trying to steady myself, I almost fall but arms catch me before I even collide with the floor. I find myself looking at a pair of unfamiliar orbs- my hand in a fist as his big hands wrap around my wrists. They then wrap me around their arms and before I knew it, I'm in a hug- tears covering my face.

"Why would you do this to me God?! Why!" I cry onto the strangers shoulder. "How could you take her away from me?" the last sentence comes out of my lips, barely above a whisper. A bundle of sobs escape me and there I sit- on the ground- my continuous tears. I hear another sob and I see my two toned best friend, beside her body. Darek holds onto her like a treasure.

I should be there, lifelesss. Not her.

***

Everyone came. She had  that much of an affect on people. Even if they were cruelest person, she'd still find love for that person. There was not one person could say they hated her- hell  if they did  was jealousy.

All they wanted was to be just like her. She was the life of everything. Sarah was everybody's favorite person. With so much joy, energy- but shyness. She wouldn't be her if she wasn't shy but a beautiful soul she was. I sigh once the door is opened for me. My heel makes contact with the floor and then with the grass. I look up with my tired eyes and see a tons of familiar faces. Old classmates- old in my eyes because it was graduation day.

The principal thought it was the least that she deserved and indeed- it was to host a graduation for her. On the day of her funeral.

We were going to honor her the way that she deserved.

We entered the building; my arms around Levine's, my hand in Angelo's and with Darek- looking as distorted as everyone else did. Everybody began giving their condolences- even all the people we've never spoken to. Until one unexpected person rises to her feet.

The familiar faces stood before me. Amber, Kelly and Nina. "If you're going to cause a scene-"

"No I didn't come here for that- I just wanted to give your my condolences,"

"And you have given that, thank you," I take a step forward. "Well I really mean it Serine. I'm genuinely sorry for your loss, and Nina's loss too. All of you though, I know nobody ever really hated her- she was an angel,"

Not gonna lie, I almost forgot Nina was Sarah's sister.

Not saying anything else, I nodded. A bitch never changed over night- and she's no different. "Kelly you're not fooling anybody," a voice I haven't heard of in days almost caused me to jump, David.

Looking distraught and disheveled. His voice was low and cold. Levine instantly moved from me to engulf him in a big hug. They hug for a while, before pulling away. He wrapped his arms around her waist- sort of like a side hug.  "Nina I thought you said you weren't coming?" he looks at her. Nina looks down, blinking.

"She was my sister too y'know?"

"Sure as hell never acted like one," Levine retorts. Nina let's out a heavy sigh. "I know. I can't go back in time and go change that but she was my sister and I loved her," I scoff. I walk forward, my hand still in Angelo's as I watch people make their speeches for Sarah.

Next was,

None other than,

Nina Belair.