my pretty | riff (wss)

18

Please, Please, Please, let me get what I want.
Early May, 1957.

Normally, when I wanted to avoid a noise or a problem I'd read a book. And it always worked, it would keep my mind away from whatever was happening. But today, it was different. I was attempting to read my favorite book, the picture of dorian gray. But no matter how intriguing the page was, my mind always came back to Riff, and Tony, and the Jets and the Sharks. It was close to 10pm, and I just wondered about what was happening. Riff could be on his way to see me right now, or Tony could be helping the Jets right now. I didn't know. And I hated not knowing.

I hoped the world would give me a clue about what was happening. Anything. I heard loud voices from across my room. I stood up, walking over to my door. Without opening it fully, but a little so I could hear the chatter coming from the kitchen. I heard my father say the word 'daughter' I was his only daughter so I opened my door to see what was happening.

"What's going on?" I asked my father and mom who were speaking to someone in the door. They turned to look at me, as I walked in between them to see officer Krupkee.

"Ms. O'Hara I need you to come with me." He spoke. "Why?" I asked. I hadn't done anything wrong. "We need you to see if you could identify a body." He responded. I froze. "Wait why?" I asked. "Exactly, we do not give consent for our daughter to see a dead body!" My mother yelled.

"Ms. O'Hara your daughter is nearly 18. she can make her choices." Krupkee responded to my mom. "How is my daughter connected to this, she never even leaves her room."  My mom continued yelling. "Krupkee, we have attorneys who will get her out of this, so just leave." My father threatened.

I wonder where Isaac was, he hated when my parents fought. And I wanted to end it. "I'll do it." I said breaking the conversation, as my parents immediately turned to me. "You don't have to Rebecca, it's alright." My father spoke. "No." I called.

"I'm gonna do it." I stated as my father sighed. "Rebecca, are you sure? Our lawyers can get you out of this quick and easy." My mother warned, coming closer to me and lowering her tone.

"I can do it." I spoke as I started to walk to the door. "I'll be home soon." I told my parents as they nodded regretfully. I looked at my fathers face, disappointment. My mothers face, sadness. Why could they be disappointed and saddened, I wasn't doing anything wrong. It wasn't like I was in trouble. On the walk to the cop car, Krupkee didn't speak, he just made the way so I could follow him to the car. Then drove without saying a word.

No conversation, to distract me, so It felt like it was only me and my thoughts in the car. So many different possibilities came to mind about what could happen. I chose to not think of the worst as I traced circles on my hand like Riff did in the diner.

It came to my mind. There was no doubt that Riff had been in a police station so many times, that even the cops recognized him. So why would they need me to identify him if they probably do know if it's him or not. It relived me. It probably wasn't him then. We arrived to the hospital as I was escorted to a private waiting room. There was another woman sitting there as well.

It made my heart stop. Anita, just as she gasped when she saw me, so did I. A realization hit us, immediately. But we looked at the ground, not wanting to acknowledge the realization.

I sat a few seats away from her as I looked at the floor. I was impatient. I wanted to see the body right now, so I could get it over with it. The anticipation was killing me. The door in front of the waiting room opened, as a type of doctor came out with a clipboard.

"Who wants to go first?" He asked. Me and Anita looked at each other, as if we read each others mind, we nodded. "I'll go first." I spoke up as he nodded. I stood up, fixing my dress as I walked into the door. Two bodies were on top of metal tables both covered with a white blanket on top.

"We're gonna ask, if you know who these two people are. We need a name and description." He spoke clicking his pen. I nodded as another man came into the room. I watched as he placed his fingers on top of the blanket to unveil the body. There I saw Bernardo, his tan skin now pale and his eyes shut. Tears formed in my eyes. I was able to hold them back. I never knew Bernardo but death is scary. To everyone, including myself.

"Bernardo." I spoke as the pen clicked again, the doctor writing on the clipboard. "I don't know his last name, but he has a sister and girlfriend who works at the bridal shop. The girlfriend is in the waiting room currently." I finalized as he nodded. I heard the pen stop writing on the paper, as the doctor moved to the next table. I followed him as the man once again put his fingers to the cloth.

I wish time could pause, I remember being asked in elementary, that if I could have any superpower, what would I choose. Everyone chose flight, or speed. I chose the ability to freeze time. My teacher would ask why, and I'd respond back then, that if I could freeze time I would go do my homework right now, so I wouldn't do it at home. But now, I would freeze time so I wouldn't be in this moment. He unveiled the body as i nearly choked.

There was Riff. His skin so white, you couldn't see his amazing blue eyes that I loved. His eyes were closed shut, and they wouldn't open again. Part of me wanted to know how he died. Who shot him? Or was he stabbed. I know that Riff was expecting death, and that death was expecting him. But I know that he could've changed, I could've changed him. I was changing him. But I came to him too late. And I hated myself for that. I wanted to hug him. Just looking at him, made me think of when I woke up next to him, not even 24 hours ago. Why didn't I stop him. Why didn't I fucking stop him from crawling out of my window.

But just staring at him, it made me cry. The last time I saw him was when he left through my window. That last time I mentioned him was a few hours ago. The last time I kissed him was when we woke up. And the last time I hugged him, was when he asked if he could see me after the rumble. I ended up seeing him.

"Ma'am?" The doctor asked as I snapped back into reality. I looked up, I felt the tears that were on my jaw. I was thinking and talking in my head so much that I didn't realize I was crying.

"Identification?" He asked writing on a new sheet of paper.

I nodded. "Riff Lorton." I spoke. "He's a student at Amadalia High School, a senior." I continued. "He's my boyfriend, and is very known around the west side, but not for good reasons." I continued. "Can I touch him?" I asked. He nodded, as I touched his chest, his black jean vest, part of it covered in blood which I didn't even wanna look at. I looked at the pocket of the vest, noticing something peeking out. A folded piece of paper, as I grabbed it. It was a letter. "Thank you Ms. O'Hara, I do need you to sign some forms, so please collect them in the reception, and tell the woman in the waiting room to come inside." He spoke finishing writing on the clipboard.as I nodded. I left the room. I felt cold, I wanted to just go to my bed and stay there for weeks. I looked at Anita, who's eyes shrieked when she saw my tears. "You can go in." I spoke as she nodded, standing up and sniffling as she entered the room. I walked over to reception as the worker nodded. "Rebecca O'Hara?" He asked as I nodded my head.

"I need you to sign these forms please." He spoke, passing like 4 pages of paper as I grabbed a pen. All the forms were just saying that I had identified a body, and to put the victims name again. Also that I could be sued if I purposely give a wrong name. I signed my last signature, as I passed the forms under the window. "You are free to go, ma'am." A cop next to me told me as I nodded. I left the office as I started to leave the hospital. I didn't wanna see my parents, I didn't want to hear them complain about how I had to see a corpse, and then be yelled at on why I didn't listen. So I chose to go with someone who I felt safe with. Valentina.