Two weeks aren't that long, right? Aries would disagree... It takes a while for him to speak to the new girl but once he does he quickly falls into a beautiful nightmare, one staring Dahlia. Aries and Dahlia are paired together for a school project...
In a good mood the next morning, I woke up extra early and made some french toast for Dahlia. When I step out, rain drops fall around me. It's raining harder than it usually does.
Like the sky is angry. So angry it's crying.
I place the french toast on her seat then head her way. The drive there feels longer than usual as the rain pours on my window, shielding me from the road ahead. I eventually get there. I park down the street like always but when I look up the block I immediately get out of the car.
I feel hyper aware as the scene in front of me unfolds. I feel my heart pounding to get out of my chest as my eyes focus on all of the police cars. My feet take me forward as I try to keep my brain from worrying.
She's fine. Three police cars. Maybe she called and he's getting arrested. Two ambulances. I reach the front of the house and search for her.
"God, this is so sad." My head snaps to the side. One cop. Two. Talking about something I can't quite register. Why isn't my brain working? Where is she?
Sad. They said this was sad. Did they find out she was being hurt here? They're here to help her. Right?
Wrong. I go completely still as I watch the front door. How long can someone hold their breath? 1 2 3 4 my brain keeps counting. I keep counting how long I can go without breathing because I need to focus on something. I need to focus on something other than the body bag being pushed out on a stretcher.
37 38 39. "Who is that?" Breathe. I look around for Dahlia but- "Where is she?" I break my eyes from whoever that is on the stretcher and turn to a cop. His eyes are soft. Sympathetic as he watches me.
"There was nothing we could have done." 6 words. 8 syllables. 29 letters. There. Was. Nothing. We. Could. Have. done.
Done about what?
"Where is she?" He puts his hand on my shoulder and I feel my skin crawl. I take a step away from him and my eyes cut back to the body bag. "Is-" My mouth feels dry as I try to form the words but I can't.
My feet must be moving. Or maybe I'm floating. I don't know how but I end up in front of the stretcher. Slowly I place my hand on the zipper. Slowly I pull it down. Three inches. I see hair. Curly hair and three inches of a forehead then I stop.
"No." I take a step back and stare at her hair. "No." My vision blurs then I'm hit in the stomach. Something hard knocks the wind right out of me and I fall to my knees. I feel my bones ache. My throat is against me as it closes, not letting any air in.
Someone is screaming. Someone sounds hurt. Broken. "NOO!" I'm screaming. My insides feel like they're burning. I can't breathe but I scream anyway, needing to let the pain out. The rain falls harder as it soaks me in its sorrow.
"Don't take her." I choke out as they begin to push the stretcher away. Her. As they begin to push her away. I struggle to take a breath in but I somehow get up and grab a hold of her.
"I'm going to get you help, Dahlia."
"She's gone, son." No. I shake my head frantically.
"She's right here." I pull the zipper down then my heart stops. I look up at the officer, checking if he's seeing what I do but his eyes are shut, like he's in pain. "Dahlia?" I blink away the rain in my eyes as I try to focus on her.
He hurt her. She's broken. Her eyes are open and she looks zoned out. Like she's about to quote another article. "Dahlia, snap out of it." I reach to touch her but she feels so cold.
"I'm so sorry for your loss." 6 words. 7 sylla- She's gone. A choked out cry escapes me as I hug her cold body.
"God, I'm sorry, Doll." A sob somehow makes its way through my closed throat. "I was going to help you, I swear I was Dahlia. Please." A thunder crashes through the air like the rest of the universe is angry.
"This is your fault!" I shout but I'm not quite sure I know who my words are directed to. "She needed our help! You should've listened!" Someone pulls me away as they take her.
I feel my knees go weak and I fall onto the ground, my knees clashing onto the pavement. I don't know how long I sit there. Screaming into the sky. To everyone who could've helped but didn't.
My brain is on autopilot and somehow makes it into the house. I'm not sure how but I find her room or I think this is her room. Was.
I look around taking it in but there isn't much. One bed with a thin white sheet and flat pillow. One dresser. On night stand. Plain white walls. Not pictures. No niknaks. One sad, empty room.
Sitting on her bed I pull her pillow into my embrace. It still smells like her. I breathe into in as I sob silently.
"I'm sorry." I tell whoever will forgive me. More time goes by. I can't tell how much but when it feels like it's time to go I rise from her bed. As I take a step to leave my eyes land on her bed.
Her notebook is there and a note on top of it. When I take a closer look I notice my name on it. I go still, debating on whether or not I even want to read it. If I can. Two minutes pass by then I snatch it from the bed before I change my mind.
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A few drops fell on the paper, when I looked up there were no leaks and I realized it's me. I shut my eyes and don't read the rest. I'm not ready to read what she wrote to herself but I glance at the end.
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