Life's Unexpected Intricacies

Nathan

Dad gets a call from mom saying that Cody ran away from the hospital; Kyle is running and she doesn't know where he's going.

"The bridge," I say walking towards the door I don't know why that wasn't obvious. If Cody's going to commit suicide and he's a few blocks away from the bridge, of course he'd go there. I didn't think to put on shoes or casual clothes... there's no time for that, my brother's dying and I have to save him.

"What bridge—?"

"The bridge Danny died at now come on we don't have any time!" I yelled while speed walking towards the car.

      We arrive at the bridge and I see Kyle standing there. He's stiff, unmoving, and Cody's the exact opposite. I also see mom standing there; I'm surprised she can stand. She looks like if someone poked her she'd crumble to pieces like a porcelain doll someone broke and tried to fix, but they didn't use glue. They balanced the pieces on top of each other back in order, hoping the wind wouldn't blow. I get out of the car, not knowing what else to do, and dad walks toward them. I hear Kyle tell him something and he grabs mom. She starts yelling and crying and he hugs her... embraces her... loves her. I forgot my parents loved each other. I know she would cry and he would comfort her, but they've been distant. After a while it seemed like they were only there for each other just because it was the right thing to do. He carries her to the car and lays her in the back seat temporarily so she can regroup and calm down a bit. Kyle's still talking to Cody calmer than I thought he could possibly be, and Cody's yelling louder than I've ever heard him yell. Then he moves. He stumbles backwards and uneasily walks towards the river under the bridge. Kyle follows after him and I see Cody embrace the water like reuniting with an old friend; embracing death. Kyle grabs his shoulders and pulls his head above the water. From here, all I see is water and rapid movement between the both of them, so I start running. As I run I forget to breathe. I'm more focused on what to do, what to grab for, digesting the fact that this is all happening right now, realizing that Cody would do anything to die at this point, noting that Kyle would do anything to save him, and knowing that I won't let Cody slip away from me again. Visions from the past start flashing in my head; seeing him covered in blood in the bathtub, seeing his lifeless face, seeing him smile that fake smile every day, cursing myself for letting him convince me he was happy. I grab Cody's arm and he snatches it away from me with strength I didn't know he had in him. He's so mentally weak, that he's still strong enough to fight for his death rather than his life.

"CODY STOP!" I yell at him. He pushes me away and pushes Kyle back. Kyle slips and falls into the water. He hits his head on a huge rock and slides into the river. He didn't jump back up. He wouldn't move at all. Cody freezes as well and stares at him.

"K-Kyle...? KYLE?" I rush towards his body. I notice blood seeping from his head, slowly changing the color of the water.

      "Help me pull him out!" I yell at Cody. That gets his attention and he helps me pull him onto the grass. Cody hovers over Kyle and me, reiterating something, but I don't hear him. I don't hear anything, not even a pulse when I listen to Kyle's chest. I frantically feel Kyle's wrist and neck for his pulse.

It's gone.

No pulse at all.

Kyle's dead, and so am I. I can't move. I can't breathe. I can't feel. I can't talk, but I can hear Cody asking me. "Is he alive? Nathan? NATHAN, ANSWER ME! TELL ME!" He's shaking me and I finally stand.

"He's..." my voice cracks, my fists ball up and shake. Cody looks horrified. He's pale and he can't move either but someone has to. Mom and Dad are out of the car coming towards the bridge and I walk to them, lifelessly, trying to understand, trying to force myself to believe this is reality.

      "Nathan what happened? Where's Cody? Where's Kyle—"

"Kyle is dead," is all I can say. It's all I can repeat in my mind. I can't explain to them how it happened. I couldn't believe it happened my damn self. Kyle is dead. Kyle is dead. No he can't be. He can't be dead, but he is. Kyle is dead. Kyle is dead. Kyle is......