short stories

Die First- Nessa Barret (Luke Hughes)

Hockey. A sport I've feared my whole life. My father played hockey when I was younger. He was what some people would consider a legend. I was 10 when my dad died as a result of a head injury that happened during a game. I had lost the one person I loved. After that day I vowed to never allow a hockey player into my life. That was proven difficult when I met Luke.

I was practicing my routine for nationals. I started to take figure skating more seriously after my father died. Being on the ice made me feel connected to him without the dangers of hockey.

Once I had successfully finished my routine, I heard clapping coming from the sidelines. I turned around and noticed three boys watching me. Immediately noticing their hockey gear, I give them a friendly smile and make my way towards the locker rooms to try and avoid them. Unfortunately, I hear the skid of blades on the ice as someone makes their way towards me. I feel myself being turned around.

"Hey." the young brunette boy says.

"Hi"

"I just wanted to say that you are amazing on the ice." He says blushing.

"Thank you so much," I say, trying to end this conversation.

"I'm Luke by the way." He replies. "And those idiots making all that noise over there are my brothers, Jack and Quinn."

"I'm Angel." I say, "It was nice to meet you Luke but I need to head out."

Skating my way towards the door he yells something after me.

"Hey!.... Could I get your number by any chance," he asks, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

"I don't give my number to strangers Luke," I yell back with a smirk on my face.

From that day on Luke would show up to all of my practices and even some of my competitions. Every day asking if he was becoming less of a stranger. Turns out the little idiot had caught my heart, so now here we are. Sitting front row at a University of Michigan Hockey game. The Michigan boys were up by 4 points and beating Ohio State (who for some reason have decided to play dirty). Luke has the puck, racing toward the goal when some guy decided to ram straight into him. The next thing I see is Luke on the ground. Seconds turned into minutes and Luke was not getting up. Blood started seeping onto the ice. He had a head injury. A bad one at that.

You're all I ever wanted

So, how come I'm still haunted by the thoughts inside my head?

I started to bang on the glass trying to get Luke to hear me. Trying to get him to react in any way that showed me he was still alive. I was a sobbing mess. I couldn't lose him the same way I lost my father.

You love me but no matter what you say

There's only one of two ways that this is gonna end

I had been sitting with the rest of the Hughes family. Ellen was way worse than I was. She was watching one of her children bleeding on the ground completely unconscious, not knowing if he would make it. Quinn rushed up to me, holding me with my back faced away from the ice as the paramedics took Luke.

Someone dies or someone gets hurt

But if one of us dies

We all rushed to the cars and headed to the hospital that Luke was brought to. I started to get a sense of Deja vu. I couldn't lose him too. He was my rock, I loved him. And he loved me. I always told myself that I would never put myself back in this situation, but that was before some annoying kid kept insisting on getting my number. Unknowingly I had fallen in love with him.

I hope I die first

'Cause I don't wanna live without you

I don't wanna ever learn

How to fall asleep without you

Once we knew that Luke was in a stable condition, we were allowed to see him. I opted to go last. I knew that if I went first I wouldn't be able to hold myself together.

Walking into the room. Inhaling the familiar smell. All I wanted to do was run away. Pretend that this didn't happen. Pretend that he was waiting outside the locker room for me. Going out with our friends to celebrate the big win.

I heard the beeping of the monitor before I saw him. There he lay, looking almost lifeless. The tan he got from being out on the boat that summer was gone. The joy no longer radiating off of him. I couldn't see his beautiful eyes, the thing I noticed first when we met. I took a seat in the chair right next to him, I held his hand... no longer being able to hold it in.

"Please wake up Luke... I love you so much I don't know what I would do without you, please Luke... If one of us has to die first... I hope I die first 'cause I don't wanna live without you." I say.

"I'm not going anywhere, angel." I hear Luke say.

"Luke..." Quickly getting up to hug him.

"I couldn't lose you too. Not in the same way as him either."

"I'm never leaving my love. I wanna be in love forever, and ever."