Just Friends

81

Pov Sage

The next moments don't go so quickly. I barely keep track of what's happening around me at the moment.

Doctors rush around me. Everyone runs towards Meri. I am pushed to the side, while Meri sometimes grabs my hand with the last bit of energy he has left.

I try to keep the doctors pushing the stretcher. Maybe I should have gone to the gym after all.

The doctors drive into a corridor with two large white doors at the end. Doctors shout all kinds of medical Latin terms at each other. Let's say we're going to operate on Meri right away.

Suddenly I am stopped.

"Meri!" I still manage to cry.

The hand of him that was just weakly holding mine falls down.

My breath catches in my throat. I try to run to him, but the nurse stops me.

I burst into tears as the doctors just start running and screaming faster.

And I? I don't understand it at all anymore.

All I know is that the boy I love dearly is going into that room.

Not sure if he'll make it out alive...

The nurse looks at me sympathetically and says the legendary phrase.

"Otherwise, just sit in the waiting room," no shit Sherlock, where else?

I turn to the waiting room, with pity and courage I plop down on one of those blue, annoying chairs.

#

They've been at it for an hour and I still haven't heard anything.

I get up and walk to the counter.

"Any news on Meri Brown?" I ask the woman behind the counter.

"Family?" she asks.

Not really...

Only together 24/7.

"No," I answer, knowing what answer I'm about to get.

"Then I can't give you any information. Call someone anyway. Go home and get some rest. The operation will take some time," she says.

"I'm someone, but I'm not leaving here until he gets out of here alive," I hiss.

She looks at me in surprise.

I curse and hit the counter once.

"Young lady!" the woman shouts.

I sigh and grab my phone. I walk a little further. Who am I going to call first?

Anna.

It's Meri's mother. He should know.

I enter the numbers. The phone rings slowly. First once, then again, and again, again...

Just as I'm about to hang up, her voice sounds on the other end of the line.

"Hey Sage. What are you calling for?" she asks cheerfully.

Immediately a tear rolls down my cheek.

A soft sob escapes my mouth.

How am I supposed to tell this? How do you tell a mother over the phone that her only son has been shot? That he might not even figure it out?

"Sage! What is?" she asks now, very worried.

"Meri... He is," I start.

"Oh dear. What has he done now?" she asks, sighing.

"Not something with a girl anyway," she adds with a sigh.

"No no. He's been shot. He is now in the Intensive Care Unit," I sob.

"What! Where are you, I'm coming now!" she shouts, startled, into the phone.

The realization has not yet dawned on her.

"In the hospital at Sun Bay," I sob again.

"See you soon. Stay strong Sage," she says and hangs up.

I also hang up and stare at the screen for a few seconds.

Why does this have to happen to us again?

I collapse against the wall on the floor, sobbing.

I put my head in my hands and let the tears overtake me.

They go about their business recklessly and roll over my cheeks in streams.

The new song by Martin Garrix and David Guetta is playing on the radio. It's called So Far Away.

This whole shitty situation reminds me of a line from the lyrics.

Tell me there's a river I can swim that will bring you back to me.

I would love that right now. I don't want to lose Meri for anything. I would do anything for it.

#

Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder.

I look up, slightly startled, and see Anna standing there.

I fly into her arms. Her mascara is all over her cheeks, just like mine.

She wraps her arms tightly around me. Both our shoulders are soaking wet with tears.

"I am so sorry. If I had just listened to him," I rattle off.

"Shhh sweetie. It's not your fault," Anna tries to soothe me.

"He warned me and now" I continue to cry.

"how is he doing?" she asks, not wanting to know how bad it is.

I shake my head.

"No family," I say dryly.

She rolls her eyes.

"Sage you are family too. Trust me," she says.

"Now we're going to make sure he walks out of that operating room without any problems," she laughs carefully through her tears.

I smile softly and nod. I would like nothing more than that. To be able to hold Meri in my arms again.

Really tell him how I feel about him.

To hear his voice and look as deeply into his eyes as possible.

"Come. We are doing this for Meri," Anna says and walks past me to the counter.

**

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