All Which Remains

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Ramelan

I open the front door. No one is standing there. Did I mishear? Whatever.

I close the front door and lock it.

"Ramelan, are you coming?" Mom yells.

"Yeah, be right there!" I yell back.

I walk to the dinner table.

Adhi, Mom, and Dad are sitting. It looks like Adhi is telling a joke, but they're whispering. I sit down.

"Hey, what are we talking about?"

Dad looks startled. "Hi, Ramelan. Adhi was just saying that he saw our neighbors today."

"What do you mean?" I eat a cube of beef.

Dad clears his throat. What's going on? "Adhi was saying that he saw Abyasa and Farrah leave their house. Both of them with suitcases."

Arron

I'm not able to talk to the officer. He doesn't get back from patrol in time for me to be able to talk to him. I have to go to school. One more day, then it's the weekend. I'll be able to find Mom and Dad.

I know it.

They wouldn't have left me unless something unavoidable came up.

I miss them.

I leave a report with the man at the front desk before going home.

I need to go home.

School starts in an hour.

It's a good thing that I remember the way back. I can't believe I waited all night for someone who's not even able to get off patrol.

I scowl.

This is important.

I kick a rock out of my way. Yesterday was probably the worst day of my life. But who knows? Certainly not me. I need to calm down. Breathe in and out. You've got this. It's not like you've known Mom and Dad for that long, so it shouldn't matter. It'll be okay.

I feel exhausted. I stumble as I stand up during the second break.

I press my hand on my forehead.

I feel woozy.

Fadhlan.

I reach out to him— I collapse. My head hits the edge. All of my senses shut off like lights. I'm left in a cold, dark, empty space.

Fadhlan

Arron. What just happened? I jump forward, trying to reach him. His head hits his desk with a loud bang. Everyone looks up from whatever they're doing and stare at him.

There's blood.

Shit.

No, no, no.

I run to him.

"Arron?!" I can feel the panic clogging up my throat. I can't do anything. My hands are just hovering above his body.

I hear someone dialing 119.

I'm shaking.

God, there's so much blood.

Ramelan.

I need to get him.

Where is he?

I stand up and look around. I can't see him. I can't leave Arron, though. I don't want to. Arron's bleeding out. His blood is on my clothes. It's soaking my shorts and socks. I— what do I do? I can't think properly.

Mrs. Hadi.

Why didn't I think of it before?

I look up again and see her talking to someone at the classroom door. Why isn't she over here with me trying to save Arron?

Oh, I have to stem the bleeding. How do I do that?

Should I rip up my shirt? That's what everyone does in movies, but is that really going to help in this situation?

"Does anyone have a jacket?" I ask my classmates. A girl raises her hand. Her name is— oh, yeah, it's Nurhayati.

She walks over and hands it to me. "Thank you," I whisper. Our hands touch, and I can feel that she's just as scared as I am. Nurhayati bows and hurries off back to her seat.

I lift Arron up, he's so limp.

I wrap the jacket, or rather, cardigan, as tight as I can around his head.

"It's okay. It's all going to be okay. I promise," I say to Arron, even though I know he can't hear me. I stroke his hair. Fat, hot tears start to trickle down my cheeks. "I'm so, so, so, sorry," I whisper.

Someone touches my shoulder.

It's Mrs. Hadi.

"It's going to be okay. An ambulance will be here soon," She says to me. "Good job, let's sit him upright."

Ramelan

I sign in at the front desk. The woman at the desk takes the sheet from me and tells me which room to go to. I bow to her and head towards room 222. I'm nervous, should I be here? What if I'm not wanted? I hesitate, my hand on the doorknob.

No, I'm sure he won't care. I shake my head.

The doorknob is cold under my hand as I turn it.

The room is bright. Sunlight is streaming through the two open windows. There's a stool beside his bed.

"I'm sorry that I left. Really, I am," I say, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. Arron is still unconscious. He has been for the past three days. The doctors say that he might fall into a coma because of brain damage.

"Please, Arron." I lower my forehead to his hand. "Please live. I don't know what would happen to me if you don't." I can't cry. Not again. "I'm sorry. I— I love you. Please don't leave me here alone," I whisper.