It Wasn't Worth it...

Chapter 8: Notifications

The sun was finally rising, casting a warm orange glow over the city as I walked out of the hospital. The cool air hit my tearstained face, a stark contrast to the stifling heat I felt inside. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

I reached into my pocket, searching for my car keys, before remembering that I had taken the ambulance there. I sighed, and rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on me. The bustling city seemed oblivious to the turmoil that raged within my soul. Cars honked impatiently, pedestrians hurried past, their faces etched with indifference. I felt utterly alone, adrift in a sea of strangers.

The hospital had become a surreal labyrinth, a place where hope and despair intertwined in a cruel dance. Within those cold, clinical walls, I had witnessed the fragile nature of life and the devastating consequences of unexpected tragedy. The death of Velvet had shattered my world, leaving an unfathomable void in its wake.

As I stood there, lost in a haze of grief, a gentle hand reached out to me. I looked up to find a kind-faced nurse, his eyes filled with compassion.

"Can I help you?" he inquired softly.

With trembling lips, I explained my predicament. Without hesitation, he led me to the hospital's main entrance, where he summoned a taxi for me. As I settled into the backseat, the weight of my burden seemed to lighten slightly. The anonymous driver's silent presence provided a comforting sense of solitude.

With the silence, I took the time to check my phone's notifications for the first time since I had heard the news of Velvet's passing.

As I unlocked my phone, I was greeted by a barrage of notifications, a stark reminder of the world outside my solitude. 598 notifications from InstaSnap, and 73 texts from friends who were no doubt reaching out to offer their condolences.

But it was the missed calls that truly caught my attention. Five missed calls from Ritz and my parents. I knew that Ritz was worried about me, and I felt a pang of guilt for not responding quickly. As for my parents... I didn't really care.

The first thing I did was delete the InstaSnap app from my phone. I knew that Mount Rageous had to be abuzz with gossip and speculation about Velvet's fall. I could only imagine the insensitive posts and videos that would be flooding the platform, tagging me and expecting answers. I couldn't bear to see it, not now.

As I scrolled through the texts from my friends, I felt a sense of gratitude for their support. They were there for me, even if I couldn't be there for them. I took a deep breath and began to reply, one by one, thanking them for their kind words and letting them know that I was doing my best to cope with the loss.

The missed calls from Ritz and my parents were more difficult to address. I knew that Ritz was worried about me, and I didn't want to leave him hanging. I called him first, and as soon as he picked up, I could hear the concern in his voice. 

We talked for what must've been a while, because as Ritz dived into a very detailed relay of how Velvet had once run over his cat, the taxi had pulled up to the front of my house, where Ritz was sitting on the front step.

I quickly pulled out my wallet and paid the driver, before stepping out of the car.

As I stepped out, my heart sank at the forlorn figure sitting on the front step. He leaped to his feet and enveloped me in a tight embrace. I could feel my body shaking as I sobbed into his shoulder. The weight of my loss washed over me anew, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

"I'm so sorry about Velvet," Ritz whispered brokenly.

"Thank you," I managed to say, my voice barely audible through my sobs.

Ritz held me tighter, offering me the comfort and support I so desperately needed. We stood there for what felt like an eternity, the warmth of his embrace a stark contrast to the cold, empty void that Velvet's passing had left behind.

As we finally pulled apart, Ritz led me to the porch swing, and we sat down together, side by side. The sun was almost fully risen, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape, but it did little to alleviate the darkness that had settled over my heart.

"I know it's hard," Ritz said softly, his voice filled with empathy. "But you have to remember the good times you shared with Velvet. The love, the laughter, the friendship – those are the things that will help you heal."

I nodded, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

Ritz reached out and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm here for you, whatever you need. And I know Velvet would want you to be happy, too."

 I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm thinking about maybe ruining the Floydneer that is soon to come, and adding more delicious angst, because I slurp angst up with a straw, that's how much I love it.

XoXo- Savannah