Someday, Who Knows?

Chapter 16: Mend the Broken

Ellie trudged back to school; acting normal even though there was a big hollow in her heart. The halls buzzed with the usual chatter and laughter, but she felt disconnected as if she were walking through a fog. Her classmates gave her sympathetic looks, their words of condolence blurring into a distant hum. She forced herself to nod and smile.

Mae approached Ellie cautiously, her eyes filled with remorse. "Ellie, can we talk?" she asked.

Ellie stiffened her chest a tangled knot of pain. "Not now, Mae. I can't... I just can't," she replied, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. She turned away, unable to confront the broken friendship during her overwhelming grief.

Mae watched her go, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Ellie," she whispered to herself, knowing her words fell on deaf ears.

Charlie and Jeremy observed from a distance, their concern deepening as they saw Ellie withdrawing further into herself. She moved through the school day like a ghost, her eyes vacant and her responses minimal. Every attempt they made to reach out was met with polite but distant acknowledgment.

"Ellie, do you want to join us for lunch?" Jeremy asked one day, hoping to draw her out of her shell.

"No, thanks. I think I'll just... go to the library," Ellie replied and then walked away.

Charlie frowned; his worry etched into his features. "She's shutting everyone out, Jeremy. We need to do something." 

"I know," Jeremy agreed, helplessness evident in his tone. "But what can we do? She's hurting so much."

Meanwhile, Ellie found solace in the quiet corners of the library, burying herself in books to numb the ache inside. She immersed herself in stories, losing in the worlds far removed from her pain. It was easier to escape into fiction than to face the raw reality of her loss.

One afternoon, as Ellie sat in the library, pretending to read, Charlie and Jeremy approached her again. This time, they didn't ask for anything. They simply sat down on either side of her.

"We're here, Ellie," Charlie said softly, breaking the silence. "We're not going anywhere."

Ellie glanced at them, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. For a moment, she wanted to let them in, to lean on their strength and share her burden. But the fear of breaking down, of exposing her vulnerable heart, kept her walls firmly in place.

"I know," she whispered, her voice cracking. "But I need time."

Charlie and Jeremy exchanged a look. They knew they couldn't force Ellie to open up, but they were determined to be there when she was ready.

One Saturday morning, as Ellie sat quietly at the breakfast table, the doorbell rang, startling her from her thoughts. She frowned, puzzled by the unexpected visitor. Peeking through the window, she saw Charlie and Jeremy standing by the gate, their faces lit with wide smiles and enthusiastic waves.

Curious, she opened the door and walked outside. "What are you two doing here?" she asked, wondering if there was an event she missed.

Charlie grinned. "We thought we'd take you on an adventure."

"An adventure?" Ellie repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not really in the mood to go anywhere."

Jeremy stepped forward. "Ellie, we already asked your dad for permission. Trust us, you won't regret it."

Ellie hesitated, the idea of leaving the house feeling like a monumental effort. "I don't know, guys. I just... don't feel like being outside."

"That's exactly why you should come with us," Jeremy persisted. "We care about you, Ellie, and we want to help. Just give it a chance."

After a moment of internal struggle, Ellie sighed and nodded. "Alright, fine. I'll come."

The boys' faces lit up with triumph. They led her to their bikes, and soon they were pedaling through the familiar streets, the wind in their hair and the sun warming their backs. They rode beyond the town limits, heading towards a secluded area Ellie had never ventured into before.

The path grew narrower and more overgrown, bushes and wild grass brushing against their legs as they rode. After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached a clearing that opened up to a stunning view.

Before them was a cliff overlooking the sea, the azure waves crashing against the rocks far below. The sight took Ellie's breath away.

"This is incredible," she whispered, her eyes wide with awe.

Charlie stepped beside her. "This is a famous jumping spot," he said. "People come here to leap off the edge and feel free, even if it's just for a moment."

Ellie looked down below, then back at Charlie, her heart pounding. "I don't know if I can do that."

"Trust us," Jeremy said, standing on her other side. "It's the best way to release all the turmoil inside. To feel alive again."

She hesitated, staring down at the daunting drop. The fear of letting go, both physically and emotionally, gripped her. Yet, the idea of a momentary escape from her grief was tantalizing.

"Come on, Ellie," Charlie urged gently. "We'll be right here with you."

Taking a deep breath, Ellie looked at her friends' encouraging faces. She stepped closer to the edge, her pulse racing. The sound of the waves below seemed to call to her, offering a momentary reprieve from her pain. She glanced at Charlie and Jeremy, who nodded reassuringly.

With one final breath, Ellie made her decision.

As Ellie stood at the edge of the cliff, her heart raced with fear and exhilaration. The wind whipped around her, tousling her hair as she stared down at the churning sea below. Jeremy and Charlie stood beside her, encouraging her to let go.

With a deep breath, Ellie closed her eyes and let herself fall forward. For a split second, the world seemed to stand still. Then, gravity took over, and she plummeted towards the water below.

As she fell, a rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins. The air rushed past her ears, and her stomach twisted. For that brief moment, everything else faded away—the grief, the pain, the weight of loss.

Then, with a loud splash, Ellie hit the water. The shock of the cold enveloped her, and she screamed. The sea swallowed her whole, surrounding her with its salty embrace. She kicked her legs and surfaced, gasping for air, her heart pounding in her chest.

Jeremy and Charlie jumped in after her, their laughter echoing across the water. Ellie's initial fear melted away, replaced by a rush of freedom and joy. They splashed and played in the waves; Ellie's grief was momentarily lifted by the simple joy of being alive.

As they swam back to shore, Ellie couldn't help but smile. The experience had been terrifying and thrilling all at once, a stark contrast to the heaviness she had been carrying. She glanced at Jeremy and Charlie, their faces beaming with infectious happiness.

"Thank you," she said quietly. They nodded, understanding the bond that had formed between them in that moment of shared adrenaline and release. For a moment, Ellie felt lighter, as if a small piece of her grief had been left behind in the sea.

That night, before Ellie went to bed, she did something she hadn't done in so long. Sitting on the edge of her bed, surrounded by the soft glow of her bedside lamp, she spoke quietly to her mother. She shared with her the exhilaration of jumping into the sea from the cliff, recounting the laughter, the thrill of the wind rushing past her, and the refreshing splash of the water enveloping her. As she spoke, Ellie felt a weightlift from her heart, if only just a little. It was as though by sharing her day with her mother, she had found a way to mend a small part of her pain, to connect with her in a way that transcended the boundaries between life and death.

Tears welled in Ellie's eyes, there was still sadness for her loss and a glimmer of peace in knowing that somehow, her mother was still with her, listening. She whispered a quiet goodnight, feeling a subtle warmth in her heart that hadn't been there before. Closing her eyes, Ellie drifted into a peaceful sleep, carrying with her a newfound sense of comfort and closure.