Mine (Part III) - Nolou/Uglydolls Fanfic

41 | Seven Names

The police were the first to speak. They explained what happened that day and how many people were injured or killed. They even identified the shooters and confirmed that they were in custody.

I'd tell you who the attackers were.  But that wouldn't change anything. The only thing worth mentioning was that they were hateful people. Angry and bitter. 

But you probably guessed that already.

Almost everyone in the town was there in the crowd. The rest were most certainly watching from home on their TVs. Like Lachlan was with Moxy and Mandy and Heather. I almost stayed home, too. But I thought it'd be better to go with Nolan. Just in case.

"Are you okay?"

I whispered to him. His fingers played with his sweater zipper nervously. His hair was combed neatly and his clothes were clean and proper. But his eyes were a true giveaway how nervous he was.

Nolan: "Yeah. I'm okay.."

He never did like talking in front of crowds.

We waited behind the stage and listened as the chief of police announced that the mayor would now be speaking.

Nolan took a nervous breath and began to wheel himself around to the front.

"I'll be right here, okay?"

I whispered to him and finally released his shoulder as he glided up the ramp to the stage. I wasn't sure if he heard me or not.

After a second, he was the only one on the platform. The one everyone had their curious eyes on. Especially the journalists in the front with their microphones and cameras. He sighed and brought himself closer to the microphone. His eyes darted from one section of the crowd to another, and for a minute I thought he might faint.

Nolan: "Hello, everyone...um... I'd like to start by giving a formal apology to everyone who was injured in the attack yesterday. And the seven lives who were lost, too... Um..."

And just like that, voices begun to echo from the crowd like meerkats peaking out of their burrows.

"They weren't lost. They were taken!"

"Do you even know their names?"

"Yeah! Some mayor you are!"

"Shut up! It wasn't his fault."

"Yeah, the mayor does what he can!"

Nolan's chin retreated to his chest as the voices grew louder with anger. Some were cursing and blaming, but just as many were defending and justifying. The mayor, my fiancé seemed to do a nervous sigh before speaking into the microphone once again.

Nolan: "Vanessa Mendes, a florist.... Nelson Davis, a construction worker.."

His voice stayed gentle. So gentle that everyone seemed to quiet down so they could hear him.

Nolan: "William Long, a chef. Aaron Carter, a hair dresser.
Sophia Martinez. A dancer.
Liam Perry. A dentist.
And Justin Cheng. A surgeon."

By then, the crowd was dead silent.

Nolan: "Of course, there was more to them than what they did for work. But those are their names. All seven... 

There will always be people who are afraid. Afraid of change or things they don't understand. But there is never any justifiable reason for violence. Violence is never okay. All the more reason to come closer together instead of blaming one another.