Cosmic Connections (Book 2 Of: Interstellar Passions)

Shadows Of Loss

The morning sun streamed through the blinds of Theo's bedroom, casting thin lines of light across the floor while birds chirped outside, welcoming the new day with their usual cheerfulness. Despite the vibrant surroundings, a heavy cloud loomed over the atmosphere as sixteen-year-old Theo sat at his desk, absently pushing his homework to the side. He had finally resumed a sense of balance in his life, making more time for Lily and reconnecting with her, yet an unsettling feeling crept in as he reflected on the whirlwind of emotions from the past few weeks.His phone vibrated against the desk, jolting him from his thoughts. It was a message from Lily: *Hey! Are we still on for lunch today?* He smiled a little, feeling warmth spread through him at the thought of their plans. He quickly typed back, *Of course! Looking forward to it!*Just as he set his phone down, another notification lit up the screen—a call from Ethan. A grin broke across his face. It had been a while since he'd caught up with his friend, and he eagerly answered."Ethan! What's up?" Theo greeted, hoping to inject some normalcy into the day."Hey, Theo!" Ethan's voice sounded different, more strained than usual. "I wanted to see if you'd heard from Lily today.""No, but we're meeting for lunch soon. Everything okay?" Theo furrowed his brow, picking up on the underlying tension."Yeah, it's just... I don't know, man. I feel kind of off. I just had this weird vibe all morning," Ethan admitted, his voice wavering. "Like something bad is coming.""Ethan, you're just being dramatic. You always have your 'spidey-sense' going off," Theo chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood. "But seriously, I'll tell Lily you've been asking about her.""Yeah, tell her I miss her. And... let's plan to get together soon, like old times," Ethan said, almost wistfully."Definitely! We'll make it happen soon. Just stay positive," Theo replied, feeling an unease settle in his stomach. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was truly wrong, even if they joked back and forth.Around noon, Theo and Lily met at their favorite café—a cozy little spot adorned with fairy lights and an inviting atmosphere. But when Theo arrived, he noticed Lily had a concerned look etched on her face."Hey, is everything alright?" Theo asked, straightening up in his chair."I don't know, Theo. I just got a weird text from Ethan," she said, pulling her hair behind her ear anxiously. "He never texts me out of the blue like that. He said something felt off. It didn't sit right with me."At the mention of Ethan's name, Theo's heart sank deeper into his chest. "I just spoke to him this morning. He said he had a weird vibe, but he seemed fine."Lily shook her head, clearly worried. "What do you think he meant by that?"Before Theo could respond, his phone buzzed again. It was a text from Ethan's number—but as he read it, dread pooled in his stomach.*Get to the hospital. I need you guys here. It's bad.*"What is it?" Lily peered at his screen, eyes widening. "Have you heard something?""Lily, we need to go. Ethan's in trouble," Theo said, adrenaline pumping through him as he shot to his feet. "He's in the hospital."They hurried out of the café and jumped into Theo's car, the world outside blurring into a palette of colors as he sped through the city streets, desperation driving him forward.As they arrived at the hospital, panic surged within them. They rushed inside, weaving through the sterile environment until they found Ethan's name on the directory. It led them to a small room, where they found him lying unconscious, surrounded by beeping machines and ominous silence."Ethan," Theo whispered, a mix of disbelief and despair swirling in his stomach. The harsh fluorescent lights outlined Ethan's pale face, the oxygen mask over his mouth hauntingly still.A doctor emerged from the room, his expression grave. "Are you friends of Ethan?""Yes! What happened to him?" Theo's voice trembled as he gripped the edge of the door, fear coiling tightly in his chest."He was in a car accident," the doctor explained gently. "He sustained significant injuries. We're doing everything we can."Theo's heart sank. "What does that mean?" he pressed, his head spinning. "Will he be okay?"The doctor hesitated, searching for the right words. "I'm sorry, but his condition is very critical.""No." The word escaped Theo as a choked gasp, reality sinking in. "No, please... Before Theo could react further, he felt Lily clutching his arm. "Doesn't he have a chance?" she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.The doctor gave a sympathetic nod. "We're doing all we can. You can stay with him for now."Theo stepped into Ethan's room, Lily close behind, as they approached their friend's bedside. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. They had so many plans—summer adventures, late-night talks, all shattered in an instant.As they stood together in silence, watching the rhythmic beeping of machinery, Theo squeezed Lily's hand, a flicker of panic igniting within him. They couldn't lose Ethan—not now."Ethan, you need to pull through," Theo whispered, speaking to the unconscious boy he had grown up alongside. "We've got plans! You have to wake up. We're right here. Please."In the midst of the chaos, while they grappled with their fear, Theo suddenly received a frantic call from another friend. When he stepped out of the room to answer, a growing unease gripped his heart as he realized how little time they had left.Then came a commotion outside the hospital. Theo felt the urge to look out the window as a flash of yellow sped past—a taxi, one he vaguely recognized. It was almost as if the universe was playing some cruel trick that he couldn't comprehend.But in that instant, without warning, a loud crash echoed just outside the building, the unmistakable sound of metal colliding with flesh—a bone-chilling thud that seemed to reverberate through the glass. Theo's heart dropped into his stomach.He bolted outside, his heart racing as his worst fears loomed ever closer. "Ethan!" he shouted, desperation spilling over.The commotion intensified, and Theo saw a small crowd gathering at the front entrance. People were pointing, murmuring, their faces pale with shock. Someone shouted, "Call an ambulance!"Theo pushed his way through, his blood running cold as he saw a figure lying on the pavement—a familiar face sprawled unnaturally. "No, no, no..." he whispered, trembling as he rushed forward.Ethan lay there, motionless, surrounded by blurry paramedics rushing to assess what had happened. Theo's heart raced almost painfully within his chest. He dropped to his knees next to his friend just as the full horror of the situation sank in."No! Ethan! Get up! Please!" His voice broke, stirring panic and anger as realization dawned. "You can't leave us like this!"But there was no response, only the haunting stillness of a friendship hanging by a thread that seemed to snap before their very eyes.In that terrible moment, as the world fell silent around him, Theo understood with a clarity that wrecked him: sometimes, life didn't give you a chance to say goodbye.