Forbidden Love

Chapter 12:

Matteo's POV:

The rest of the night was great.

Well, for me anyway. I watched from afar in my Hello Kitty pajamas as the girls worked on Aiden's nails. We've been doing this nail thing for as far as I can remember. If we paint your nails, it's a sign that you've been accepted. I daresay Aiden's turned out pretty well- better than mine anyway, from when we were six years old.

After a long, long gossip session along with 12 am shenanigans, we all decided to retire for the night.

I must confess, I haven't been a fan of sleep since I lost her. Sometimes I get lucky with a few hours of dreamless sleep before the usual nightmare, but I wasn't so lucky this time. I was plunged straight into a nightmare after my eyes closed. 

One long, wretched scream before it was abruptly cut off. The soft crunch of bone on stone. I watched, helpless, frozen, every cell in my body screaming at me to do something, to yell, to call for help, to run away and bury myself deep into the earth so I wouldn't have to think of this ever again, but I couldn't. All I could do was stand there, useless utterly useless, unable to move or cry or scream.

Suddenly, I was there at the bottom, darkness crowding and pushing down on me, and that sight of her broken body right in front of me, taking up my vision, not letting me tear my eyes away. Her body that was once filled with warmth and joy now gone, leaving behind an empty white shell of who she used to be.

I was crying now. I was unaware at first, but now I could feel every burning hot tear rolling down my cheek. It felt like liquid heat was spreading through my veins, lighting every nerve on fire. I collapsed onto my knees, the force of my grief crushing down on my weak body, uncontrollable sobs racking through my chest until it felt like needles were jabbing at every part of my skin.

Shouldv'ebeenyoushould'vebeenyoushould'vebeenyou

I jolted awake, gasping for air. My pillow was soaked with my tears. I sat up, running through a hand through my disheveled hair, wiping away any stray tear. I glanced around the room- still dark. Nobody's awake, thank god. No one needed to see what a mess I was.

I glanced down, Aiden's sleeping form catching my eye. He was so close to me, his chest rising and falling steadily. Well, at least he's sleeping well. I felt my breathing slowly begin to calm down. All my worries momentarily melt away and I could just sit beside him, just the two of us.

I curled up close to him, not close enough to touch him but close enough so I can feel the warmth radiating off him. I allowed myself to just breathe and rest alongside one of my closet friends.

And then I close my eyes and slip into a deep, dreamless sleep that I hadn't had in ages.

(HISTORIANS WILL SAY THEY WERE BEST FRIENDS????? RAHHHHH)