How To Save A Life

Chapter 5 ⚠️

After making a quick stop at the floral shop, they arrive at the cemetery. Kylie and Malia follow Ruby as she walks ahead. She finally stops at a grave and frowns. "Hey, I'm back." She sets down the roses and dusts off some dirt on the gravestone. "Ky's here too. And her girlfriend." "She's not my girlfriend, Mel."

Malia blushes slightly. She felt like she was intruding. This is Kylie and Ruby's friend. Fiancé. She didn't even know her. But in a way, she felt somewhat connected. Maybe cause if Kylie hadn't shown up, she would be where Mel is now. She knows it's wrong to think, but it's true. Malia would probably be gone. "I spoke to your folks the other day. They miss you. Your brother too, even though he won't admit it. I know he's trying to be strong for his wife and kids. You would have loved them, Mel. We probably would be having kids too right about now. Anyways, you'd love Kylie's new girlfriend. Oh I'm sorry, friend." She smirks at Kylie. "Shut up." Kylie rolls her eyes. "Hey Mel. I miss you. I miss dancing with you." "I second that." Ruby smiles sadly. "I miss doing tricks that Ruby can't with you." "Hey!" They both laugh. Malia tries not to laugh. "I miss baking with you." Ruby sighs. "To this day, nobody makes chocolate chip cookies like you. Sugar free, of course." Kylie rolls her eyes as Malia nudges her.

They wrapped it up soon since it was getting cold. Kylie and Malia give Ruby some space to say goodbye properly. "Do you think she'll ever recover?" Malia asks her. Kylie sighs. "I hope so. I pray every day that she does. I wanted to move in with her. I told her that I'd stay with her, I'd take care of her. But she refused." Kylie looks down. "How come?" Malia tilts her head. "Cause no one takes care of her like Mel does. Did. No one can ever take care of Ruby like her. Not even me. And I've known her since we were nine years old." Malia sighs. "Kylie?" "Yes?" "I think....i want to start actually living again. Being here....seeing Ruby....i can't imagine how my family would feel. My friends. You." Kylie looks at her. "Malia....i made a promise the night Mel committed suicide. To her and to myself, if i ever had the chance to do it again, I'd do it right. I gave Mel space cause she asked for it. I gave her time cause i thought she needed it. I left her alone because she begged for it. Screamed it. But i shouldn't have done any of those. If i had just stayed with her. If I hadn't taken Ruby out that night, she would still be here." Kylie sobs. Malia starts to cry. "Can you please tell me what happened that day? Night?" Kylie sniffles and nods. "But not here. Let's wait for Ruby and I'll tell you back at the apartment." Malia nods.

About half an hour later, Ruby stands and joins them. "Ok, let's go home." They both nod and all head back home together. Ruby retreats to her room, per usual, as Kylie and Malia head to hers. "You sure you wanna know? I don't want to...trigger anything." Malia nods. "I'm sure."

--

"Mel, are you ok?" Kylie asks. Mel stares off into space with a blank expression on her face. "Mel?" "I'm fine, Kylie. You can stop pretending that you care. Ruby isn't here." She sighs as she stands. Ruby was covering a shift for another co-worker so Kylie stayed home with Mel. Ruby had found her three days ago, lying on the floor, an empty pill bottle beside her. She dialed 911 as she did chest compressions. It wasn't until after Mel had regained consciousness and threw up all the pills in her stomach that Ruby allowed herself to cry and hold her tight. "Don't you ever fucking do that again!" Mel sighs. "I'm sorry Rube. I'm so sorry." "Shh.... It's ok. You're ok." Kylie waves her hand in front of her face. "Mel?" "What?!" She snaps. Kylie flinches. "What's wrong?" She asks gently. "Everything! Everything is wrong! No matter how hard i try, I'm just not good enough! I'm not happy. I'm never happy!" Mel looks at the ceiling. "Well, w-what about Ruby? She loves you. You're getting married soon." Mel scoffs. "Yeah, I'm sure she only said yes out of pity." "That's not true." Kylie shakes her head. "It's not true and you know it! You have so much going on for you!" "Oh yeah, my life is a joy! My parents barely visit. My brother is too consumed in his own life to care about me! I have no friends!" "You have me." "You're my girlfriend's friend. That hardly counts. I meant friends of my own! That i make! On my own!" "Then, we can go out and you can meet some new people! Yeah, they just opened up a new club a couple blocks from here!" Mel groans as she pulls at her hair so violently, Kylie thinks she's actually trying to make herself bald. "Just leave Kylie! Get the hell out of here!" Kylie shakes her head. "I can't do that and you know it." Mel hits her head on the counter before she slowly looks up. She grabs a steak knife and holds it to her neck. "Kylie Lorena Cantrell, i swear to god...."

"Whoa whoa! Ok....ok....easy....please don't do this....you don't want to do this...." "Of course I don't! I don't wanna be here anymore!" Mel cries. "It's ok, it's gonna be ok, just give me the knife, Mel." Kylie sticks her hand out. Mel stares at her before slowly lowering her arm. She sighs as she gives it to her. Kylie sighs in relief. "Ok, tell you what? You need Ruby. I'm gonna go get her. You stay right here, ok?" Mel nods as she cries. "Ok?" "Yeah...." Her voice broken, as if she's given up. "Ok....how about you sit on the couch, watch some tv and I'll get her?" Mel nods and makes her way over. As she leaves, Kylie grabs all the knives, scissors, forks, any sharp objects she can find and locks them in the upper kitchen cabinet as she calls Ruby. No offense to Mel, but thank god she is short and can't reach. She grabs her keys and some lactose milk from the fridge. She quickly makes her a chocolate milk and sets it down on the table in front of Mel. "Here you go. She's not picking up. I'll be right back. It's just down the street." Kylie runs down the street to her work. She goes over everything in her head. Sharp objects put away, bathroom is locked so she can't overdose or drown herself, there is absolutely nothing in the apartment that she can use to hang herself. It was odd that she had to go over a checklist of dangerous things in her mind but she needs to be sure. She gets to her work and looks for Ruby behind the counter. "Ruby! Ruby! Come with me, now!" Ruby takes her apron off and runs after Kylie. "What is it?!" "It's Mel." "Oh my god...." Ruby dials 911 as they run back to their apartment. "Wait, wait!" Kylie stops her as she spots Mel standing at the ledge. "Mel....?" She says carefully. Ruby drops her phone as she slowly approaches. "Baby...." "911, what's your emergency?" She can hear the operator on the line but she doesn't bother picking up the phone. "Mel, you don't want to do this." "Baby, please just come off the ledge..." Ruby reaches out. "Nobody cares about me...." Mel sobs. "I care baby!" "I care too!" "911 dispatch, we have an attempted suicide in progress...." The other end on the line speaks. "No Mel!" "No!" Kylie quickly hugs Ruby tight, shielding her eyes from the horrific sight in front of her. Yet she couldn't look away, couldn't close her eyes. By the time Ruby pushed her away, Mel was gone. "Noo!" She runs to the ledge and looks down, as if praying, maybe, just maybe, she was ok. Ruby quickly looks away as she gasps for air. Like her life was ending, cause it did. She breaks down in Kylie's arm as the authorities arrive.

--

"It took the authorities hours to clean up everything. When i let go of Ruby, i saw the light in her eyes turn dark. I saw her vibrant smile dull. I got so worried about her, she wouldn't eat, she wouldn't sleep and every time she did, she would get nightmares. I woke up to her screaming from my living room couch for 8 months. When she told me that she wanted to go back to her apartment, i feared for my life." Kylie sighs. "Why?" "Cause i was afraid she would join Mel if i left her alone." Malia breaks down crying. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Kylie." Kylie nods and wipes her tears. "Yeah, me too." Malia hugs her tight. "I'm going to get better, i promise. For you and for myself. I promise." Kylie nods. "You have so much life to live, Malia. Don't end it all. Please don't. Let me show you." Malia stares at her before she nods. "Ok." She finds herself slowly leaning in. Should she be doing this? Probably not, but Kylie seemed like she needed some comforting. She kisses her slowly as Kylie freezes. She was shocked. She's never kissed a girl before but something about the way Malia was so gentle. Like she was afraid she'd break. Or maybe Malia herself would break, she wasn't sure. Regardless, she let it happen. If this is what makes Malia happy, then so be it.