Struggling to Breathe

Cement

And that is how you became this?

An author? Well, I suppose. Everything that killed me that day has led me here.

So... you continued her book?

It was her last request.

How did you live without her?

I didn't. But Fern was awake, and I couldn't leave her. But all faith in god was gone after that, all belief in life 2 as lost.

What helped you?

Nothing. I am still just as messed up, even after 7 years. Iris was so much more important to me than I had ever realised.

Were you arrested?

It was a suicide, so no.

And how are you coping now? What's helped?

Fern, my gran, my friends... I cope well. I've learned much from so many years... Therapy really did help. I'm still friends with most, excluding one or two, but I'm here now.

Good. That's good. Okay Sir, this will be put into our magazine next Friday. Thank you. Our readers will enjoy this.

Anytime.

I walked out of the building, and down the streets of the big city. My apartment was right beside it, so I walked into the hotel where many pleasant faces smiled at me. I took the elevator to my room, where I sat on my bed.

And there in my hand was the box.

I opened it and looked through the old pages of our book, I replaced everything in it with Iris.

I found the old, withered flowers of the Meadow, kept in plastic lunch bags, sealed tightly.

I learned that anything can happen, at any time.

We just need to be strong.

We need to learn.

We need to live.

Iris forgot these things... so I promised her I wouldn't.

I would never forget.

But still, we all have our moment where we are Struggling To Breathe.