Drea

Chapter thirteen: Death

I press my body up against Thanes bare back as I try to warm his ice cold skin with my body heat.
'We're staying here the night!' I mentally shout at Thane. 'Damn our water issues, we'll figure something out.'
Anger sieves through my bloodstream meant for the stupid gods. They're probably all fake because they definitely haven't been answering any of my prayers.
If there is a god he must hate me. I don't know why, but he does.
First he takes my mom, then my sister, then my dad, and now he's going to take Thane from me.
His breaths come out in quick unsteady bursts, kind of like a fish out of water.
Fear creeps it's way up my spine, but it's not half as bad as when I finally found Thane -forty yards back from where I had finally realised he was missing -covered in a fresh blanket of snow, completely still.
I thought he was dead.
Taken from me by the winter snow I adored so much as a child.
I bit my lip, trying to stifle a scream. The tangy metallic taste of blood mixes with my saliva making bile rise in my throat.
The coldest, iciest fear I had ever experienced was shocking every cell in my body.
It feels like I'm dying, but I know life will go on, which seems kind of strange and cruel when you're staring a dead friend in the eye.
His eyelids fluttered closed and I drop to my knees hoping that maybe.... Just maybe.
I almost collapsed in relief when I hovered my cheek over his lips and felt the faintest tickles of warmth as he inhaled and exhaled.
I basically ripped off his wet clothes leaving him in his boxers, before I cocooned us in the beautiful sanctuary of the red sleeping bag.
I carefully took off all of my jackets and thermals, trying not to expose him to the harsh elements, until I was left in only a thin cotton singlet.
His freezing skin touches my exposed arms and chest, raising goosebumps all over my body.
I yearn to pull away from the horrible icy sting of coldness, instead I wrap my arms around his waist and try to nuzzle into him.
His breathing slows down to a slightly more normal pace and I press my ear to his back, listening to the constant unsteady thump of his heart beat.

I close my eyes as the sleeping bag starts to fill with heat and I'm transported to my home. Our little cabin in the woods.
My parents soft cotton sheets caressing the backs of my shoulders.
My dad's shoulders quiver and shake with silent sobs as he whispers my mothers name over and over again, along with a bunch of other things, some I understand some I don't.
"Lizzy."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry Lizzy."
"It took to long."
A bunch of sobs.
"What about Greece?!"
"Greece Lizzy Greece!"
Tears brim in my eyes as I hear the pain in my fathers voice.
"It's okay dad." I say in a pitiful attempt to ease his pain.
I said it's okay, but I know it's not, it will never be okay again.
"I miss her so much Drea."
The tears finally slip down my cheeks and my voice trembles as I speak, "Me too dad, me too."
I stare at the bookshelves across the room and spot my favourite. The picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde. It's actually a play, but it's really good either way.
I became kind of obsessed with him for a while, googling him, reading his poems and reading every single one of his plays.
A quote from the famous nineteenth century poet and playwright, comes to my mind and I whisper it hoping it will comfort my father.
"Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above ones head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace."
My dad's sobs quietened as he listened to me speak.
"I hope so Drea."
That was the last time he spoke to me without a question mark in his eyes.
The rear times I visit my father at the Trenton care centre, I'm greeted with questioning eyes and the same question every time.
"Who are you?"