Three Worlds Apart

Chapter V, Dawson

I reach out towards her, Amelia is reaching for me. I have to reach her, she's screaming out in pain.

I want to help her, I have to. 

I find I can reach her, I pull her into my arms. She coughs and blood spurts from her mouth, I hold her tight but there is nothing I can do.

But she's dead, there is literally nothing I can do. She's not really here, coughing up blood in my arms. Amelia is already gone.

I start and find myself in my room, when did I come here? I was at school. I look at the clock on the wall, this makes sense that I'm home. School ended hours ago.

Where did the last few hours go? What did I do? Why can't I remember what happened? Did my vision last that long?

When I bumped into Kamber in the hall today I noticed something. I could tell she was hopeful that she would make friends, she wanted to make someone proud and she had just had a nice encounter with someone.

I could tell what she was feeling, is that something to do with the electricity? I wish I knew. I wish Amelia was here to help me figure this out. 

She would know what to do. 

I pick up my phone and stare at the contact number, Amelia's contact number.

What would happen if I called it?

My fingers are shaking and I don't know why.

I hit the call button. 

I wait as it rings.

"Hey you've reached Amelia, I'm not available right now but if you leave your name and number I'll call you back." There's a pause. "Maybe." She adds.

I feel numb again.

Her voice, it's the same as I remember it. 

It hasn't changed.

It's still her voice.

I can almost believe that she will call me back.

But she won't, she never will.

She's never coming back.

The realization crashes over me, Amelia will never speak to me again, she will never smile, laugh or cry. She won't grow up, get married, have kids.

Amelia will never come back.

But I'm still here, I have to do as much in this life that I can. I have to see and do enough for the both of us. 

I stand up and walk towards the door, I can't do much yet but I will. I'll go to school get a good job and then when I have enough money I'm going to travel.

I'm going to see and learn so much that my brain explodes, I'm going to live for both of us.

At the door I stop, then I know where I'm going. I leave my house and walk down the street.

Her house looms in front of me, I go around back to the spot I first saw her fly. I was terrified that day, I thought what we had was fake. I thought she had lied, now I would give anything to see her fly one more time.

I climb the back of the house to the window of Amelia's room, she always left it unlocked. I crawl through it. Nothing has changed, of course the police went through it but everything is where she left it. 

I sit down on her bed.

"No more." I say out loud, "I'm not going to be sad anymore, I'm going to show you that you didn't die in vain." I take a deep breath.

"I'm not going to do this to myself anymore, I'll make you proud." I stand up, the room still smells like her. I breathe in her scent then climb back out the window.

No more moping, this it. 

I find Kamber at school, "Hey," I call, Kamber looks up. "You should sit with us at lunch." I say. Kamber smiles.

"I'd like that," She says. "Same table as before." I say and smile. Kamber smiles back, she's pleased. I can sense it. 

"See you then." I say and head to class. Kamber is grinning, I can tell. 

I like Kamber, in someways she reminds me of Amelia. Amelia wasn't quite as outgoing as Kamber is but that's not much difference.

I sit down next to Alex, "I invited Kamber to have lunch with us." I say. Alex grins, "There's the Dawson I've been looking for." He says and I laugh. 

He looks a lot better too, he never really was close Amelia though. Kriss is so strong, Amelia's death was the only thing I've ever seen break her.

I think we're all feeling better though, we just needed time. 

At lunch I spot Kamber first, I wave at her. She smiles and walks over to us, I notice a few people watching her. They look almost nervous, what's there to be nervous about? Kamber isn't scary, she's wonderful.

"Hey Kamber." Kriss says, Kamber smiles. "Hi." She sits down. Alex smiles at her and then turns back to his lunch. Yep that's Alex for you, food is one of the most important things in his life.

Lunch is fun, Kamber fits in well with us. It's when we start asking her questions that we get suspicious.

"So where are you from?" I ask. Kamber freezes for half a second, "Oh I'm from Manitoba." She says. 

Hmm. Amelia acted the same way when we asked her questions. But there is no way Kamber could be an element child is there? There are only a few left. 

"Have you guys always lived here?" Kamber asks, as though she is trying to cover up her answer. We all nod.

"Our whole lives." Kriss says.

"Dawson and I have been friends that long," Alex says, he glances at me, "We're old dude." The four of us crack up. We aren't really old, but I guess looking at it that way it seems like it.

"How long have you two been dating?" Kamber asks, she's still smiling. Alex and Kriss smile at each other. I miss that.

"This will be the third year." Alex says, Kriss smiles back and laces her fingers through his. I miss that too. Kamber has a wistful look on her face too, did she leave someone behind?

"How about you?" I ask, "Did you leave a guy behind?" Kamber smiles sadly and shakes her head, "I've never had a boyfriend." She says.

We sit in silence for a moment, it's not awkward like I thought it would be. It's actually quite comfortable. Just four teenagers hanging out having out together.

I wish it was five.

Stop it. I can't think this way. I swore I would stop. I have to.

Alex picks up on my mood and turns to Kamber quickly, "We have a swim meet on Friday, you should sign up to come watch." Kamber smiles, "Sounds like fun, are you all on the team?" She asks. Kriss nods, "Dawson is captain." Kamber smiles at me, "That's cool." I smile back. I almost want to ask her to join the team but tryouts happened a while ago, I can't just open tryouts. 

When we have all finished we leave and head to class.