Good Girl Gone Bad ✔️

8

I ran away. After the little incident with Cassandra, I ran. There was only one place that would help calm me down.

I miss it. The library in East Wing. I always sat at the very back, where tons of bookshelves were blocking me, hiding me in the back.

Cassandra's words replayed in my head. "Mommy should help you with your manners."

I leaned against the bookshelf. I gasped and sobbed quietly. "Mom," I whispered.

My mom was my hero. She would help me on everything. When I got hurt in preschool, she bandaged me up. During my play in kindergarten, she showed up and cheered for me. She took me out for dessert to celebrate after.

But her death will scar me for life. Whenever I thought of her, that scene replayed in my mind. It was my fault she died. I was the one who was supposed to die. Not her.

"Yay!" I shouted. I was out on our front porch playing with my soccer ball. I was 5 at the time. Mom was watching me through the kitchen window while making dinner.

I bounced the ball, but it rolled to the middle of the street. I didn't want to lose it, so I walked to the sidewalk and looked both ways.

As I was about to step into the street, someone pulled me back. "Honey, what are you doing?!" she asked, worriedly. "My soccer ball!" I cried. She looked across the street.

"Oh no. It's fine, sweetie. I'll go get it." She looked both ways. She then stepped and crossed. When she was in the middle of the street, a car was coming. Mom screamed.

The car crashed into her. Her body was on the ground, limp. Blood was staining her white blouse. The car left and didn't even make sure if Mom was okay.

"Mommy!" I screamed. I ran to her, not caring if a car came for me. When I saw her bloody face, I ran to the neighbor's house. I pounded on the door.

It opened and showed Mrs. Smith. She was about 25. "Emily? What's wrong?" she asked. I cried. "Mommy! She got hit!" I pointed to Mom's body.

Mrs. Smith gasped. "Oh my god! Kevin, call 911! Melissa's been hit by a car!" Then she took me by the hand and ran with me to Mom.

I cried and cried. Everything was a blur. Mrs. Smith held me in her arms tightly. "Don't look Emily. Close your eyes."

I shut my eyes as tight as I could. When I opened them, red lights were everywhere. Mommy's body was being lifted. It was blurry. Soon, darkness surrounded me.

I couldn't hold it. Everything got blurry, just like when Mom died. I held the bookshelf for support.

My breathing was getting heavier. My body became limp and fell backwards. I felt strong arms catch me.

"Emily!" I tried to open my eyes. A face showed up. Josh?

"Josh?" I breathed out. "Emily, stay with me. Don't lose consciousness," he pleaded. I saw him shouting at me, but I heard nothing.

He turned his head and was shouting at someone. I raised my hand to touch his cheek. Once I finally put my full palm on it, he turned and looked at my weak self.

My hand was shaking on his cheek and he felt it. I wanted to keep it there, but I couldn't. It fell. Josh shook me lightly. His eyes were widened and filled with fear.

But most of all, care? I was about to speak, but everything became blurry.

Josh

I watched as Emily's body fell backwards. I acted fast. I ran to her and caught her before she fell. Her tear-stained face showed me how much she cried.

But why? She just grilled Cassandra. I heard Emily's breath hitch. We'll worry about the explanations later.

"Emily!" I called. Her eyes opened. "Josh?" I was getting more and more panicked. "Stay with me. Don't lose consciousness."

When her eyes were starting to close, I shouted at the people in the library to call for help.

Suddenly, I felt something warm on my cheek. I looked back at Emily. Her hand was placed on my cheek. It was shaking.

Her hand stopped shaking all of a sudden and dropped. My eyes widened. "Hurry! She needs help!"

Josh

I watched Emily as she slept. She looks so calm, but broken at the same time. Her face was pale with a light pink tint on her lips and cheeks.

You could still slightly see the tear stains on her face. Why would she cry? When would she wake up? She's asleep for about an hour and a half.

I squeeze her hand gently. I sighed and put my head down. Just then, I felt her hand give me a squeeze back.

I shot up immediately. "Emily?"

She opened her eyes slowly. 

She narrowed her brown eyes at me then closed it and sobbed quietly.

I let her be. 

Emily

I felt a squeeze on my hand. It was gentle and warm. I heard someone sigh and their head was placed down next to my arm.

Their hand was still with mine, warm and comforting. I gave it a squeeze back, wanting to wake up.

The person's head was not touching my arm anymore. As I struggled to open my eyes, I heard someone call my name.

My eyes opened slowly. The bright light shone in my sensitive eyes. Tears filled it up as the bright light reminded me on the car headlights on that tragic accident.

I blinked my tears out, not caring if I looked like crap. 

I narrowed my eyes and saw Josh looking back at me. He waited for me?

I just closed my eyes and sobbed quietly. Josh didn't bother me.