repeat after me:
eventually you'll end up
where you need to be,
with who you're meant
to be with,
and doing what you
should be doing.
The shower's water was hot - nearly scolding, but for some reason I felt as if I deserved the burn. When you experience pleasure, there is always pain that follows. My hands reaches up to brush my puffy lips. They felt like they had danced all night with Harry's, but it was really just a few minutes. I'm able to say it was a few of the best moments I've had in awhile.
The daze I was in delayed my shower to an hour long. I finished cleaning myself and stepped out to meet the foggy bathroom. I dressed quickly and stepped out of the room in no rush.
I smiled at the boy laying on my bed, sound asleep. I looked over every feature on his face, taking in the precious sight while he couldn't make fun of me for staring. His dark lashes rested on his cheeks, his swollen lips had lost my touch and were slightly parted. His chest rose slowly and fell even slower. I could watch him in such a vulnerable state for hours.
However, something made me frown. My eyes caught sight of a journal, my journal, tightly clutched in his hands. I walked over to the side that he was laying on to take what was mine back, but quickly stopped in my tracks. The journal had tiny sketches all over the cover, and a pen was placed between the pages. I sneakily tore the book away from his grip, and opened up to the page where the pen rested.
"There is beauty in space
But your beauty is better.
The stars may shine
but you shine brighter."
I looked over at his dormant body, focusing on his face mostly, and trying to process that he had listened to me. He picked up a pen and wrote in his journal, after I suggested the idea to him. His words "Isn't poetry supposed to rhyme?" came to mind as I read over his words for the thousandth time. He was a strong believer in the flow of rhyming poetry for sure.
I laid the tattered journal near his limp body before dozing off myself, right next to him.
-
The next morning, Harry wasn't next to me anymore. Since I was alone, I decided to ring up Danica to see what she was up to. It's been awhile since I've heard her mellow voice.
"Hey, Brin." She said after two rings.
I smiled. "Hey, Danica."
We talked for 2 straight hours, just catching up. She told me about all the art she's been creating and all the shows she has planned. She's been invited to 3 cities in Europe and 2 in Australia. A feeling of happiness rushes through my bloodstream as she talks with joy in her tone.
"I miss you." Danica says, after a deep breath. "Can you come over anytime soon?"
I sigh silently. "Harry said 'only if Massey is there to keep him company'. He refuses for it to be just us and him."
I feel her frown through the phone, it's evident in her sound. "I'll talk to Massey. Let's go for tonight."
I smile, agreeing and hanging up. I've never looked forward to spending time with her this much in a long time. I climb out of the bed, stepping onto the cool floor and walking yo the kitchen. Harry is sitting at the island, sipping tea. He looks away from his phone to put his attention on me.
"Your tea is nearly frozen." He said as I walk to his side. I smiled, taking the cup and moving the tea bag around. I took a sip and didn't mind that it wasn't warm.
"That's fine." I sat down beside him. "I just got off the phone with Danica. She said she'll talk to Massey so he can come to her apartment, as well."
He licked his lips before looking at me again. He looked like he just wanted to not listen to me, and stay home. I was not going to settle for that.
Before he answered, his phone vibrated against the counter. His eyes tore from me to look at his screen, which I also couldn't resist to peak at. Massey had texted him.
Harry sighed. "Well, I guess we're going tonight."
I smiled and got up to put my mug in the sink.
"Be ready by 7, or we're not going Brinley." Harry said as I walked away.
I nodded my head as I padded up the stairs, knowing he was looking at me by the tingling in my back.
-
Harry parked across the street from Dani's apartment. The slush of the melting snow sounded revolting under my converse, but I tried my best to ignore it as I ran to Danica's doorstep. Massey met Harry and walked up behind me as I knocked on her door. A minute passed after my first knock and after a ring of her doorbell, which was odd for Danica. I turned the door handle since she was probably doing something busy, and walked in without thinking twice.
"Danica?" I yelled through her flat. My voice echoed, sounding like the place was deserted. I walked into the living room to my left seeing the television was on and a glass of wine was abandoned on the coffee table.
"This is weird." I state the obvious to the two boys in the room with me. "Where is she?"
"I'll go check in the kitchen." Massey said, turning into the hall.
"I'll look upstairs." I said, running to the stairs and climbing up them. I turned into the first room, her bedroom, and saw that that was empty too.
"Danica?" I called out again, hoping for a response.
I grabbed the handle to her bathroom, about to turn it before I heard Massey yell up to me.
"She's not down here, Brin." He alerted me.
I turned the door handle. "Not here either-"
The sight in front of me made me scream at the top of my lungs. I've never shrieked so loudly. In fact, I never thought it was possible to scream as loud as I did. My scream was followed by a sob, and the another scream for help as my vision began to fail. My legs became weak and my hands were shaking uncontrollably. Tears were like waterfalls running down my red cheeks, and my clammy body couldn't support itself as I fell to the floor.
Massey and Harry sprinted up as soon as they heard my first wail. The stomping towards me stopped right in front of my curled up body, unable to speak or comprehend anything they were saying to me or to themselves. All of my senses were numb as Harry had picked me up and rushed me to the car. He knew I couldn't bare to see that sight one more time.
The sight of my best friend, with a rope tied around a shower railing, and the other end around her neck, with her body dangling.
