Of Northern Stars

What I Saw

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Word of warning, this one shot/short story, contains dark/sensitive themes, such as bereavement, death and suicide so parental guidance is suggested. Also, the event that occurred is completely made up, none of this actually happened.

What I Saw That Day

Miranda Smith, All rights reserved

To whomever finds me,

I'm sorry that you had to find me like this, I understand that you may hate me but if you just take a second and to listen to my reasoning, maybe then, you'll understand. I've never talked about that day, not a soul. Until now, that is. I ask you a favour before I tell you my story, I ask you to deliver this to my little sister, who despite everything, was my rock.

Lorries thundered past the small, poky cafe, rattling the dirty windows as they navigated the bumpy roads. I sighed and stared wistfully across the road, where Claire's Accessories, the Post Office and Mr Chip, the fish bar sat, nestled between rows of dilapidated, two up, two down houses.

I sighed in boredom as I wiped the counter clean with the same dirty rag that had been used to mop up a coke spillage in one of the booths. When I had accepted the job offer from my best friends, admittedly eccentric Uncle Albert, I had been expecting more than five customers in one week.

Oh wait, a customer had just walked in, making it a grand total of six. I threw the rag down and offered him my best smile. He looked to be in his mid-forties, with greying black hair, that was thinning at the top, he wore a shabby leather jacket and when he smiled, too much of his yellow teeth showed.

Creepy.

"Hey, what can I get you?" I asked, trying my utmost to be polite.

"Coffee. Black." He grunted, throwing a pile of change onto the counter and sliding into one of the booths, staring out at the busy street, where buses were rumbling past.

I frowned at his rudeness but counted out the change nonetheless. The customer was always right after all. Terri slid from the back, grinning at me as she wrung her hands. I rolled my eyes and handed her the steaming hot drink for her to carry over to the man.

Terri did it without arguing, plonking it down rather heavily so that the liquid inside spilled over the sides. I rolled my eyes, it was a wonder that Terri was still employed here, I think the only reason she hadn't been sacked was because the boss was her uncle.

Convenient.

"So, dish the goss. Are you and Haden dating or what?"

Ah Haden. Sweet, silly Haden with his infectious laugh and cheeky grin.

I blushed and swatted her with a tea towel. Nosy cow, Terri was.

"That's between me and Haden," I said smugly, crossing my arms.

Terri shrugged and turned away; she grabbed the wet cloth and threw it in my face. I ducked it and it hit the opposite wall with a loud splat. I remember it sliding down the wall, leaving a snail trail of wet as it slid down.

"Whatever, bitch. I'm going for a fag."

With those fateful words, my best friend bounded towards the door.

She never made it.

An almighty rumbling filled the vicinity, loud but simultaneously silent. With an almighty blinding flash of light, the world erupted into chaos. The bang was so loud, yet so haunting at the same time. The sound tore right through me like barbed wire.