The Comeback

Chapter 18 - Come With Me

Chapter 18 - Come With Me

When I wake up I have a weird feeling in my guts, making me unease. I’m not sure but it feels like fear and worry. I don’t remember my dream, but I do remember euphoria in a moment and panic in the next one, vague images of this version of Cassie’s best friend I’ve made in my head, but everything is so bright that I can’t really see, even if I focus.

I shake my head to shrug off the feeling and leave my bed. Even if it’s Saturday and I can stay here and do nothing, I decide to leave this place, with Zayn still sleeping inside. Whatever dream I had last night also left me with the sensation that Cassie is in love with Jake, still in love with him and although I know it’s fine and he’s no competition at all, I tell myself I have to help Cassie to move on.

So I leave my room in Uni and walk to Cassie’s dorm. It’s far away from mine in the student village, but a morning walk is good for me. On the way I text her just to make sure she’s already awake and she replies that she’s been awake for a while already.

I don’t have a plan in mind, but I just know that I need to help her. She helped me when I woke up after the coma, she helped me to reincorporate to this world all over again and I’ll be forever grateful for that, so now it’s my turn to help.

When I’m outside her building I text her again.

I’m outside, waiting 4u —Liam

I don’t receive an answer but I keep waiting until I see the big doors of her building opening and I see her walking towards me, just putting the scarf on. She looks at me with a confused expression and a smile that I return immediately.

“Liam? What are you doing here?” She asks me stopping in front of me.

“Hi,” I greet with a foolish grin. “Well, since our date yesterday didn’t go as planned—”

“Date?” She asks but I pretend I don’t realise she’s spoken.

“—I thought we had to try again but this time going to somewhere else. Plus, it got me thinking, you know, all what you told me. I know you’re still in love with Jake, kind of.” She looks away, that sad look in her eyes again and I hate it, I hate to see her sad. It breaks my heart a little. “And I thought I could help you to move on. I’m not saying to forget about him,” I quickly add when I see the horror in her eyes. “I just know it makes you really sad and it’s hard for you, so I thought I could help you to remember him without feeling like breaking inside. To let him go but still holding him dearly. Does it make sense?”

She doesn’t say anything for a little while, she just stares at me with a small frown, trying to understand what I mean. In my head it made a lot more sense and I start to form this weird grimace on my face. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, maybe she’s offended that I even suggested that.

“How would you do that?” She asks me softly and I blink realising she didn’t yell at me.

“Uh… I guess by listening to you until it stops hurting saying his name out loud. Going to different places, making new memories and visiting those other places that remind you of him until you don’t feel like bursting out crying again,” I suggest with a shrug of my shoulders. “I know you need time but I just wanna offer my help, just if you need it.”

She again stays in silence, just staring at me but this time a little smile plays on her lips and I really don't know what she’s thinking and I grow more curious as her smile grows wider. “Thank you, Liam,” she says next and now my smile grows wider. “And I guess you’re right, I still love him.” That confession hurts, although I knew it already. “He died two months ago and you can’t forget about someone that fast and I’m afraid that the moment I stop loving him I’ll forget about him.” She looks down when she finishes that sentence, her voice low and small.