A Girl, A Tree, and a Million Hellos

I'm Not In Love

     Adara stood behind the squeaking door. Fear covered her face like water over a stone. Men in blue scrubs ran behind her with  a stretcher. Her eyes were bloodshot and continued to shoot out tears.

     "My mom... sh-." She searched for a breath. "She stopped breathing and froze." I still knew from the briefness  that her mom had a stroke.  I had seen her mom in the halls. She was older and prune like, and the whole in her throat pointed a finger at emphysema. She was kind and never swore, unlike douche-hole. 

     Adara came crashing into my arms. Emotion rushed trough her as she slipped away. I held onto her, and she caught on to that. She took in a breath at the feeling of m grasping her, refusing to let her fall. 

     "Be strong. For me. For her. For you." Her eyes widened as large as her fast pounding heart. She began to stand up. Lead her onto our black leather couch. She rested her head on my shoulder and tried to control her emotion. 

      Seizing the moment, I put an earbud in her left ear. I'm not in Love is slowly coming through. She begins to cry again. I put my arm around her hoping to help, but she sinks into it. Is my sympathy making better or worse? She stares into my eyes. 

     "Thank you." she managed to muster the courage to smile. " It hurts. This isn't  the first time.    

     "What?" I inquire.

     " She has had a lot of "episodes" in the past" she responds. Her face glows red. Almost beautiful to me, but the lyrics repeated. I'm not in love. So don't forget it. 

     He began to speak. "Come on. I want to show you something"