Tangled Strings

Chapter 3

Ashley

"Nardy, listen to me. You don't have to be scared. It's all OK. No need to worry. Please give it back to me. Please."

"No, it's not OK. It'll never be. There's no way I'm getting caught. It'll all be an embarrassment."

"Nardy no, please. It's about right and wrong. There's no place you can go. So please, hand it over to me."

As I said this, he kept on moving backwards. He had a scroll of paper in his hand. Some policemen were also standing behind me and they were talking to the hazel haired boy of my age.

"He is so scared." I thought. He kept on moving backwards and I kept on moving forwards trying to calm him down and hug him. But he was too scared to let anyone touch him.

"Don't come near me or I'll jump. Don't. Just stay there."

"Something happened. It was too quick to be noticed. But I did. His foot got tangled with some wire on the ground. He stumbled. Tried to keep his balance but to no avail. There is no railing on the terrace. No, there's nothing to hold on to." my mind raced. Instantaneously, I ran and grabbed his hand. I could feel his hands. They were shaking. He was scared. I was scared. It was a split second moment.

I was holding his hand and then I wasn't. I couldn't control myself.

"Nardy!!" I screamed.

My eyes were wet with hot tears. But I was in a totally different place. I was on my bed. My hair in a complete mess. The blanket was over me but I felt cold, although it wasn't so cold. A shiver ran down my spine and I wiped off my tears.

"Oh God! It was just a terrible nightmare!" I checked my phone. It was almost two in the morning. I lay down on the bed and tried to sleep but I couldn't. I grabbed my stuffed toy Mr. Teddy to overcome the solitude. I turned and twisted but whenever I closed my eyes I could see Nardy. His fall from the terrace. His dead body lying in the school premises. His cracked skull spilling blood. I could feel his heart stop thumping, his breath going away. I shrugged the thought off.

I could see... Nardy's head on my lap while I was trying to wake him up. My tears were flowing like a river which had broken down a dam.

**********

My father entered the kitchen, hearing the noise.

"What's up with you?"he asked.

"And good morning to you too!" I replied back with a smile.

He nodded. "So?" he asked again.

"Uh! It's nothing, Dad! Do you want some coffee?"I offered.

"Yeah, sugar! But you look upset. If there is something bothering you, you can tell your papa." he smiled a smile which makes me vomit every feeling in front of him.

"Actually, Dad. I just had a dream. A nightmare, actually. Umm... It was about—" I sighed "—Nardy. I saw him."

"Oh, sugar. You keep on thinking about him."

"And I couldn't sleep all night."

"Come here. Give me a tight hug. Everything will be alright."

I sunk in his arms, and it felt really good, soothing. I would have remained in his arms, if I wasn't disturbed by the whistling kettle.

My father watched me put the kettle down and pour the boiling water in a cup.

"You look just like your mother when you cook." he said. I smiled at his compliment. Mother was a sensitive topic for me, but I liked being compared to her. Just then, the front door clicked. Someone entered. It was my brother, Edward.