For Forever and A Day

4.

Since the accident:
4 months 22 days
April 29th, 2010

Sitting in a small cafe downtown the girl clutched tightly onto an untouched cup of cocoa.

A good friend of hers from middle school, Tina, sat across from her. The strawberry blonde's friend sat there with her hot chocolate that was half gone. Tina only looked at her and so far had said nothing.

Without warning she had shown up to Cassandra's place this morning and told her that she was leaving her hobble of an existence and fort of blankets. Well, if you could really call it a bed anymore with all the blankets and pillows Ms.Williams had on it.

"I see that you look like you haven't been sleeping." Finally Tina's voice rang out as she picked up her spoon and swirled some of the marshmallows around.

Cassandra nodded. "Barely a wink. When I do I get nightmares." Her voice was barely a whisper. The level of the girls voice surprised her but then again she hadn't used it in awhile so it shouldn't have been that much of a shock.

With shaky hands she finally raised the mug to her lips.

"Please. Come and stay with Derek and me. We can help you." She shook her head at her friend as she finished taking a sip and carefully let the cup settle back into the table.

"I don't need help. I need-"

"I know you need him. But you know it's impossible. If I could I'd bring him back in a heartbeat so you wouldn't have to feel this pain anymore."

Cassandra's gaze stayed glued to the table as she squeezed onto the plain mug a little bit tighter. Tina's sigh was heard by her friend and so was the spoon that started to stir nervously in thought.

"Please look at me. Even for just a second."

Slowly Cassandra looked up at her pleading emerald green eyes. Her eyes. Tina's eyes. They held so much sadness within them.

Cass felt her heart continue to break, even though at this point the shattered pieces had been shattered millions of times over.

Tina sighed as she ran a hand through her black hair. "I miss being able to hang out with you and smile and have fun." She whispered as she looked down at the table and placed her hands on her lap.

"That Cassandra is not here anymore."

"She can be!" Tina exclaimed as her head immediately shot up. Her eyes were determined as her curls bounced slightly around her chin. "You just have to ask for help and she'll be set free again!"

Cassandra Williams shook her head once more as she stood up from the table. She picked up her wallet and sat down a five dollar bill. "Keep the change." The strawberry blonde stated with malice lacing her voice as she pushed in her chair and left her old friend shocked at the table.

As she walked back towards her apartment Cassandra could hear her calling her name, pleading for her to listen. But Cassandra didn't want to. She no longer wanted to hear lies.

'I don't want to listen anymore.
I've listened to enough lies. I don't want to hear anymore.'

Beeping. That's all that could be heard in the young woman's ears.

She turned her head, a lot of effort required for the task. Her eye lids were heavy but she knew she had to see. She had to know what was going on, where she was.

Slowly she peeled back her eyelids and almost immediately regretted it. The room was too bright. Too much light to reflect off of the white colored walls.