The Lungs She Had That Didn't Work

PROLOGUE

I saw her first in the hallway. No one was around, and I was late to class. She was coughing, and when she walked, she stumbled on her own feet.

"Do you need a hand?" I remember asking her.

"No." Though she barely seemed to be able to catch her breath, she hurried away.

~

The next time I saw her she was sitting in the library and staring out the window. Her chest rose up and down in an unsteady pattern. I didn't want to bother her, but I couldn't stop wondering.

"Are you okay?"

"Why do you care?" She asked, wheezing slightly.

"You're making me worry," I said.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Worry about me. Don't worry about me." She sighs. "I'm fine."

"No, you're-"

The girl cut my answer off. "What's your name?" She asked.

"Tristan."

"Ellery Bree," the girl said. "But you can call me Ellery."

~

The last time I saw her she was leaning against a locker, panting heavily.

"Ellery!" I called. "What happened?"

"Nothing," she whispered faintly. "I'm fine."

"No, Ellery, you're not. You need help. Can you even breathe?"

Ellery closed her eyes. "No."

Then she started coughing. Her face turned from pale to red in a matter of seconds.

"I can't breathe." Her words came out jumbled with her coughing.

"Ellery!" I shouted frantically. "Help! Somebody please help!"