Breaking Violins

The truth won't save you

Friday 7:26 pm

Elijah fidgeted with Guppy as his mind raced. He sat on the ground Indian style out of the way. Josh’s party was more alive than it deserved. There were dead and alive kids alike dancing around in circles in the sand near lake Ariel. The night sky was dark and littered with hundreds of twinkling stars that seemed to mock his anguished mood. Lake Ariel gleamed not too far away. A few guys were running down the dock and plummeted into the dark waters. If only they knew the lake’s past. A few other kids were dancing on a rotting picnic table and others built sand castles. Elijah wasn’t in the mood for anything at the moment. He was tired. So very tired.

More than anything, he was filled with regret. He regretted his last meeting with Emberlynne. But she had been right. He shouldn’t have perused her the way he did and he certainly shouldn’t have fallen in love. But the heart was an individual organ, totally independent of the brain. 

“What the hell was I thinking Guppy?” He asked the plush bunny. The bunny’s little button eyes just stared back and its stitch smiled never wavered but Elijah imagined the bunny shrugged and told him he didn’t know. Elijah grinned bitterly.

“I guess you’re all I have of her huh?” He chuckled lightly. He felt a tear spill over and glide down his cheek. He wiped it away on his sleeve.

“Hard time huh?” Elijah heard someone ask. He glanced up to find Alex lingering near him. He went back to staring at the rabbit in his hands. Alex was wearing just a pair of shorts and no shoes. He traced patterns in the sand with his foot.

“Just tired,” Elijah mumbled without bothering to look up. Alex nodded indicating that he understood. He squatted.

“Hey man, I meant to tell you that I’m sorry for everything happening to you.” Alex said. His green eyes were earnest. Elijah just shrugged.

“Not like you caused this.” He said.

“Yea but it’s not like I helped either.”

“Nothing you coulda done,” Elijah responded. He finally looked Alex in the eyes. Alex could see that Elijah’s eyes had been drained of all energy and life. They were black and did not hold the same glitter as before.

“Man, I’ve been meaning to tell you something, something real important.” Alex said in a low voice.

“She didn’t even want the damn rabbit anyway. I should just chuck him in the lake. You think he’d sink right next to her body? You think there’s anything left?” Elijah asked. His eyes were brimming with tears. He was smiling though and he looked strained.

“You think my bodies still out there?” He laughed. The sound was disturbing. It had a certain ring to it like the laughter of a dying man. Alex felt a shiver go down his spine and he tried to compose himself.

“Seriously man I need to say-” Alex stopped speaking at the sight of Elijah’s expression. Elijah stared over Alex’s shoulder with wide disbelieving eyes.

“She’s here.” He said.

Emmy stepped onto the beach beside Army. She was wearing a small white strapless dress. The skirt of the dress flared out a bit and stopped scantly high above the knees. Her feet were bare. It was a dress Elijah had seen before. It was his favorite. He had helped her get into it once. She wore her hair curly and it fell over her shoulders. Her eyes were bright but her face was expressionless.

Elijah scrambled to his feet and set foot in her direction.

“I have to tell you something,” Alex called after him. Elijah didn’t hear it though, he just charged forward. Emmy regarded him with dull eyes as he approached.