David rushed around the corner to the next set of stores in the Avenues Mall. He was seeing hearts and pink letters everywhere, indicating that Valentine's Day was just a week away. He walked into Victoria's Secret and looked around for something that Alex would like.
He sampled a bunch of different fragrances. When he found one that he liked, he grabbed the circular box with that same perfume and lotion, labeled "Very Sexy", and made the purchase.
She'll love it, he thought. He continued to walk around the mall and bought a leather jacket and a teddy bear, confident that she would love everything,when that Friday came around.
When he got home, he began writing on notecards. On one side, a message. On the other, a riddle on where to find the next one.
He had everything ready for Valentine's Day and went to sleep, imagining how it would go for Alex.
I saw her sitting there, alone, watching me. That smile, those eyes put me in a trance. All I could think to myself was, "Why aren't you mine?"
She looked down at her hands, laughing at me as I threw myself onto the punching bag and swung back and forth. When I let go, I stumbled past her and gripped her shoulders to keep my balance. But I didn't let go. I kept my left arm around her as I sat next to her and pulled her into a side hug. I could see her blushing, and she couldn't stop smiling.
I felt her hands softly hold my arm in front of her. I rested my forehead on her temple, and closed my eyes. I'm gonna do it, I told myself. Then, she turned her head to the left and kissed my hands with her gentle, perfect lips.
What happened next felt like it was in slow motion. Like the world was gone, all thoughts and cares lost. Just me and Alex, together. I tucked my finger under her chin, thumb right below the lips, and slowly turned her face toward me and kissed her.
It was absolutely perfect. It was as if the world went dark, but we were perfectly visible to each other. I couldn't hear anything in that moment, except my own heartbeat.
When we pulled away, we got closer and I pulled her into a hug, with her head resting on my shoulder.
I love her.
David woke up with a jolt. He quickly sat up and looked around. It was just a dream, he thought. Yet, it wasnt "just a dream." It was real. That really did happen, exactly two months ago. December 11th.
David checked the time. His alarm was going to go off in five minutes for school.
Days went by slowly, and then it was finally Friday. David had everything ready, and he made it to school before Alex, so he could give her teachers the index cards for her to find.
He paced the hallway impatiently, anxiously, waiting to see his girlfriend's beautiful face. Minutes passed like hours, and she still hadn't shown up.
Finally, the first bell rang, and he had to get to class. He put her gift in his locker, so he could give it to her after first period.
Every ten seconds, he glanced out the window to see if he could catch Alex walking to class. After twenty minutes of looking, he gave up. He kept thinking about how she would react to her gift. He got more anxious by the minute.
When first period ended, he ran out of the room to search for Alex. Again, she never showed. Thinking she must be sick, he slowly dragged to class, thinking of her.
The morning announcements came on the intercom, as usual. And, as usual, nothing interesting was being said, although the fake enthusiasm from the speaker would beg to differ.
There was silence, then the voice of the principal came booming over, sounding cold.
"We have just been informed, that ninth grade Alexandria Kenn has just passed away in a car accident this morning. Please have a moment of silence for the loss of this beloved student."
David froze. Did he hear that correctly?
His question was confirmed positive when he looked around the room to see twenty-one pairs of sympathetic eyes looking at him, speechless. He went pale, and he couldn't breathe.
"Thank you. She will be missed." The principal hung up, but the class wouldn't budge. No words were said, no one's eyes looked anywhere else but at David's broken expression.
He saw nothing, heard and felt nothing. Everything inside him went numb. Blackness overwhelmed his mind, his surroundings were nothing.
Suddenly, he stood up and left the classroom, taking nothing with him. He ran to his locker and took her gift bag. He didn't know what he was doing. He left the school grounds, not caring about how much trouble he would get in.
He walked for hours, then stopped in front of her house. He fell to his knees and started crying.
He couldn't see, feel, or hear anything. He pulled a lighter out of his pocket and flicked it. Putting the gift on the ground, he set it on fire.
The smell of melting plastic and burning leather stung his nose as he watched the flames eat the bag and its contents. When ash was all that was left, David stomped on it to put out the fire.
He bent down to grip the pile of hot ashes, despite the scorching pain it caused him. When he stood up, he loosened his fist, and let the ashes fly, along with what seemed like his soul.
Phone off, music loud, blinded by the death of his love, he walked. He didn't know where, or why, or even how; but didn't care. He just walked.
Hours passed, and the night slowly began to creep around. But David just kept walking. He walked right past a "DEAD END" sign at the end of a road, and ended up in a forest.
No matter, he didn't stop. He felt as if, when he stopped, he wasn't gonna have any strength to do anything, ever. He ran into a tree, but kept going.
Finally, he saw a cliff a few feet ahead and stopped. He stared at the distance between the cliff, and the land across from it. Between them, a three hundred foot drop to nothing. Blankly, he walked forward....
I cannot stop this
Sickness taking over
It takes control and
Drags me into nowhere
I need your help, I
Can't fight this forever
I know you're watching
I can feel you out there
Starset - "My Demons"
