SHORT STORY

Untitled

Storm
Colors pulse around me, and they shift into a scene. The sky in all its glory is going about its business around me. Clouds turn to pink and then a brilliant golden orange like tongues of fire swallowing the Earth. The sunrise has begun. I can feel the light, calm, and peace out there not faraway. I don't remember who I am but I know that I am not quite yet ready to go to it. Something or someone has me tied here that allows me to stay. I have no human needs anymore my attention span goes on forever, and my eyes don't burn at the sight of the sun. Sometimes the scene changes to storms, and I think that they are sometimes more beautiful than sunrises. All of the lightning creates unpredictable shows for me to watch. The passage of time here was confusing, and years could have gone by for all I knew. Every night, I would take walks in the clouds, and stare at the moon. I was a girl made out of helium, and I would never fall, the clouds would hold my weight. One day, when I see the sunrise again, something is different. I can feel it in my bones. Today I have to make a choice, to continue on, or to descend down again. I knew I was ready for both. The pain that would come to me should I continue downwards would be hard to contain, but I would have my friends. I would not be alone. I make my choice and go my way and the girl made of helium floats away.
Crystal
They told me that if she ever wakes up again it would be a miracle. That's what I am holding onto. It's been the better part of three weeks, and Storm is still alive. However, she is in coma, and her family is turning off all of the machines that keep her alive. They really have no right tying her here. I came to Storm's room to see her one last time, and now I stand behind a sheet of glass looking into her bed. That brown hair fans her face, and she looks very peaceful. I turn away when I see the doctors start to take her out of all of their equipment. At least she will be in peace. I don't know what I will do next, however. I still haven't gone back to school yet. I need her.
"Do you want one more visit to her, Crystal?" A nurse walks up to me. "She isn't dead yet."
I walk stiffly to her bedside. There is one thing on her still keeping here alive. I brace myself before pulling out her IV. Tears threaten, but I know I made the right choice. Getting, up, I turn away and reach for the door.
"Crystal", her voice cracks. "Where am I?"
What!? I rush back to her bedside. Eyelids are fluttering. "Please stay here for a while, Crystal. Will you?"
"Always." Life will continue as scheduled. Now I had my friend back.
"No more secrets and I won't have one reason to ever leave." We both hug, and I laugh, a little hysterical with what just happened. I jump back once I heard her cry of pain, Bandages run up and down her body. Oops. But I can't help grinning. Yes, we both will have scars, but from now on we were free from all evil, and everyone who tried to hurt us. Life was looking good.