A Century of Loneliness

Chapter 10: The Loss of a Friend

Elizabeth P.O.V

I have to wait until my father leaves Jamie's house. I wait for another few minutes just to make sure it's safe. I can't get caught doing this. As far as my father knows I am at home in bed.

I jump back when I hear a scream. I can tell by the tone that it was Jamie. That only drives my determination to get him out. I can't let my best friend die this way.

I try to open the door and feel that the knob is hot. It burns my hand but I have to get in. I push with all my might, but the door doesn't budge. It then becomes clear to me that the door itself is locked. I'm not going to be able to open it.

I hear more screams and cries of agony that only drive me to try ten times harder to get inside. Jamie is my best friend and I need to get him out.

I use all my body weight and push against the door, but that isn't enough to open it. I try to slam my body against it repeatedly when I know that I am not strong enough to break through. It's no use.

I decide that the door is not going to allow me to enter, so I look around on the ground for something that could be useful. I find a good sized rock and throw it at the window in the front of his house. It shatters and glass covers the ground, but I don't care. It's a way in.

I cut my leg on a shard of the glass while climbing in, but everything is worth the pain in this situation. The house is starting to severely burn. I need to act fast.

Smoke fills my lungs as I walk, making me choke. It's very difficult to breathe in such a harsh state. I'm just hoping that I can get Jamie out before it's too late.

His screams have slowly gotten quieter over time. It makes me worry that I've been taking too long. I try to open the door to his bedroom, but it again is locked. There are also no windows for me to break. I have to power through.

After a few slams with my weight, I know that the door is starting to give way. It only drives me to try harder. With one final push, the door breaks off from the hinges, revealing my worst nightmare.

Tied to the bed is Jamie. His skin is charred to a black color and is starting to fall off due to the heat. He is still on fire. I know that it is far too late for me to help, but a part of me wants to try because I can't stand seeing my best friend like this. It makes me want to scream.

I look for anything that won't be flammable and put it over the flames. I'm hoping that it will at least ease his pain if I stop the burning. I find a blanket on the opposite side of the room that has not yet been touched by the flame. I throw it over him repeatedly until the flame dies down, leaving only smoke.

I still cough from the smell and smoke, but I am not leaving. I can't leave my friend here alone. This is all my fault.

"Jamie!" I cry, being too afraid to touch him due to the severe burns.

I hear him breathing shallowly, wheezing for any clean air. Unfortunately, there is still too much smoke in the house. I cry at his side, praying to God not to take him. That is all I can do.

'I'm not ready for Jamie to be gone. I need him. He's my best friend. He's all I have. Please God, don't take him yet. It's not his time. Take me instead if you have to. I just want Jamie to be okay.'

I sob and I weep until the smoke becomes too much. It burns my eyes and fills my lungs. I know that breathing in all of this will not be good for me, but I won't leave.

"I'm so sorry, Jamie. This is all my fault. I couldn't keep my big fat mouth shut. If I had then this wouldn't have happened," I cry, hoping that he will still be able to hear me if he cannot speak.

"I-It's... o-okay..." Jamie manages to say slowly, wheezing afterward.

It makes me cry to hear him speak. His voice is raspy and I know that it must be causing him pain. I would give anything in the world to make him okay, even if that meant my own life.

"I would do anything to change this. I would sell my soul to Lucifer himself. I don't want to see you suffer," I tell him through my tears.

"I-It... do-doesn't hurt... a-anym-more..."

I don't believe him when he tells me it doesn't hurt. He seems to be in so much pain. How could it not hurt him?

'I wish I could go back in time and cut out my tongue so I couldn't say anything to my father. If I hadn't told him then none of this would have happened. Jamie would be okay and not on death's door. It's all my fault.'

"D-Don't... blame y-... yours-self... I... love y-you, Lizzy..." Jamie says quietly.

I wipe the tears from my eyes and nod. "I love you too, Jamie."

After that, he goes silent. I no longer see his chest rise and fall and no longer hear him struggle to breathe. His suffering is finally over. But this also means that I have just lost my best friend.

I cry out and suddenly feel myself being pulled. Someone, most likely one of the neighbors, had called the fire department. They drag me out of the house and into the street. I cry and struggle against them because I don't want to leave Jamie, but they are far too strong.

"Stay back ma'am!" one of them tells me.

I cry on the curb of the street as I watch them start to extinguish the flames that were eating the house. I weep and cry until all the flames are gone.

They put a white sheet over Jamie's body as they carry him out on a stretcher. The only visible part of him is his arm, which hangs off the stretcher.

As they carry him I see the ring that he always wore fall to the ground and spiral on the road. I scramble to get it and cry as I hold it close to my heart.

'This is all I will ever have left of him. This is all that's left of Jamie.'