She Became The Inevitable

Chapter One

DYLAN

I STOOD THERE watching her as her eyes slowly closed, and the redness in her cheeks slowly faded away. It was a sullen day for a Saturday afternoon. The wind that unexpectedly entered in the room flows through my short, slicked back hair. Her hair flowed casually with the wind, and while I stood there feeling warm, she stood there shivering.

I approached the window and shut it closed, then turned my back to see how she's feeling. She slowly raises her head to look at me. The dim light in her eyes shows misery. The discoloration in her knuckles shows pain. And rocking her frail body back and forth screams help. I sat down next to her on the edge of her bed. I pull her into my devoted arms and cradle her to make her feel better. She jabs her nails into my skin, but I didn't care. Her pain needs to be let out.

Slowly, the tears come rushing in. It drips down unto my hand, and I let her use my wool sweater as her tissue. "I'm... I'm sorry," Elle whispered like a ghost, then cried quietly. I tell her to hush in a soothing voice, then caressed her face. "I'm here for you."

Minutes passed and she drifted away to sleep. I wanted to leave, but then again, I didn't. I have her back like she has mine. I couldn't abandon her like that, especially what she's going through needs to be cared for. I tenderly stroked her luscious, short platinum hair through my fingers. Her silent tears still trickle down her cheeks, but I wipe it off with a finger, and continue to hug her.

Turning my eyes away from her, I stare at the window. A day was like a minute passing. A minute to count. And soon enough, there will be no more days to pass. No more minutes to count. The whole idea of time itself wouldn't exist. It would become the unknown.

I slowly drift into a sleep, forgetting about who and what I'm surrounding with. The last sensation I feel is the soft landing of the silk sheets of her bed.

***

EIGHT YEARS AGO

Another day to be alive. Another day to thank everything. Another day to live and be in the moment.

We both watched how the other kids chased each other around, playing by the swings and having all sorts of fun.

I didn't want Elle to feel alone. She wasn't quite the others. She was special. Maybe not to others, but she was to me. I patched up my scraped knee with a bandage while she sat there drinking her juice box. The whirring machine of her oxygen tank made an unpleasant notice in which people started to worry about that situation. Embarrassed, she lowered her head, then her face turning bright as a rose. I scolded harshly to the people. Although they mean well, I should be the one who needs to worry the most.

She's my Elle. I don't want to lose her.
I reached her hand, taking her away to playground and instead sitting next to the big oak tree that was planted a few years ago. I placed the red and black plaid blanket on the grass, and she sat down, crossing her legs together, while putting her oxygen tank close to her. As she continued to drink her juice, I frowned. I wondered, is this the end? Is this how I'm going to lose my best friend?

"Hey, you okay?"

***

I woke up to the soft voice of my sweet Elle. My vision was blurred, but I was still able to see her beautiful gave and the tube that is in her nose. She was on top of me, smiling through the pain. She caresses my face and planted a peck on my cheek. I smiled back at her, seizing her hands and interlacing our fingers together.

She lies down next to me, chuckling silently. I turn and say, "What's so funny?" I asked, questioning her.

"You're blushing, stupid," she says jokingly, only then realizing that my face has turned redder than my shirt. I touched my cheek softly and we both turned around to look at her tank. Her oxygen tank was still whirring quietly, and after that we stopped talking.

Silence was deafening. She closed her eyes and smiled. "I'm ready."

Confused, I suddenly furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what she meant. "You mean--"

"Yes, that's what I mean." She took a long paused, then fixated her eyes on me. "I'm not scared anymore."