NERD (Niam) (boyxboy)

42

It takes me a minute to take in what's going on.

Liam is on top of me, shielding my body with his own.

I feel frozen.

It's like I'm unable to move.

Like I'm paralysed.

I try look over Liam's shoulder to see total chaos.

I try as best I can to spot mum but I can't see her anywhere. Nor Karen and Geoff.

Then the panic sets in.

Shock is long gone now.

I can't breathe.

"Niall!" Looking up to Liam's face, my eyes begin to blur from tears and he moves to crouch next to me. "Are you hurt!?"

I shake my head and try sit up, my head spinning frantically.

"Slowly Ni". Liam wraps his arm around my shoulders and holds my hand, helping me stand.

There's students and parents screaming.

There's blood everywhere.

There's people crying on top of what looks like now dead bodies.

I can't find mum anywhere.

I think I'm going to be sick.

"Niall".

Where is she?

"Niall!?"

And now I can't breathe.

I lean on Liam and we begin to walk, the scenes becoming a blur to me.

Liam is suddenly gone from my side and I spot them on the ground hugging him unbelievably tight.

I look around them to see mums foot and run over, falling to the ground by her side and feeling a wet sense on my knees.

I can only gently wrap my arms around her, a wet and sticky feeling consuming my body as I let all the tears fall, mum not making any movements and looking as though she's sleeping.

It's hard to decipher what exactly is wrong with mum as I cry and cling to her cold, wet body.

I think maybe this is all a dream.

Maybe I'm having a nightmare.

Maybe I didn't graduate yet.

I'm in bed beside Liam, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, his face pushed into the side of my neck, our legs tangled together.

Mums body is heavy.

It's what brings me back from the thought of Liam, nightmares, warmth.

I gently lean her back on the ground and cry on her chest, clinging to her dress as if I'm a toddler again, not wanting to let the chance of my mother to leave.

Not letting her leave.

"Niall". I hold on tighter. "Ni you have to let go".

No.

"C'mon mate". I feel hands on my own, gently unwrapping my fingers from the wet fabric.

"Niall".

It's hard for me to, but I manage to see the paramedics placing their fingers to her neck, shaking their head and the other walking over with a black bag. They lift her and place her on it, slowly zipping it up.

"NO!" I force myself out of Liam's grip, trying not to fall over my own feet as I rush to where they are.

I'm pulled back, arms wrapped tightly around my body, trapping my arms.