Broken Together

4: Leo

As I listened to all the speaker's tributes to my sister, a nightmarish daydream slowly fought its way into my head, despite my best efforts (which were pathetic to say the least.)

She stood there, on the highest branch, a branch too thin to bear her weight, her face enlightened with her careless smile. She tiptoed right to the end of the branch and leaped. Her face slowly fell as her body did the same toward the water. She did at least three backflips, and all was good. She did a perfect dive, with minimal splash and a marvellous landing. She went up again, typical Charlie. She followed an identical pattern, thrice she continued, her ego raised with each one. I knew her. I knew that she would do it five consecutive times perfectly before she was happy with herself. So, up she went on her fourth attempt. Yet again, successful. The fifth go. I knew now that it was too good to be true.

She jumped, but further. She flipped, but more times. She fell, and I knew it was the end. As she gained speed, her body dangerously close to the water at a horrendous angle, her neck hit the lake with a terrifying thwack. Her girlfriend (Catherine)screamed and ran to save her but she was too late. Her neck was disfigured and her breathing had stopped. She was gone. She lay there crying, the body held carefully in her arms. Eventually, Catherine took out her phone and called an ambulance.

The ambulance came and confirmed her devastating suspicions of Charlie's death. I knew the rest, she called mom and dad and they came. I didn't know what had happened or why we were in a rush. We arrived and my vision clouded as I saw my sister in Catherine's arms. I screamed and refused to leave. I cried. My parents... No. Our parents had to force me to eat, drink and go to school every day for weeks after her death. I think they had to do the same for themselves...

The nightmare ends and all I know is that I am surrounded by faces. Some are friends. Some are family. Some are strangers that must be my sister's friends. My mind disregards the memory that seeped into my mind of our agreement that we would introduce our friends to each other, your friends are my friends. When I do so, I take into account that everyone around me's mouths are moving. As I zone back in fully I notice that they are talking. Some to me, some to my parents, some to the person next to them, but all looking at me quizzically. I shrug and go to walk off but my mom grabs me by the hand and tugs me the opposite way.

"You scared me, you scared us all! We all thought that you were... We're dead. You know... The whole womb-buddies connection thing."
I couldn't help but laugh at this as I walked toward the car, my mom following suite.