Aftermath

Elliot

PART II: ELLIOT

She was dead. Eliana Cruz was dead.  

But if she was ‘dead’ then why was she sitting right next to me?

“So...I guess your wondering what’s going on?” She asked, laughing nervously.

I looked at her. Seeing dead people wasn’t exactly a bad thing. Right? 

“Elliot?” Ellie asked tentatively “You ok?”

“Are you serious?” I asked.

Eliana Cruz was one of my best friends. She had her dark brown hair, hazel eyes and had an affinity for Doctor Who. 

And she is dead.

But she’s sitting right next to me..

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “What? Why did you-What?”

Ellie rolled her eyes at me and turned around so that she facing me properly “Why did I do that?” She asked jabbing a thumb towards her tomb. “Well, dear Elliot people die all the time. It's a common thing. Did I ever tell you that you looked funny in a suit?” She asked nonchalantly. 

“Well it was your funeral.” I said bitterly and walked towards my car. Eliana looked down at the ground and followed. She always did that when she was upset. She was always like that. Eliana Cruz, with chocolate brown eyes, a reserved personality and an affinity for science fiction. Sometimes it was hard to believe she was actually dead. I was too busy thinking, that I didn’t realize that Ellie was waving a hand in my face.

“Elliot...Elliot!.” She clapped her hands in front of my face, snapping me out of my stupor.

“What?!” I exclaimed, shaking my head.

“Well.” Eliana began “While you busy admiring me-”

“I wasn’t admiring you.”

“-You totally were-Anyways, it’s not like anything’ll happen. I’m dead.” She said brashly “And I forgot what I was going to say.”

I suddenly felt like I was hit by a train of realization. Eliana really was dead. She really did commit suicide. She really is just a ghost now.

“Elliot?” She asked in a soft, almost inaudible tone.

“Why?” I choked “Why did you do it? Why did you leave James, Mina and Anna? Why did you leave your family? Why did you leave me?” I yelled. Eliana flinched.

“It’s a long story.” She said.

“It’s a long drive.” I retorted.

Eliana looked out the window “Oh Elliot Smith, if only you knew how I felt-” She began and before I could interrupt she continued, “I felt expelled and exiled. I didn’t think I belonged anywhere. I felt like I was a burden. I guess..I guess I felt like a nobody. To everyone I was the complete anti-thesis of you guys. While you guys were loud and outgoing, I was quiet and awkward, while you guys overflowed with confidence I probably had zero confidence. l..it was obvious you guys were going places and well..I probably wasn’t.” She let go of my hands, clasped hers together and faced the road “I felt like I would never end up anywhere good. I would never have a good job or life in general. I would end up with a dead-end job and life that I would hate and I didn’t want that. I always thought I was dumb and unimportant and in the end, I believed it. So I decided that..I guess I...I decided to rid myself so I wouldn’t burden anyone else with my personal problems. I mean,” She laughed harshly “No one cares right? Who cares about a poor girl with issues. No one.” She said angrily and turned away.

“That. That’s not true Ellie and you know that!” I exclaimed “In case you didn’t notice, Eliana, we didn’t know you felt like that. You’re always shutting your emotions out, it’s no wonder James calls you a robot. You never tell us about how you feel or what’s going on, not unless it has to do with Doctor Who or something like that! If you had told us how you felt then maybe we could help you!” 

“And what? Have you and the others take pity on me and think I’m some sort of fragile glass rose that’s gonna break any minute?!” Eliana shot back “And what could you have done? I was already in deep.” She said quietly.

My gaze softened and I looked at her sadly, “You still could’ve told us.” I said solemnly.

“I know.” She mumbled and stared outside the window.

“So, uh, when are you..you know..going to the other side?” I asked after thirty minutes.

“Um..” She looked at herself in the rearview mirror “Soon..I think.”

“Oh.” I muttered and glared outside the window.

Eliana must of noticed the change of tone in my voice and demeanor because she suddenly turned around and looked at me sadly.

“It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault at all. No one is to blame but me. If you want to put blame on anyone it’s mine. No one caused me to do it but myself. So don’t blame yourself.” She said before looking down at the lap “I’m fading.” She uttered “It’s my time.”

I suddenly felt panicked. She was leaving. Already? I turned my head to look at her. She was fading. Her dark hair and eyes still looked the same but her usually tan skin was now transparent and so was her long pure white dress. 

“Now?” I squeaked “Are you sure?”

Eliana nodded, looking as panicked as I was. She looked up and smiled at me. Her nice, happy smile.

“It was never. Never. Your fault.” She paused “And..I always kinda liked you.” She leaned forward and I felt a cold brush against my cheek and pulled back. She let out a soft laugh “Well. That felt weird, huh?”

I nodded slowly, in slight confusion and shock. Eliana grinned and leaned back in the seat and turned her head to face me “Have a nice life Elliot and live your life to the fullest. Do that for me, will you?”

And just like that. She was gone. I looked at the spot where she once was and grinned.

“Of course I’ll have a nice life Eliana Cruz. Of course I will. Just for you.”