What Hides Within

Goodbyes

The ringtone jarred through his sleep.

Eric fumbled for his phone, pushing his tousled hair out of his eyes.

His head throbbed with a hangover.

He had to drink himself to sleep last night and had fragmented dreams of Carrie. He would keep trying to ask her questions and she would keep drifting away.

His phone stopped ringing as he found it.

He groaned and shut his eyes again.

Screw it. He would call whoever it was later.

He didn't realise the battery had died out.

"I have to go to the hospital." Eric grabbed an apple on his way out.

"You woke up ten minutes ago. You didn't even have a shower and you look terrible!" His mother called out.

"I haven't seen Carrie in four days, mom. I have to see her right away." He called back.

His mother met him at the door. "She is the same, Eric." She said quietly. "Nothing will change if you wait back, have breakfast and shower."

Eric paused, then shook his head stubbornly. "I have to be with her, mom."

He gave his mother a brief hug and left.

Sunlight danced over Carrie.

Almost a month and she still looked like she was sleeping.

He thought of the fairy tale 'Sleeping Beauty' with a fond smile. Carrie used to like fairy tales when she was growing up, she had told him.

His smile faded as he studied her.

When would she wake up?

He missed her.

He jumped when the hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"What the hell, David!" He said with a start.

David's usually placid face was red. He was breathing heavily, as if he ran all the way here.

Eric felt a sense of disquiet. "What happened?"

David crouched next to him "I've been trying to call you all morning, man."

Eric frowned. He pulled his phone out. "Fuck. Battery died out."

David was still trying to catch his breath.

Eric looked at him impatiently, "Well what is it?"

"Mr. Eric King?"

Eric turned back.

His heart began to pound to see the cop. Something was wrong.

He got up and faced the cop. His mouth felt dry. His head was throbbing.

"Yes." He said shortly.

David stood up beside him, looking at him sympathetically.

"What's going on?" Eric asked, bewildered.

"Mr. King, your father-in-law killed himself last night. Jumped off his apartment window. His neighbour saw you visit him. Heard you yelling. We have to take you in for abetment of suicide."

Eric felt frozen to the spot.

"We need you to come with us, Mr. King." The cop said.

With a long glance back at Carrie, Eric nodded and numbly followed the cop.

David stood alone next to his cousin.

He remembered her laughing beside him as they chased butterflies.

He smiled at the memory.

He bent closer to her and whispered, "The French journal was a red herring, wasn't it? You wanted him to know..."

Carrie didn't respond.

He gently pushed away a strand of hair from her forehead. "I received the last real journal you sent to me. I shall keep it safe, always."

Carrie didn't respond.

He got up with a sigh, missing the little girl who always laughed.

"Bye, Carrie." He whispered.

And left.

A/N: So we are almost at the end of the story. Do you think Carrie will wake up?