Light In The Darkness

Chapter 2

After a boring and uneventful Economics lesson with Mr Davis, I made my way to the cafeteria for lunch.

I used to sit at the same table every time...with Isaac. As I advanced to our usual table, all I could think about was him.

flashback begins

We were both sitting on his bed, watching The Dolan Twins. I put the tablet down preparing to tell him.

"Why did you turn it off Ash?" He asked me.

"I need to tell you something, okay?"

I took a deep breath. He had a concerned look on his face.

"What's up?"

"Well I..." I hesitated.

"Spit it out, Ash."

"I like you."

"I like you too Ash-" he started.

"No, no. I like like you," I stressed,"...As more than a friend."

He looked at the ground, opening his mouth but no words coming out.

"I...I don't know what to say. I genuinely thought we were friends. I like you as a sister, Ash."

I felt upset and so frustrated he didn't feel the same way. I thought we had that spark that could only really be explained by...love.

"You know what? Screw this! Screw you, Isaac!" I said without thinking.

Isaac looked up at me, in disbelief.

"Ash, look-"

"NO! Don't you 'Ash' me. You made me believe that we had something, don't deny it, you felt it too!"

"We did have a connection, Ashley. As best friends."

"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes.

"Ash, you're being ridiculous."

"You're the ridiculous one, Isaac. You've just been...stringing me along, making me believe we had something!"

Mrs Daniels shouted from downstairs,"Everything alright up there?"

I shouted back, gritting my teeth.

"Yes, Mrs Daniels. Just fine."

"Goodbye, Isaac."

I stormed out of his bedroom and put of the house. A few streets ahead, I began to sob. I'd messed up big time.

flashback end

He died that day.

All because of me.

I remember when I found out. How Mom was fiddling with hands and how her eyes were brimming with tears when she told me.

flashback begins

"Mom, what's the matter?" I asked her.

She was beside herself, fidgeting even more than usual.

"Isaac...got into an accident."

I felt my stomach drop. My heart started pounded as I struggled to form words.

"D-did he survive it, Mom?" I asked, my voice unusually high.

She shook her head, the tears streaming down her face now.

My throat choked up; overcome with shock.

"He was coming here. To apologise about something."

I couldn't hold it in any longer. I sobbed into my mom's arms, the pain and shock consuming me.

flashback end

It was all my fault.

I looked around the cafeteria and realised it was all too much too soon. I couldn't handle school. It reminded me how I practically...killed my best friend, and ruined our friendship before that.

I bolted out of the cafeteria and into the nearest toilet. I disappeared into a stall and sobbed.

Why did I have to lose my best friend this way?

I heard footsteps, outside the stall. I mopped my face with tissue and stepped out of the stall, to see...Toby??

"Toby, what the hell are you doing here? These are the girls' toilets!" I yelled at him.

"Shit, sorry." He apologised.

"It's alright, you're new anyways."

He scrutinised me for a few seconds.

"Why have you been crying?"