Fate's Decision

Chapter Four

I had officially been pronounced dead on March 28, 2013 at 10:47 p.m. due to internal bleeding in my abdomen. The doctors had tried to stop it, but they could not. The list of injuries I had obtained was extensive, and there really was no use in trying to save me, but I guess if there's still a chance of a heart's beat, doctors are obligated to try and save a life.

My parents were stressed out and sad. Not even three hours ago, they were going about a normal life with no idea that they would lose their eldest child in a traumatic car accident that night. My mom was confused about what to do, so I presume that my father will take planning my service and such into his own hands. That's something no parent should have to deal with.

My parents insisted to see my body, and the doctor tried to tell them that they didn't need to see me in the condition that I was in. My parents were relentless, however.

A nurse leads them to a small room and lightly tugs the sheet off of my face. I'm covered in little cuts and bruises, and I hardly look like myself.

My mom takes my cold hand in her own and cries. "We're here. We love you."

"I love you, too," I breathe out, wanting to hug her but knowing that it's impossible for me to do so. "I'm okay, don't worry, please."

My dad doesn't look at me. It looks like he's trying, but he just can't bring himself to do it, but finally, he does. His face is already soaked in tears, but even more tears run down and he lets out a small wail. "My little girl is gone."

"No, Daddy, I'm not. I'm right here, please look at me," I insist, momentarily forgetting that I'm in whatever this state is called and they can't see me. "I'm right here with you."

The nurse give a sympathetic smile. "I'm very sorry for your loss."

My dad looks up at her and frowns. "Thank you. Cindy, I think it's time we go."

My mom gives my hand a final squeeze and bends down to kiss my forehead. "I love you so much, baby."

My dad's tears stop momentarily. "I love you, Persephone, you remember that wherever you are now."

They turn and exit the small room and my face is covered back up. I run to catch up with them and follow them all the way back to the car, and I go home.

I walk through the doors and my heart feels as though it's going to explode in grief. The fact that I'm dead is so weird to me. Why am I still here? Why haven't I gone into whatever "Heaven" there is? Is this all there is for me... Not really living, just kind of wafting around in a world in which no one knows I'm here? If I'm dead, why am I still with the living? Where are the rest of the dead? Are we invisible to each other?

I watch intently as my parents sit down and do nothing. Will they be like this forever? It's nearly midnight and my brother and sister go upstairs rubbing the tears from their eyes, ready to go to sleep.

"Night, Mom," Beth mumbles.

"'Night," she smiles weakly.

*

The news of the accident had spread like a wildfire and counselors were made available at our school. There were people that obviously pretended to be "tight" with Lilian and me to get attention, and I was quite angry.

I looked over the student body and frowned when there were some that looked genuinely hurt by our passing. The theater club was struck by our deaths; the marching band was struck by mine; the choir by Lilian's.

Later on in the day, a handful of kids went to the counselor to talk about our deaths. Whether they knew us or not, they were in shock. This never really happened to our school. People didn't just get into a life-altering car accident.

I had finally spotted Liam. I hadn't realized I had been searching until I caught him in the corner of my eye. He was walking in a small group to the counselor's office. I knew I shouldn't invade his privacy, but I was curious and I couldn't fight the urge.

I slipped in behind him as he shut the door and sat down. "Hello, Liam," Ms. Brice gave a small smile.

"It isn't fair," he immediately started off. "The way that Persephone and Lilian's lives were claimed."

"It never is, but we must learn to cope with it. Death doesn't care what we consider to be fair or not, it claims whoever it pleases," Ms. Brice frowns.

"Frankly, I think that's bullshit. I don't care what Death wants. Lilian and Persephone could very well, still be alive, if that piece of shit driver wouldn't have collided with them," he growls.

"The police reports state that it wasn't-"

"I don't give two fucks what the police report says! The point is that Persephone is dead. She is cold, lifeless, dead. She's never going to roam these halls again, or anywhere for that matter. She's gone and there's nothing that pointless police report can do to bring her back," he yells.

"Did you have feelings for Persephone?" Ms. Brice asks, her voice laced with sympathy.

"I fell in love with her when I was a sophomore. We hadn't talked, but rumor had it that she had a huge crush on me, and she had for the past two years. I wish I would've gotten up the courage to talk to her - maybe something would've come from it. She was so beautiful and amazing and I hate myself for not doing anything about my feelings for her," he lets out and a tear escapes. "I know how ridiculous it sounds for me to love a girl that I hadn't even conversed with, but I do. She was my idea of perfect. I know perfect doesn't exist, but with her, it did."

My heart tugged and I yearned to touch him. It amazed me that he just confessed these feelings for me.

Are you sure he actually feels this way? Or is it just the fact that your death put him into shock? My conscious nagged. I begged her to shut up with her negativity for just one moment so I could continue listening without her interruption.

"I'm not going to tell you that it'll be okay, because it won't be for a while, especially when you take your feelings for Persephone into account. The hurt you feel from this loss won't go away, but it will get easier to deal with, and that's what you need to hold on to."

He rolls his eyes and stands up. "I'm done listening to this. It's all bullshit. I've dealt with the losses of loved ones, I know how it goes, and I've heard this speech too many times. You're wrong. Have you ever lost someone that you love? I'm not talking like your grandmother. I'm talking about, say, a significant other?" He growls. "Obviously Persephone wasn't my significant other, but the love I felt for her was the type in which one held for that person. Have you?"

"No, but-"

"Then don't you dare sit there and pretend to relate to this. You have no idea what you're talking about," he says in a dangerously calm tone. "You may be hired to do shit like this and pretend to know what you're talking about, but let's face it, you have no clue."

Ms. Brice sits in her chair, eyes wide in shock and maybe even a touch of fear. She watches Liam as he turns toward the door and slams it behind him.