Bruised and Scarred [short story]

Part Four: Saving

"as long as you're okay, it's all right. even if it's killing me inside."

People say that it isn't the actions that hurt, but the memories. And God do the memories hurt.

I remember sitting on the brickwater at the beach, him singing to me softly as we watched the gentle lapping of the waves.

Flying down the aisle of the grocery store, with him pushing the shopping cart.

Crying into his shoulder as we watched The Notebook together in his home.

Laughing as he chased me through the park.

Sharing our first kiss, bathed in the beatific glow of the setting sun.

Why did he have to lead me on like that? Why did I allow myself to be tricked again and again and again? Why? Why?

I glance down at my phone, closing my eyes momentarily as more tears streak down my face like the bare remnants of my broken heart.

"I trusted you.

Oh Lord, I trusted you.

Now that I've seen who you truly are, I'll stay out of your life. Forever.

You can be happy with Nicole. I'm fine with that. This is my final goodbye to you. You'll never see me again.

Why? Because I loved you, you bastard."

The text message is short, but it conveys all my inner turmoil. After sending it, I feel a massive weight lift off my shoulders. Now, for the final step of my plan.

He'll never see me again. In fact, no one will ever see me again.

I trudge through the park, feeling a sharp pain lance through my heart as I pass by the spot he caught me that day. But everything will be over soon. I won't have to deal with any of this any longer.

Finally, I reach the road side. It takes me at least fifteen minutes before I eventually notice a gigantic truck speeding down the road. This is it.

I step onto the hard, bumpy road. One. Two. Three. The truck is only a few metres away by now.

I glance down, smiling bitterly as I notice the faded red markings on my wrist, irate words screaming for me to die. Well, your wish is about to be granted, I think silently to myself.

I stop in the middle of the road, just as the truck is mere inches away. I close my eyes, bracing myself.

But the impact never comes.

Instead, there's a loud scream, a tremendous bang, then.... nothing. My eyes fly open, and the sight in front of me is one that I'd never expect to see.

It's him.

He's sprawled on the road, limbs contorted in a gory fashion. Blood is pouring from several wounds on his body, his head, and pretty much everywhere.

"No," the words flee my lips, nothing but a ghost of a whisper. I rush over, crouching beside him. "Oh God, no. Please, no!" The words stumble over themselves as they escape my mouth, dissipating into the air.

"Are you....okay?" His voice. I've never been so glad to hear his voice. His face is contorted in a grimace, but he manages a weak smile. "I'm.... sorry. About Nicole. I didn't think...." He coughs, sputtering blood.

"I don't care about Nicole! I care about-about you," I can feel the tears leaking out of my eyes as he coughs again. "Why did you save me? Why didn't you just leave me there to die?"

"Don't cry," he says softly, reaching up and wiping away a single teardrop. He's shaking, and he's never seemed more frail. "I saved you because I love you, you foolish girl," I can feel him slipping away as his grip on me begins to weaken. "This is it," he whispers, his voice cracking. "Remember, princess- it's easy to get carried away, listening to the things that people say."

"One last thing...."

"Y-Yeah?" The tears are streaming down my face by now and I can barely speak. The voices in my head are battling, clashing together and I'm thinking I can't lose him, I need him, he can't leave me! But a sense of dread is already creeping up in me, spreading icy tendrils across my body and sending liquid packed with pain and hurt and terror whizzing through my veins.

"I love you to infinity and beyond, and even in my next life, I'll still love you. I never regretted meeting you that day at the bus stop." His voice softens to a raspy whisper. "I love you."

He smiles one last time at me, before his eyes shut and his arm falls to the side.

"No!" My words come out as a howl- agony, misery blending together into one long scream. "I love you too, I love you so much, don't leave me, please!"

I can hear the wailing of ambulance sirens in the distance, the desperate pleading of pedestrians for me to get off the road, but it doesn't matter, nothing matters anymore.

Maybe if I'd called the ambulance earlier, he would have lived. But then, I'll never know, will I? It's too late for regrets for 'maybes' and 'what ifs'.

I got my wish after all.

He's out of my life.

Forever.

It's like yet another cheesy Disney movie, only this time, I got the bad ending.

Fitting, huh? The bad ending, for the girl who was never meant to be good. 

A/N

You have no idea how hard it was for me to write this chapter.

I'm currently too emotionally wrecked to write anything more, but this isn't the last chapter. There's still one more chapter, my explanation to you guys and bonus chapters.

But this is bye for now. Remember to vote and comment if you liked!