The Empty Coffin

1- The First Letter

I grabbed the letter from my table and bolted for the door.

Today morning was no different from any other. I was late, again. I rushed to school in my car, which again was absolutely normal. The new thing was, I didn't usually receive letters. And if I do, they're put in the mailbox and not on my study desk.

I checked my phone for the first time since morning. It said it was lunch time. My tray of food sat before me, but I had lost my appetite.

I'd been sitting in the canteen since the announcement. Pondering whether this was the way things were supposed to go.

When I think of today morning, it makes me want to run away. I just can't bring myself to think of those shocked faces of the girls whispering in the hallways, a few seniors saying "Did you get to know?" a little too loudly, a few of her friends excusing themselves from the class and the announcement stating suspension of studies for the day.

Nothing made sense. I mean, it wasn't possible. She was right here, right before me two weeks ago. Running past me in the hallways so as to reach class in time, taking guitar lessons from Mike, writing poetry sitting opposite to me, having coffee with me and Michelle.

But the world was too quick to accept the fact that - Infinity Miracle (age 16) dies of a fatal disease yesterday.

I wasn't the one ready to believe it. But I guess, eventually I had to. There was no text from her since that night she had left, no one who knew where she was for the past two weeks. She wasn't replying my calls or texts. How could I know what happened?

And then it hit me, the letter. She was the only person at school or probably the only high school girl in today's world who believed in the tradition of old school letters.

I fished the letter I'd dumped in my bag this morning. It had been crumpled under my books. I hadn't noticed it before but it was wrapped in a circular pendant with a unique flower-like design carved in it surrounded by white colored jewels along its circumference, exactly similar to what Infinity always wore.

My fingers betrayed me by starting to tremble. Was this by her?

I glanced sideways and spotted Michelle, her face panic stricken, her eyes glassy.

I walked over to her. "Hey" I said.

"Hi" Came the reply. She looked so fragile as if my words could break her apart.

"Can we talk?" I asked trying to sound like the usual me.

"About what?" her voice came out as a whisper but still audible.

I took out the letter from my bag. "Did you receive anything like this"

Her reaction was weird. She acted as if something was choking her. Her glassy eyes looked from one side to another. Then she glanced at her watch and said "I have to go" and proceeded to grab her bag.