24 Letters

00| PROLOGUE

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p r o l o g u e

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      THE DOCTORS look at me like she won't make it. The nurses give me hope by sending me nervous smiles that kind of whisper to me that: 'She might just be okay'. But I look damaged enough to radiate the negative vibes that I know she doesn't need.

      When I got home last night, all I wanted was to send Emerald a text saying hey. Two days ago, I wouldn't have known who she was if someone was to tell me I would soon be getting goosebumps at her touch, nervous at her presence and just happy to know she might just like me.

      But as much as all that was inevitable just two days ago, so is her life. Clinging on to life support, she might never see the text I sent her after hours of hard thought and composition of it. It took me two hours to compose a simple text to her and there's a chance she might never see it. She might never see the simple but heartfelt message my drunken self managed to type out as a sober minded person. Honestly, she might never ever live and it's scary considering I just met her last night.

      Waking up to a call from the hospital isn't anyone's cup of tea. Who would like to hear 'This is doctor Marshall from St. Louis hospital. I would like your presence here at the hospital, please.'? No one! No one would enjoy that drive from home as your head pounds due to your hangover and nerves all wanting a way out. It's not fun. And it's definitely not fun to learn that in just 24 hours, if the girl you just met doesn't wake up, she will be dead.

      Due to the severity of the situation, the doctors can only help her for 24 hours and after that, it's either up to her or she'll lose the life support she's plugged into. She's lose her life, her future and I'll lose the one girl I was so willing to let my guard down for.

      I receive the pink box with shaky hands. The doctor clears her throat then walks off. I was told Emerald left me some things to look at incase she doesn't wake up. A dying wish she yelled through the phone as her car went flying off the broken down bridge by Oakman's river. The same river I first saw her.

      I open the box and I'm faced with many letters. My address is on them as if they are just ready to be mailed to me. The only missing thing is a stamp to wrap it all up. I hastily rip one envelop open to reveal a paper carefully folded with my name written in pretty cursive font.

      Asher. The paper says making my stomach turn and flip and growl at the same time. I realise I haven't eaten so I put the paper inside the box and shut it. I let this discovery be for later because I'm nursing a hangover and more shock isn't what I need at this very moment. I'll eat then read what Emerald left for me.

      But I know I'm only stalling. A small part of me fears the letter. Fears what Emerald could have possibly left for me. Fears for how long she has known me and fears why it might be her dying wish for me to take a look at the unsent letters.