The Shattered Memory of a Violinist

//Twenty Five - You Can't Let Me Go//

//Twenty Five — You Can’t Let Me Go//

Mason N Singer

“What the fuck was that?” Justin asked, as we watched Willa and Maddi bolt out of the diner, going like hell was chasing them.

I didn’t like Willa running away from me. 

It made something like guilt twist inside of me.

I found myself standing up, and Lottie was too. “Every week Willa goes to the hospital. I have no idea why. But, my guess is it that is has something to do with that Averie girl. I am going to go check it out”

“I’m coming” 

Lottie nodded, and both Justin and Chase stood up as well, and then we were leaving the diner, quickened our pace. I saw a glimpse of Willa trip over, but she got up so quickly I thought I had imagined it. We jogged towards the hospital. I felt slightly like I would be intruding. Like maybe Averie was Willa’s mother or something.

But, I never remembered her being close with her mother.

Maybe it was… no, it wouldn’t be her. I saw her in Malibu before we left. And I would’ve of heard something if she had hurt herself and was now in hospital — and Willa would’ve been really sad.

We headed into the hospital, and surveyed the large area. There was people scattered over the waiting seats, and when I looked for familiar brunette, I found her shaking violently on her chair, and chewing on her lip nervously. She was crying — and fresh tears kept coming down her face.

Maddi was there, looking hurt. She was on the phone to someone, who was obviously making them feel better, before she relaxed the tense set of her shoulders more and more every second.

We all came to a silent agreement not to go over there — I wanted to see what was going on. Together we navigated seats without being seen by Willa (which wasn’t hard, because she was looking at the roof like it was going to blow off) but close enough to seen.

I felt curious.

“— might die?” Maddi was saying into the phone. “The surgery will be goddamn hours. And don’t give me false hope, Asha. I don’t want it”

Willa did not move, only stared at the roof with a sort of pained expression.

“If she dies, than you are coming over. No! You are busy. You don’t need to come, Asha. No, no, no, you don’t. Look I’ll call you when it’s over. Yes, straight away. Bye, love you too” Then she pulled away the phone and hung up.

“It’ll be okay, Willa” Maddi said to Willa, although she sounded more as if she was comforting herself and Willa wasn’t even listening. “She’ll be alright”

Willa didn’t say anything.

Then suddenly, the doors were pushed open and in walked in the male Van Der Mariel’s, none of which looked happy. Eldon spotted Willa immediately, navigating her like a child does to a mother, and bolted over to her, with Mike and Dave close on his trail.

They didn’t see us. 

“WILLA!” Eldon chucked his arms around her, then what surprised me was, she wrapped her long arms around him and buried her face into his dark hair.

Dave tossed an arm around Maddi, who leaned into it, and blinked away tears — while Mike paced. He was going to wear a mark in the floor if he kept pacing like that. Then, a nurse walked out. She was old, with dark eyes and light hair.