The Wishing Well

V- Don't Mention The Grim Reaper!

'Thank you so much, Sir. No, she didn't. Sure, I'll inform you as soon as she is awake.' Outside, two people were talking in hushed voices, but I could make out only one of them. I know this voice. I heard it before. Are they talking about me? I didn't even know where I was. I looked around, trying to recognise the place. It was a simply furnished small bedroom with bed near the window overlooking the street. There was a little wooden closet, placed against the wall opposite to the bed. Apart from that, the room was empty. The door to the room opened right beside the bed. On the side table, I found a glass of chilled water. It was a welcome site because my throat had gone so dry. I gulped the whole glass at once. What is this place? I got out of bed to look outside in the street. There were police cars passing through and officers patrolling the area. Just then, it all came back to me. My world was lost. I had lost Lisa. My poor Lisa! I got back to bed and started rocking back and forth to control the urge to scream and wail. There was so much pain in my chest. It hurts, God. It hurts real bad. How am I going to live now. Just then, the door opened and a young boy entered the room with Lillian. Who is he? I've met him before.

'Oh, you are awake. Umm, I'll inform Mr. Carter. Lillian please take care of her', the last part was not for me to hear. Then, he left the room. I resumed my previous posture to calm myself down. The mattress dipped near my feet, 'Hey, keep it together Anna. I know it's not easy even one bit, but please you have to calm down. We are worried about you, you know!' My hushed voice was a suppressed cry, 'I'm trying Lilly, I really am, but it hurts so much inside. I can't keep it in, and I feel like if I did, then I'll die too. It hurts so much, Lilly. What will I do now? I've nothing left to my life.' The unshed tears choked me again. 'Then don't! Let it come out. Scream at the top of your lungs if you had to, but please don't die on us Anna. We can't bear another loss right now, and Anna, yours will be a big one my child!' We both turned towards the door. Mr. Carter was standing in the doorway smiling sadly at me. Behind him, there was that boy again stranding quietly aside.

'Mr. Carter?', I looked at him, controlling my ever building sobs. 'Yes my child, it's me.' He sat beside me and took me in his arms, and that was my cue to let go. I sobbed on his chest for God knows how long. At last, when my tears dried, I separated from him rather shyly. I never came close to anyone during my years in the streets. The truth was, that I never trusted anyone. It has always been just me and Lisa from the beginning. Thus, his affection towards me not being new, I still felt rather embarrassed for opening up to him so much. He patted my head with his kind hand, 'I know what it feels like. Believe me I do. I've also lost my own child, you know, but Anna, you cannot let go of the life. The pain you are in! It will never go away, but you will eventually learn to live with that. Just remember, don't forget to live your life, kid. If you try to follow death, it will befriend you forever, and then, even if you want to let go, it will stick to you like a parasite, sucking all the happiness from your life. Try to pick up small good things to be happy about. It won't be easy for sure, but you still have to try, and Anna! if you ever feel alone, I'm here for you, at all times, okay?' I nodded in agreement, although it felt impossible to do what he was saying. 'Good, just keep fighting kiddo. Don't let the death win.' He patted my head again. 'I'll bring something to eat for you. It's night again, and you didn't eat since yesterday. I'll be right back.' With that he left the room.

Now that he mentioned it, the glass of water was all I had since last night. 'So? Are you okay, Annabelle? You worried us so much out there. Don't ever do that again okay?' It was that boy from before. I remember him now. He offered me lunch when I was looking for Lisa earlier today. Was it really today? It seems like the ages have passed. What was his name again? Eden? Edward? Something like that! 'Ethan. Ethan Lewis. You remember me right?' He answered my unasked question. 'Yes, I remember. You work with Mr. Carter on his store, and you offered to buy me lunch today. That was very kind of you, by the way. Thanks.' I am tired. I rested my head against the bedpost and closed my eyes. I didn't ask anyone about this place either. 'Oh no, that was nothing Annabelle. I told you that I've known you since the day you came here. So, I consider you my friend.' I opened my eyes and looked at him for the first time. He seems like a really nice person. I didn't know how many good people lived around me for all that time. Lisa was my nucleus back then, and I revolved around her and her only. I shook my head to clear those depressing thoughts and tried to smile at him, 'Then you should call me Anna, like all my friends do. Right?' He returned it with his own bright one, 'Right. Anna it is then.'
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Life can be boring when you don't have a purpose to live for. I was roaming the streets aimlessly, with nowhere particular to be. That's when Lisa invaded my mind as I passed the crime scene from the last week. Yes, it's been a week. I miss her big time, every single second of my days. Why did you go there? You could have woken me up Lisa. Why did you do this to me?? Tears were piling in my eyes again. 'You'll kill yourself, if you keep going like that. Don't you care for us at all, Anna?' Ethan was looking at me with blaming eyes. I dried my tears and tried to smile. 'That's not it, Ethan. I just thought maybe I could save her if I had woken up a little earlier. I don't understand why would she leave without telling me anything in the middle of the night.' He took my hand in his, 'You couldn't have done anything. It was meant to be this way. Don't overthink it. Try to live, Anna, for us. Okay?' I nodded, 'Yes, thanks Ethan, for always being there when I needed you.'
'That's what friends are for. Now come, let's have lunch together.' I grasped his hand and headed towards Mr. Carter's store. Maybe she was there for a reason. She never wandered off like this before. I have to find out, there definitely was a reason she went there. But then, Mr. Carter said to let it go. What should I do? I don't understand. Please help me, God. Show me the way. I can't live with this conflict my whole life. Please! I remembered his words then, 'If you try to follow death, it will befriend you forever.'
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