The Way To Help

How To Tell

The four of them sat all in black

Not knowing if they should shout or comfort each other.

“We should have helped.” David stated into his knees.

“Tha's all good, David,” Austria spits glaring at him  “But unless ya hav’ a soddin' time machine, d'sentimental crap ain’t gonna change the situation we’re in.”

“Hush,” Jamie says calmly running her hands though Mya’s short curly purple hair to comfort her and subtly gesturing to the others in the room.

David and Austria look up and catch the eyes of a police officer, he nods to them respectfully before letting his eyes drift across the room. They look to Jamie, surprised that she would notice something other than the girl in her lap, she winks and gives them a toothy smile.

This is the first death they'd all experienced but they had nagging feelings in the back of their minds that this would be an extreme pivotal point in their lives. So they tried to act how one would in such a situation; a mixture of confusion, fake happiness and regret.

“I don’t wanna be here right now.” Mya pipes up.

She grabs Jamie’s and David’s hands and drags them out of the dismal room leading them outside the church.

“That officer told me to tell ya that ‘you ever need anyone, to talk ta go to ‘im’.” She points to the opening of the church.

They can see the dark figure in the door way, they all wave, he nods in confirmation and walks back inside. David pockets the card so they don't dwell on what it means. They all stare at him holding their breath to see who will make the next move.

It's Austria’s stomach.

They all let out a relived laugh and walk into town, to their favourite café. Though abnormally, they didn't talk.

The whole atmosphere was gloomy. As if a dark vale covered the seaside town, suffocating happiness and filling all empty spaces with controversy and rumors.

"We couldn't have stopped her." Austria exclaimes, trying to clear the air.

"Why don't we tell him what happened..." David struggles. " If what you said is true why are we... Scuttling .. Scared of our shadows?"

"We should own up." Mya, her voice horse.

"Nah" Jamie says as she pulls Mya down next to her on the old squishy sofa. "Tha's what they want ya to do: admit. Take the blame so they don't have to work, they like to unnerve you. We should wait... But ya know 'might not know what 'm saying, my dad being 'officer an' all."

She stretches again and stares each of them seeing if they will argue against her. They all break the eye contact.

"Excuse me I over heard your conversation and have to ask ya'll to accompany me to the station." A female officer says from behind them.

They all make eye contact, then look at Jamie. She nods and gets up, head high and follows her.