(Performed songs: Fire and Rain by James Taylor, The Alphabet Song by everyone in the world Mentioned songs: Afterlife by Hailee Steinfeld, Don't Stop Believin' by Journey, Through the Fire and the Flames by Dragonforce, Everything's Alright by Laura Shigihara)
Falcon was listening to the loop she made, closing her eyes as she made mental notes of where she would improve the song.
"Hey!" She saw Valerie hurrying towards her, a smile on her face. She let the younger one tackle her in a gentle hug.
"Oomph! Yeah, it's me." Falcon patted Valerie on the head. "Why?"
"I just wanted to hang out."
"How did you find me?" Falcon asked suspiciously.
"I live nearby."
"Makes sense."
They were walking in relative silence, Falcon walking to the support room. In the hospital.
"How was your Christmas?" Valerie asked softly.
"Uhm..." Falcon thought of the ensuing meltdown that happened after she woke up, the way everybody rushed out of the house, and the bottles of alcohol... "Good."
Valerie gave her a look. "The truth."
Falcon relented. "After the Christmas party I got blackout drunk."
"Falcon," Valerie admonished. "You can't do that. Did anyone catch you?"
"I slept it off, no one really likes looking in my room anyways," Falcon shrugged.
Valerie's face softened. "Why?"
"Uhm... Emily."
There was a quiet for a few seconds.
"I'm so sorry."
"No, no, it's okay. I just... I see her everywhere. I think I'm insane, but..." Falcon sighed, hand fiddling with the collar of her shirt, discreetly shifting the locket out of sight. "I don't know. If it's a hallucination or a dream, I don't want it to end."
"And if it's real life?" Valerie asked.
Falcon stared at Valerie for a long moment. "Do you think you can spare some time today to record some backup vocals with me?"
"What? For what?" Valerie was confused. Falcon knew it was unhealthy, but she had to try...
"I'm recording something. For her. I just want..." Falcon paused, hand coming up to the rose pinned on her jacket. "I came from the graveyard. I saw her. I just... I miss her. So badly."
Falcon's tears were not surprising to Falcon herself. "I miss her."
"Oh... Falcon... I just..." Valerie wrapped Falcon in a hug as Falcon sobbed, gripping on tightly to Valerie in a vain attempt to ground herself. "Hey... it's okay."
"I want her back."
A pathetic request, really. But she could not help it.
-
Violet was surprised that out of everyone, she was the earliest. Elly was there, in a wheelchair as she wheeled herself to Violet and settled down beside her.
"You okay?" Violet asked.
"Which part of me are you asking?" Elly asked wryly. "Because all of me is not okay."
Violet turned back to the front, avoiding eye contact with Elly. The whole support group knew she was dying. It was an inevitability.
YOU ARE READING
Memory Lane
Teen Fiction"The truth hurts, memories definitely hurt but we all still try to hold onto them. Maybe one day it'll be okay. It's not okay now, but we will get through this. We will get through all of this, like we've done before." Meet the strange cast of a wac...
