Teacher | Ashton Irwin

Twenty Three

WARNING
Not going to spoil it but just thought I would warn you.

I was sat on the bench as the football match kicked off. Ashton was standing up, yelling orders to the team. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. It was a text from Jack.

'Hey!
sorry but I won't be there today, I'm not in a good mood and I don't feel like going. Don't worry about me though. I love you:)x'

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I quickly replied.

'Why did you say that you love me?'

He quickly replied.

'I just want that to be the last thing I ever say to you. I'm so sorry. I gave up. It's for the best. Goodbye :)'

I quickly stood up. Something inside of me was screaming at me to run to him, so I did just that.

I stuffed my phone in my pocket and sprinted off the pitch, ignoring people calling my name. I sprinted down the pavement, not caring about the strange looks I was receiving from pedestrians. I let it all go and burst out in tears for I knew what was happening.

I sprinted down my street and into Jack's driveway, his parents weren't in as the car wasn't there. All the lights in the house were off except his. I screamed, "Jack." I slammed my hands on the door repeatedly.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. He was calling me. I held the phone to my ear and cried, "Open the door now."

"It's too late," his voice cracked, signalling that he was crying, "You can't stop me."

"You're so much better than this," I shrieked, "Open the door."

He let out a shaky breath down the line, "Goodbye Rachel. I love you."

He hung up. I screamed and lost it. I swung the door open. I sprinted in the house screaming, "Jack."

I ran upstairs and looked in all the rooms. He was nowhere. I sprinted downstairs and checked every room. He wasn't here. There was only one room I hadn't checked, the garage.

I looked at the garage door and a shiver was sent down my spine. I slowly approached it whispering, "Jack," in a shaky voice. I placed my hand on the door handle and slowly turned it, opening the door.

I was faced with a sight that made me fall to my knees as I screamed. There was a stool on its side on the floor. Above the stool, I found Jack; a rope around his neck as his lifeless body hung from the ceiling.

I scurried over and tried my best to hold his body up, just incase there was the slightest bit of life left in him. I wailed, "Jack please? Don't leave me." But he was gone.

I let go of him and stood at the door frame. I pulled out my phone and called the ambulance.

Five minutes later, I heard a man's voice shouting, "Hello?"

"In the garage," I squeaked. I stood there, staring hopelessly at possibly my best friend as he hung from the ceiling. I wish he would move. I wish he would breathe or show the slightest sign of life.

I saw paramedics run in, three of them. One held his body up, another checked his pulse whilst the other man held my shoulders as he talked to me. I couldn't hear him. I just looked at Jack as I screamed, tears streaming down my face.

The paramedic who checked his pulse shook his head. I snapped myself out of my daze. I cried, "What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry but he's dead," he paramedic who was holding me told me.

I broke down completely. I fell the the floor. I curled up in a ball and screamed. The paramedic took me in his arms and cradled me. He whispered in my ear, "John and Paul will sort the young man's relatives out. Meanwhile, is there anyone I can call for you?"

I shook my head and sobbed, "I don't have his number. Jack was one of the only people left that I had. Now he's gone."