Not Your Regular

Chapter Seven

Steve's POV

Bryan came into the hospital with Linda. I was wondering why they came together, then I remembered that he had gone to see her about his date. Wait yes, his date. Looking him worriedly, I hoped that he didn't cancel that date because of me.
Geez, the thought I would be the one to ruin my friend's one in a million chance didn't sound very appealing to me.

As they drew closer, we just communicated with our eyes. No one speaking any words. After a while I couldn't take it any longer, so I asked.

"Bryan, what of your date? Don't tell me you left the chance you've been waiting for your whole life to be here",
The question sounded more like an attack than a worry. I had to be sure he didn't cancel his plans. That would hurt me.

"I had to be here first", Bryan said and that explained he didn't tamper with it.

"You can't be here. Go for your date", I said, but in myself I wasn't sure how I would survive alone, but still, I didn't want to be the reason he would lose something he'd been waiting for his whole life.

"You sure?", he said. It was just like Bryan to always want to be extra sure.

"Yes Bryan", I tried to reassure him that I was okay even when I knew I was far from it.

"Permit me to leave Linda with you, that way I'll be more assured that you're fine", Bryan said.

As much as I didn't want to disturb Linda, I dared not refuse Bryan.

"Okay, no problem. If that's what you want"

He hugged me and whispered in my ear, "I love you, man. Stay strong. I'll see you tomorrow."
I nodded in reply. After patting my back, he left.

"I'm sorry about your loss", I heard Linda's gentle voice say beside me, bringing me back to the reality of the moment.

This girl's voice had something special about it, it had a way of easily warming a person's heart. Although the words she said were so hurtful to the ears, her voice negated the pain by warming my heart.
I smiled and nodded to her in reply.

They moved Susan to the mortuary. Her parents left after trying to console me and they also told me they'll let me know the date for the burial.
Linda drove me to school. There was no conversation between us, except a few glances at each other. Glances to make sure the other was okay.

Jason was in the room when we got there. I hadn't told him about the incident yet. He invited Linda inside for a drink, she declined and left.

"Why did Linda bring you?", he asked obviously surprised.

"She came to pick me from the hospital"

"What hospital? Are you sick? Also, why Linda not Susan? Ain't you all about Susan?"

"Susan's dead", I said.
That was all the answer I could give him. Just saying those words withdrew oxygen from my lungs, my throat felt dry and my eyes stung.

"Susan's what? Stop playing with me man", he said fearing I was actually saying the truth.

"It was on her way to the mall, she got involved in an accident, she's dead", I said and paused.

I narrated the whole story to him and how the doctor said the surgery failed. Man, he was shocked.

"I'm sorry Steve, I'm sorry", he kept saying as he drew closer and gave me a hug.

I didn't push him away. It felt like I needed the hug at that moment. Susan was gone, life for me will never be normal again.
By and by, I was getting down all over again.

Coffee was bitter, but then it tasted even more bitter. I started to loathe it. Up until the time of Susan's burial I didn't have what could be called a life. I couldn't attend classes. I couldn't read, I barely ate. Except the few times Bryan stuffed food down my throat. I couldn't even sleep.
All I did was reminisce, I knew I was hurting myself more, but it also felt like that was the only way I could relieve myself of the pain. I went to places we had gone together, I went to our regular spots. I kept revisiting all the places we visited together. I wanted to have a feel of her but I never did. It was all lonely and void.
I didn't understand why she had to die, and just so soon after we started finding our place together.

Her burial took place two weeks after. Bryan and his new found girlfriend Grace, Jason, Linda and I went together to the burial. Her friends and a few of her classmates came too.
Yes, it wasn't a pleasant sight. Yes, it dawned on me even more that I would never ever see her again, except in her pictures. Yes, she was gone and gone for good. I couldn't contain those realities. My eyes were already worn out from shedding too much tears, I could barely cry again. I just stared blankly like a person lost, in a state of oblivion.
Just after the burial, we took some time to greet her parents and then went to school. I couldn't even bear staying longer. That was really the end, and I had to bring myself to the reality of it whether I wanted to or not.

Linda's POV

I really felt bad for Steve. He was not himself.
I went that morning with Bryan and Grace (they finally got together) to Steve's so we could go together with him and Jason to the burial. This was two weeks after the incident. The cute guy was looking so unkempt one could barely call him cute. He was lean and his eyeballs were dim from too much crying and only God knew when was the last time he shaved. The hard life was written all over him.

We went to the place, her friends and a few other classmates of hers showed up. I don't think I ever want to attend burials again. Everyone was sad and remorse. It was all mourning, tears and weeping all over. It was not so sweet a sight.

We left the place after greeting Susan's parents. The ride back home was ultimately quiet, nobody said anything. Or maybe we all just decided to stay quiet. Not wanting to disrupt the mourning mood. Paying our last respects to the dead.

"It will be fine with time", I thought as we neared school.

We soon arrived at Steve's place. Mehn that was a long journey in gloominess. I was so glad it ended.

"Let's eat out, we're all too gloomy", I looked back to hear Steve talking behind me. Okay, I wasn't expecting that. We all were not expecting that.

"We should eat out?", Jason replied, he sure was as surprised as I was.

"Yes, let's go and eat, I'm hungry", Steve said. The atmosphere felt kind of tense.

"If that's what you want, let's go on then", Bryan cleared the air.

We all got back into the car as Bryan drove us to a nearby restaurant. The atmosphere felt better in some kind of way.
We had a nice meal, and it seemed like Steve relaxed a little. I guess he was starting to set his head straight accepting reality. I just hoped he would be fine very soon.

We had not yet ordered when Jason left, he said he had an appointment with someone. Bryan and Grace left too, just after we finished eating. I was left with Steve.

I hope this story isn't going below your expectations. I hope it's making a lot of sense and I hope it really is not your regular story.
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