Tonight I get to see her: Ryland, the love of my life. I am truly blessed to have her. So beautiful, so caring, so supportive. She was all mine and I get to hold her again for the first time in six months.
I walk down the terminal holding my carry-on as Connor and Toby follow behind. I see her with my parents and hers. A big sign that says “Welcome Home, Before You Exit!” I see flashes of light and hear girls screaming our names. Hundreds of girls were flooding the area, but keeping their distance, yet only one girl was all I could think about: Ryland. I run to her and hear the crowd’s screaming die down as a crescendo of awes and cheering fill the open room. I reach her and hug her as I carry her and twirl her around in my arms. “I’ve missed you, Riley,” she whispers in my ear. “I love you so much. You have no idea,” I say back. I break our hug to turn to her parents and greet them, “Nice seeing you again, Mr. and Mrs. McAllister.” Then I bear hug my parents.
The eight of us walk to into the parking garage after picking up our luggage. I drag my luggage in one hand, while holding onto Ryland in the other. I feel my cheeks go numb from all the smiling. I can’t believe I’m finally home. We continue walking, but I feel Ryland somehow get heavier. I turn back and see that she stopped walking a few feet behind me grasping the side of her head with her other hand. Her face screams pain. I feel like the world slows down ten-fold as I see her collapse and I try to catch her. I catch Ryland’s head before it hits the concrete. I see Connor turn back and scream Ryland’s name. The echoing of our mothers fills the garage. I see my dad grab his cell phone to call 911 and Ryland’s dad comes to take over holding Ryland. I see Ryland turn to me and says, “Riley, I don’t want to die.”
I grab her hand to reassure her, but then her body starts convulsing. My world stops.
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When She Was Mine
FanfictionRyland is about to start her freshman year of college. The summer leading up to her first semester was the worst thing she ever experienced. She had her first major panic attack since she was 12. Diagnosed as clinically depressed at the age of 13, R...
