The Pain of a Middle Child

XII

A few weeks past, with nothing out of the ordinary. I was in the elevator of my class and reading a book.

My phone buzzed, telling me I had a call. I fished it out of my pocket, tucking the book under my arm.

"Hello?" I answered cheerfully.

"Lyla, you have to come here, right now." May's usual joy in her voice was gone, replaced by deadly seriousness. My mouth twisted into a worried frown.

"What's wrong? Where are you?"

"Liam's apartment, come as quick as you can." with that, she ended the call.

I ran. Up the hill, past my old school, past the cafe and stores to Liam's.

When I arrived, there was a crowd looking and pointing and muttering to each other. Not bothering to find May, I looked up to see-

Liam. Liam was hanging on the rail of the apartment, his feet dangerously close to the edge.

I chocked on my own spit. By the time I recovered, May was beside me along with Heather and a few others.

People who knew me glanced my way and whispered to each other.

"What do I do? I need to help him, what do I do?" I bit the inside of my mouth.

Liam was in danger, Liam was at the edge of himself, Liam was too kind, too young, to precious to die, not yet, not ever.

"Liam!" Not knowing what I had to do, I yelled up at the figure. His head rose a little to search the faces of the gathering crowd.

Then, he found me. He shook his head sideways and let one hand go to sign to me the sign we made when our relationship was three weeks old.

Three pats on his chest with a clenched hand, then unclenching it, the palm facing the sky.

I wished that I could cry that moment, but the tears, that came so easily in front of my parents never came.

Liam still looked back at me, waiting for me to sign back at him.

I reached out to him, then slowly made a fist, bringing it to my chest.

Liam gave me a last nod, then let go of the railing, his life, everything.

I looked away at the last moment and at my stunned friends who had tears in their eyes. Heather brought me into her arms and held me close.

My world seemed to collapse and it was choking me. If I hadn't signed back, he'd still be alive.

But he would've been like a shell. Alive, but not quite so inside.

My headache was back and threatening to crush my head into pieces just like Liam's.