My Purple Hippopotamus

Part Seven: Alex

Alex struggles to keep control as he speeds down the narrow road, the fierce storm roaring outside, threatening to take power. The rain pours on them and the wind howls inside the car, brushing through their hair as they blow smoke out the windows. Alex turns the dial higher because his favourite song plays through the speakers, losing focus on the road ahead of him and ignoring the danger of the moment as he stares at Ella's bare knees, distracted by thoughts of her and him. He rounds the bend and increases speed, his heart pounding faster than the wheels for his head begs him to slow but his desire pushes him further, wanting to impress Ella and get her to the front of the line like he promised. Ella and Marie, sing along to the radio oblivious to the risky game Alex is playing as he presses on. They near the bridge and the tires are picked up, carrying above the puddles, Alex is thrown into shock and knows to slow but unable to, he loses control. The car spins, hitting into the bridge and breaking through the weakened rail. Their hearts stop and shock turns them silent as they fall, flying downward and with a huge thud they land moments from the water, a wooden plank holding the car in place and with blood running down his face as the stitches he got yesterday have opened, Alex tries to move to calm Ella, her screams chilling his bones but his heavy head keeps him down and like falling asleep, without notice he blacks out, falling into the past as his subconscious remains active.
The faded moon hung over the open field in the grey blue sky as early evening came above them and Iris lead Alex into her backyard. She dropped his hand and left him in wonder as he followed her smile toward the stage. Nervously she stepped up onto the oak platform and stood in front of the microphone, surrounded by three wooden walls with curtains tied open and white twinkling lights above her. She out shinned the coloured bulbs hanging behind her as her red dress and blonde waves blew in the summer breeze. Alex payed no attention to the way his blood pumped inside him and stared at her like he always had, always ignoring the joy she placed inside his heart. "What are you doing?" He laughed in awe, surprised by her all the time and ready for her to surprise him again.
"I want to share my dreams with you." Iris said with passion in her eyes.
"And what are your dreams? Iris Ogden." Alex asked her, as he walked along the green grass and around the maple tree, to get closer to Iris, interested to share her dreams with her. He stopped inches from the stage and sat under the glow of the lights.
"I want to sing." Iris said with a smile as she let her guard down, feeling safe in his presence and she held the microphone in her hand, prepared to open what she had kept hidden.
Alex smiled for her smile filled his body with the passion she felt. " I didn't know you could sing." Alex said without fear, knowing she'd amaze him.
"No one has ever heard me sing." Iris said as her voice shook and her sweaty hands struggled to keep ahold of the microphone.
"I've always wanted to be your first." Alex said humorously to calm her nerves and he looked into her eyes and fell silent to tell her he was ready. The crickets chirped in the tall grass and the wind whistled around them as her song filled the yard, Alex unable to take his eyes off her as her quiet melodious voice sang softly into his ears, taking him to another world and when she fell silent, he was left speechless, the two looking at each other, unsure how to feel as their hearts pounded in their ears. Alex stood to his feet and with only one way to express his feelings he clapped for her and he stepped onto the stage to take them beyond the moment and together they laid under the stars.
Iris looked over at Alex. "What are your dreams?" She asked him, inspired to know him better, because of the look he got inside his eyes as her dreams fell upon them.
"All I want is to fall in love and be the man my mom told me to be." He said honestly, his mind not realizing he loved her than as he took her hand but now, as his mind has caught up to his heart he whispers what he wishes he had know to say. "I love you." His words inaudible as he confuses past and present, thinking he's with Iris.
The ambulance siren echoing through the confined space, steady rhythm of tires humming against wet asphalt and sharp tone of the monitor all jumble together and ring into Alex's ears as he comes back to reality and his heart monitor sparks. His eyes shoot open and he roars back to life, choking on air and catching his breath.
"He's awake." The paramedic says with relief as they speed down the road, racing for the hospital.
Alex lifts his head looking around the unfamiliar space, trying to find Iris, his breathing unsteady and his heart rapid.
The paramedic rests him down and blocks his movement with his arm in attempt to keep him calm.
Alex is thrown into panic as he realizes Iris isn't with him and he can't comprehend where he is and where she went. He slams his head up and down, against the board he's strapped to, unable to focus his mind on anything except to escape but as a stinging pain runs through his veins, he falls still. He grabs ahold of the paramedics sleeve and looking into his eyes, he mumbles. "Where is she?" Falling unconscious before receiving an answer.
Alex shot his eyes open as Ella held her ice cold hands against his face, jolting him conscious. He looked into her scared eyes, confused as he thought the crash was in his head and thrown into shock, realizing it wasn't. His gaze fell from Ella's eyes and he looked around the car. The silence fell upon him as he took notice of the dark radio, memory of the impact flashed in his mind as his sight locked on the cracked windshield, his hand traced the open cut on his forehead, reminded of it as his gaze passed by the steering wheel and looking down at his seatbelt he realized he needed to get out of the car. He tired to unlock himself  but it kept him down, unable to escape and leaving his mind troubled and heart fluttering. "I'm stuck." He said alarmed and terrified.
Ella pushed down on the button that should have released Alex from his seatbelt and when it wouldn't unlatch she pulled the strap with all the strength her weakened body had, in attempt to break him free but failing him and lacking energy she sat down again on her seat. "I can't get you out." She said disappointed.
Alex nodded his head, trying to comprehend he was stuck and there wasn't anything they could do. He leaned back against the seat and tried to collect his wild thoughts, when the smoke that lingered in the air from their cigarette found his nose and he was reminded of the windows they had open. He jerked forward with excitement and turned to face Ella. "The window, can you get out?" He asked despite the little shot of them escaping out the small gap and knowing they couldn't open them further with the car shut off but thinking she could somehow push the window open more.
Ella struggled to force the window down and she moved on her knees for it wouldn't budge, in attempt to use her body weight to help her but when it proved to have defeated her she relaxed again. "It won't move." She said out of breath.
Anxiety grew inside Alex as his breathing became unmanageable and he throw himself forward trying to get out from his seatbelt's hold. "I want to go home." He yelled in fear as a need for comfort struck him.
Ella took hold of  Alex's hand and squeezed tight to help him find his composure. "We're going to be okay, someone is coming to save us." She said hopeful.
Ella's touch ran up Alex's arm allowing his body to calm as he stared at her dark painted fingernails, realizing he was alive and safe and reminded of Iris. He controlled his breathing and relaxed back against the seat, taking his phone from his pocket as he thought of phoning her, knowing she'd save him but glaring at the blank screen, his heart let down as hope left him and he fell numb. "Check your phones." He asked Ella and Marie, dulled by despair.
"It's dead." Ella said discouraged.
Alex looks behind him as the car falls silent but when his fear for Marie is mirrored back to him by the fear in the young girl's eyes, staring sideways at one another, he loses his breath and his head aches as he can't comprehend where he is. He looks away from her and up at the roof as his slowing heartbeat drags him closer to death and she leaves him in peace. The ceiling lights shine in and out of his eyes as they speed down the hall and with each passing room Alex loses blood, finding himself weak as he can hardly hold his eyes open. They push through the double doors, gaining speed as they run down the straight hallway and nearing the operating room but Alex fading fast, isn't able to stay awake as his body shuts down and his mind takes him away from the painful moment.
Dirt and pebbles were picked up in the wind from the train that sped passed and blew over Alex and Connor and covered them in dust as they laid beside tracks. They watched stars twinkling in the night sky as the moonlight reflected into their eyes and children's voices grew louder across the pond behind them in the field. Alex smiled as thought of Ella took his mind and he looked at Connor, needing to talk before she drove him crazy. "She caught me off guard but I can't get her off my mind." He said adoringly.
Connor choked back his emotion, fighting to stay in the rapture he found within the quiet evening and he closed his eyes, his broken heart beating louder than his thoughts for he never excepted to let her go and definitely hadn't imagined his friend falling for her. "Let her off your mind for tonight." He asked calmly.
Alex nodded his head, understanding Connor's hurt and together they rested quietly allowing for the pills to take their minds.
The children reached the tracks and their laughter replaced the boys silence and looked at one another with grins across their faces. "Do you think we'll get in trouble?" Ruby asked with worry in her voice.
Dale took her shacking hand and together they bent to their knees. "We'll be back before she realizes we're gone." He said confidently as he placed a coin on the rail.
Connor's mind left his heart sad as he grew overwhelmed and having been away from home for weeks, sudden home sickness overcame him. He used the children as a good excuse to leave and stood to his feet. "Let's go." He stated and helped Alex up.
Alex followed Connor away from the tracks but his mind pulled him to the ice cold water and the way it made his bones ache as they froze inside him and he was reminded of how kids make mindless mistakes at fault of their innocents, so he turned back and looked at the children. "Be careful out here." He said and he turned from them without another thought and as his mind draws a blank of where his thoughts took him, he is taken from his memory.
Marie's warm breath appeared in the cold air inside the car as her chest moved to the rhythm of her rapid breathing and her blood shot eyes opened, replacing Alex and Ella's fear as relief took over and they smiled back at her, the dreadful silence clearing. She quickly found her calm for her mind held onto the crash and the three relaxed as the reality of their situation was apparent and they had only one option, to wait for help. Alex allowed his mind to find peace and he glared over at Ella, his head telling him to take a chance and without thought as adrenaline ran through his veins, he reached for her arm. "Come here." He said boldly.
Taken by surprise, Ella stared back at him, stunned. "Okay." She said as his touch warmed her cold skin and her nerves jolted her to react as his words pumped her blood and she moved closer to him.
Alex looked into her anxious eyes. "I like you." He said and without waiting for her response he leaned in to kiss her. Her mouth opened into his but missing a connection, they dropped their lips from one another and each looked away. Alex stared outside at the storm as his thoughts confused him but watching the rain fall, he thought of how he'd wait for Iris out in the rain when he couldn't sleep because he needed to be by her side and his mind became clear, realizing he's always loved her. "I have to tell Iris that I love her." He said as he turned to Ella and Marie begging them to help him against his knowledge that they couldn't.
They looked back at him, speechless with sympathy for him in their eyes and Ella rested her hand on his shoulder, with hope in hers. "You'll tell her." She said as stillness consumed the car and death beat in their hearts and Ella fell sad as she thought of Connor and how she shouldn't have pushed him away. She stared out the window and her tears fell as hard as the rain and she was dragged into the past.
The white clouds moved quickly across the blue sky and the sun; losing its heat, shinned down on Ella and Connor as they stood apart from one another, stopped on the sidewalk. The air around them was hard to breath in and Connor felt stuck somewhere he didn't want to be. He looked up from staring down at the cracks in the concrete and glared into Ella's tear filled eyes. His heart broke and he couldn't keep up with her words. He dropped his bag to the ground, took her shirt and drag her into him.
Ella pushed out of him but as his strong arms pulled her back she dropped her body into his as she didn't have the strength to stand any longer and she felt warm in his chest.
Connor rubbed her back, knowing it was over between them but still in love with her, he wanted to be close to her one more time. "I'm sorry Ella." He whispered.
Ella closed her eyes in his arms as her body fell comfortable and as that day leaves her mind, she awakens to reality, praying for his warmth again. She is still and thoughtless, drained from all her energy as she begs her weak heart to let go because she can hardly hold her exhausted eyes open. She lays flat against the operating table, stuck in unbearable pain and aching inside her bones, dying faster than they can save her and she can't catch the tears that fall from the side of her eyes as they open her shirt and cover her with blue sheets, racing against the clock. The surgeon stands above her and he looks into her fading eyes, ready to put her under but scared to die while she's asleep, Ella blocks the mask from covering her mouth and she holds his hand tightly in hers, giving herself comfort as her heart slows and her lungs quit. "I'm sorry." She says, her words barely escaping her mouth.
"Hold on. Let." He says softly as Ella's hand drops out of his and she fades into the light before all of his words are let out.
Alex lifted his head as he fought to keep himself awake against his uneven heartbeat and his lungs; refusing to breath in enough air. He reached backward and held Marie's hand as her dry cough sounded in the car. "This can't be it." He said, breathless.
Ella rested her hand on top of Alex's hand; holding Marie's. "Someone will come." She stated encouraging them to hold on.
Marie's pale eyelids covered her red eyes as her blood ran slow inside her, slowing her heart. She fell against the seat and let go of their hands. "When I woke this morning. I wish I knew I'd die." She said, her heavy breaths louder than her words.
Ella moved from her seat and sat in the back, beside Marie. She wrapped her arms around her with hope she could warm her ice cold skin and wake her heart. "You're not dying." Ella cried as she prayed in her mind.
Marie thought of her dad and remembered how safe she felt when he held her in his arms, her head in his shoulder with her face pressed against his cheek and her chest in his. She thought of her mom and how her love spread through her body, when her lips lightly kissed hers and she begged to see them once more, only able to think of her favourite picture of them, her mom's blue eyes looking beyond Marie at the ocean in front of them, crouched down and holding her dress against her knees as Marie stood beside her, holding her dad's hand. "I would have told my mom and dad that I love them and I would have hugged him like he asked and I would have let her kiss me like she tried." She stated with regret as her mind went quiet.
Alex held Marie's knee tight so she could feel his touch and her brain would know she was still alive. "I know you're tired, I'm tired too but you have to hold on." Alex said, terrified by the loss of light inside her eyes.
"I can't." She said as her last breath escaped her.
Ella buried her cries in Marie's shoulder as her heart bled in pain .
Alex caught his head in his hands as he covered his face. Shock stunned him to tears and he fell short of breath as his heart fluttered inside his chest. He felt trapped in his seatbelt and his lungs begged him for air as he shook in his seat, full of rage for he couldn't save her. "Please." He begged to escape his seatbelt for he wanted to fight and bring Marie back to life but as their cries screamed loud inside the car, the plank snapped under the pressure and rapidly the car fell, landing in the river. Alex and Ella turned silent and stared at one another, stunned with fear as water poured into the car and he tugged harder at his seatbelt, horrified to drown as the car filled quickly. "I don't want to die." He screamed.
Ella stood to keep her head above the raising water, panicked as the level grew. "Alex I'm scared." She yelled.
The water flood the car faster than Alex and Ella could comprehend. They were helpless, unable to do anything except watch in terror. Alex calmed, understanding he wasn't going to survive  and he let go of his seatbelt, stopping his fight as he gave up. "I'm sorry I did this to us." Alex said as he took Ella's hand.
Ella made her way through the water, taking herself to the front of the car and as she reached Alex she wrapped her arms around him, needing to feel him close to her, for her comfort and his. "You didn't." She said kindly.
Alex closed his eyes too afraid to watch the water consume the space they needed and he fell into Ella's body, focusing on her rapid heartbeat as she allowed him to feel alright with their near death for at least they didn't have to do it alone. "We won't be able to breath in a minute." He stated trying to prepare them both.
Ella nodded her head in shock as fear ran through her blood. "I know." She said nervously as she didn't want to think about what would come.
Alex's mind turned silent as his body began to float and he fell numb as the water level reached his neck. "I'm scared." He said honestly.
"I'm scared too." Ella said as his words chilled her bones and she raised her mouth above the water, her heart pounding in her chest as she hung in breathtaking fear. "Alex?" She questioned for the silence was unbearable.
"Yeah." He answered as his heart beat out of his chest and his mind begged for the moment to slow as he choked on water, spilling into his open mouth.
"Tell me we would have been happy together, even if it's a lie." She asked, desperate to distract herself from the panic overpowering her mind.
Alex pulled Ella into him. "I love you Ella." He whispered, lying to her for he couldn't save her but he could give her peace.
Ella smiled, knowing the three words weren't true but as her mind fell still and her body filled with joy she pretended they were. They fell underneath the raging water and as their cold and tired bodies couldn't fight any longer and they lost air, they fell unconscious.
#
Alex, Ella and Marie push through the white light and step into the waiting room. Alex drops his hand from Ella's and turns to face his parents and his sisters. His heart aches as he looks into their broken eyes, lost without him and stuck frozen, unable to go home to an empty bedroom. Ella drops her hand from Marie's and turns to face her dad. She sits next to him wishing she didn't have to leave him lonely and devastated she can't hold him to make everything better as he buries his face in his hands. Marie stares into her mom's tear filled eyes looking beyond Marie, crouched down and holding her dress against her knees as Marie stands beside her and Marie holds her dad's hand, feeling safe in his touch again. Her desire to go home with them is strong as they refuse to leave without her and she's wrecked for she knows she can't.
Eloise stands in between everyone, sharing their heavy hearts as she gets closer to understanding death and feeling the misery all around. When she found out about their tragedy she knew she wanted to help them and taking a moment she holds the only way she thought possible, feeling closer to their children than them and realizing that's why she can. "I'm sorry about your children." She says gently.
They each lift their heads to acknowledge her and each on their own, let her know they're grateful for her condolences.
Eloise smiles softly as she prepares what she has rehearsed quietly to herself. "I want to help bring closure to you if you'll let me." She asks.
They find comfort in Eloise and her sweet aura and each nod their heads willing to accept her help as she draws them closer to their children.
Eloise nods her head, happy they've allowed her to give them what she can. She takes breath to relax her nerves and steadies herself. "I'm dying so when I get to heaven I can tell them what you want to say." She states boldly despite her trembling hands.
Alex's younger sister; Cora, reacting quickly, stands to her feet for she believes Eloise's words with all her heart as she can feel Alex with her. He takes Cora's hand as she walks to Eloise and together they stand with her. "Remember when I told you I hated you?" She asks.
"I remember." Alex replies.
"I didn't mean it, I'll always love you Alex." Cora says as she hugs Eloise, finding peace for the moment and she leaves Eloise's arms.
Alex holds her in his and he knows he'll always be in her heart.
Nervously Alex's older sister; Aria follows Cora's footsteps and takes herself to Eloise, feeling awkward but wanting to say goodbye, despite her disbelief he'll hear. "You left us too soon and I'm not ready to live without you." She says as she wipes her tears and unable to handle the reality of his death she follows her instinct out of the waiting room.
Alex takes her hand and helps her leave. "I'm sorry Aria." He tells her.
Alex's mom; Hannah doesn't move for she's too weak to stand as she can't bare the pain of losing him but liking the idea of getting to say goodbye and trying to believe it true she looks at Eloise. "I love you Alex and I miss you so much." She says, her voice breaking and unable to finish she drops to her knees in tears.
Alex's dad; Brandon catches Hannah in his arms and as she falls into his chest, he rests his chin on her head and looks at Eloise, needing the closure from losing his only son. "We never got to finish the corvette, promise me you'll go for a ride in heaven. I love you Alex, you're my best friend." He says and as he looks away he drops his face into Hannah's shoulders.
"I promise." Alex says as he wraps his arms around his mom and dad. "Goodbye." He whispers as he leaves a kiss on each of their cheeks and as he turns away from them as his time has come he is overcome with joy for loving them and great sadness for leaving them. "I love you both so much." Alex says as his body disappears and his mind is taken away to a better place.
Hannah pushes out of Brandon's arms as her hurt overpowers her and she stands to her feet needing to escape.
Brandon grabbing her hand, follows her out of the waiting room and into the stairwell.
Ella's dad; Thomas, looks at Eloise to take his turn and he smiles as tears fall from his eyes for he can feel Ella standing next to him. "You'll always be the best part of me and it feels impossible to move on without you but baby please don't worry about me because I want you to find peace. Ella I love you." Thomas says as he drops his head.
Ella's heart begs her to stay as her body disappears. "I love you too." She cries as her mind drags her away and takes her to a better place.
Marie's mom; Deborah, looks up at her husband; Jeffery with tears covering her face and hands. "I can't." She cries.
Jeffery bends down and takes Deborah in his arms and as he looks up at Eloise.
Marie let's go of his hand, her heart ruined to leave them. "Goodbye." She whispers as she wipes away her tears, knowing she'll miss them dearly.
"Just tell her we love her so much and we'll miss her everyday." Jeffery asks as his cries break his words.
Marie takes one last look as she disappears and her mind takes her to a better place.
Iris steps beside Eloise and she looks down at her as the feeling inside her chest reaches her throat and she cries in pain, confused because Alex is gone and her heart beating faster than her tears. "Can I tell Alex something?" She asks as her voice trembles, needing to believe that Eloise will meet him in heaven.
Eloise nods her head yes as Iris clears her throat. "Tell him to come for me because I'd rather be dead with him than alive and alone." Iris says heart broken.
Eloise nods her head kindly. "I'll tell him." She says honestly, holding onto all of their words as she prays everyone's prayers that heaven is real and quietly she leaves the waiting room.
Hannah turns her back on Brandon as she holds her tears inside because she can see that he's hurting and although he has the strength to hold her up while he fights to breath, she won't lean on him until he's ready. "The only thing we can do now, is go home." She says, staying strong and stepping out the doors, she leaves Brandon alone.
Brandon drops to his knees for his tears drag him down and he slams his knuckles against the floor over and over as his emotions draw from him. His thoughts power his tears and his cries grow louder, carrying through the stairwell as he can't breath, unable to imagine moving forward without Alex and as his heart refuses to understand his loss and a man stands above him, he drops his head to compose himself.
"What's the matter?" Jason asks, his voice echoing into Brandon's ears.
Brandon looks up to him with sorrow and disbelief in his eyes. "I can't lose my boy." He replies, unable to let Alex go but as the love in Jason's eyes falls into Brandon, he catches his breath and stands to his feet as he realizes although he can't find the courage to admit Alex is gone, his love for him can give him the power to stay brave and with his head held high, he walks back into the waiting room, joining Hannah and his daughters as Lillian stands with them.
Lillian bows her head in sorrow. "I'm sorry for you're loss." She says in sadness and as Hannah falls into Lillian's arms, her words soak into Brandon's heart, giving him the strength to acknowledge the truth.

The end.