In This Life (Sequel to 'In Another Life')

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 I was shocked and unable to register what was happening for a moment, but then it made sense. Thye were cops, and EMT's. One of the EMTs rushed to my side, and started examining Amber. I felt hope rising in my chest, hoping beyond hope that he could fix this. Everything was on this man that I didn't know, and his ability to help her. He pulled her out of my arms, and onto the bed, his partner close behind. "Ma'am, we need you to back up and give us some room to work with her," one of them said to me. I just stared at him blankly, noticing how pretty his blue eyes were. Then someone was pulling me up and back against the wall, their arms around me. I couldn't comprehend what was happening.  I watched as they started performing CPR on her. A cop came around and started asking me questions, but I only heard her voice from far away. I was trapped in this world with only Amber's lifeless body, and the two EMT's who were trying to bring her back. "Can't you ask those questions later?" A deep voice asked the cop. "Sir, I'm sorry, but we need to know what happened," she replied. "Then go ask Denise. The woman standing over there. Go ask her. Can't you tell that Terra isn't in any position to answer questions right now? She just found her friend dead. Have a little sympathy." I stared at the cop, wondering who she was talking too. Who's voice was that? I realized that there were arms around my waist, and that they had me pulled against them. I turned a little to see who it was, and saw a familiar set of green eyes. "J," I breathed, before I threw my arms around him and buried my face in his chest. His arms came back around me, giving me comfort. My breath came in short gasps, making my chest hurt worse. I couldn't breathe again. This wasn't right. Amber didn't deserve this. No one could make me think that she did. She had a good heart, deep down. When she opened up to me, and told me about her life, I knew she did. I sobbed harder into Justin's chest, when I thought back to when she told me that I was her best friend. "No one has ever been here for me like you have T. You're my best friend. I love you." Her words echoed in my head, making my heart heavier. Life had thrown every bad thing that it could at Amber. Her home life where she was abused every single day, to being abused by the guys that she thought cared about her. After that, she sought love, but used sex as a way to get it. When she realized that it didn't work that way, she used sex as a weapon or a way to get what she wanted. People automatically assumed the worst of Amber because of the reputation she had accumulated back home in our little small town. It could've easily been me. Hell, it almost was me. If I hadn't found Sam and Colby when I did, and gained the most amazing friends, it would've been me. Drugs and alcohol were the escape for both of us, letting us fall into this fake reality that took us away from our problems. I remembered when she and I would sit up all night just talking about our dreams, and what we wanted to do with our lives. How we made a vow to get out of this situation one day, and make it. We were going to make it out. She wanted to go to college and get her degree in interior design. "You'll see T. We're gonna get out of here. You're going to become a famous photographer, the best one in LA, and I'm going to be a renowned Interior Designer. We'll live together, and accomplish our dreams together. It's gonna be great." I sobbed harder, letting the memories overtake me. I couldn't handle this. It was too much. "Shh, it's okay T. It's gonna be okay," Justin said softly, rubbing my back. "How can you say that?" I wailed, leaning back so that I could look in his eyes. They were filled with sadness and sympathy. I didn't need sympathy. This wasn't about me. It was about Amber and how everyone had turned their back on her, including me. "Nothing is okay. Do you not understand what is happening here? SHE KILLED HERSELF JUSTIN! SHE'S DEAD AND SHE'S NEVER COMING BACK!" I screamed at him, my voice cracking, tears streaming down my face. "T, come on. Let's go home. Justin, do you mind following us back to the house?" Denise came over and took my hand. "Yeah, sure," he sighed, still looking at me with those damn pitying green eyes. "Stop looking at me like that," I grumbled, turning away from him. I had to get out of here. I needed to get away. This was just too much. I pulled my hand from Denise's and and walked out of the room, past the EMTs, past the cops, past Amber's lifeless body, and past the Coroner. When did he get here? I guess that was it then. He was going to pronounce her dead, indicating the end of her young life. Then they would throw her in a body bag, like she was yesterday's trash and send her to the morgue. Her family wasn't here. Her grandma was the only family had that gave a damn about her, but she was back in Georgia, completely clueless that she had lost her only grandchild. JJ, as fucked up as he was, he did care about her. He was still locked up in Georgia. She had no one. No one but me, and I had failed her. I raced down the stairs, hearing Denise and Justin calling my name, but I kept going, not caring if my legs gave out and I fell down these stairs. Maybe that's what I deserved. Just end it all. After what I did, it wouldn't surprise me.