BESIDE YOU

Chapter 11

HAYDON

"Really? My sister is dead. Now solve that"

I feel as if I was just slapped. I watch her as she gets up and starts to walk away.

I want to kick myself for being so dumb. How did I always manage to tell the wrong things?

How was I supposed to know?

Well, she wouldn't be taking those pills if she didn't need them so bad.

I glance at her form walking away and I see her shoes. There is a faded G drawn on it with a marker. And suddenly everything falls into place.

I knew those shoes too well.

I realise why she looked familiar. I knew her. Well not her, but her sister.

She was the dead girl's sister.

I dash out of the room to find her. I have something important to tell her.

She is standing near the shoe rack, trying to put on her shoes.

I touch her shoulder. Barely a second later a tight slap lands on my cheek.

My hand flies to my cheek in response.

"Owww! What was that for? ", I say in shock.

My cheek is stinging. I can't believe that she slapped me.

" Oh my god! I'm sorry. It was just a reflex", she sounds guilty

"I just touched your arm for God's sake"

I feel a little pissed and I don't get why she slapped me. It is not like I tried to touch her inappropriately.

" I already apologized", she gets defensive

"Yeah sure", I say starting to get annoyed.

She slapped me for no reason and now she's snapping at me. Such a great girl!

"Why did you come here? "

I come back to my senses and remember why I ran behind her.

"Oh yeah. I know your sister"

I see her eyes widen. She did not see that coming.

"As in you go to the same school?", she asks after a moment.

"Yes and we were friends"

"I never saw you at the funeral", her voice is blunt.

I can't help but flinch at her words. I remember wearing all black and going to the church. I remember sitting on one of the last benches and seeing tears stream down her parent's faces.

But once everyone started recalling things about her, I couldn't stand it. It was just too much. All these memories flashed before my eyes and then suddenly they were all gone, just like her.

I remember slipping out of the church and driving to nowhere. It had all seemed like a bad dream then. I remember getting choked up and not being able to cry it off. I haven't shed a single tear to date.

But how could I tell the girl in front of me all this? How could I tell her that I never bid her sister goodbye?

How could I tell her that I walked out on her sister the very last time?

So I lie. Well not exactly lie. I just omit the truth.

" I never came. It was just too much.. ", I say.