I ran, ran so fast that none of the doctors could catch me. I dodged between the people and the objects, jumped on each two steps of the stairs and burst inside the room 301, not daring to know what the staff will do when they'll find me.
"Ethan ? Why are you here ?" A weak voice asked and it was with a lot of difficulty that I looked at the hospital bed.
Pumping machines, white sheets and inside a woman. Via. So pale and thin. She wasn't anymore the one I knew. When before she was strong Via, now she was weak Via. And her eyes.... so lifeless and tired.
" I didn't want you to see me like this..." She said with a hint of sadness in the voice.
" I'm sorry..." I told her, not daring to look at her in the eyes. "I'm sorry for all I've done, I'm sorry for not thanking you sooner..."
" 'What I've done' ? What do you mean Ethan, you did nothing except making me live longer. I was happy to be with you." She stated and, when I lifted my head, I could see this marvellous smile of hers, this kind of smile that brightens your day. I wish I could have the same power as her... to make everyone happy again just by smiling. Like this Via wouldn't be in a hospital bed.
" But I've never saw that you were sick..." I muttered.
" Neither has anyone at the school Ethan. And you know what ? I was truly happy to be with you, to help you." She said genuinely and the want to cry came even harder. How could anyone be as kind as my Via ? " And I truly hope that you will stay this strong boy I've saw growing over the years. I'm sure that now, you can hold heads against your past bullies."
" What do you mean Via ?" Why does all this sounded like a good bye ? Why had she taken my hands in hers when she hated to be touched ? Why do my lips were quivering and my voice shaking ? Why was I being so weak in front of her ?
"You aren't allowed to be there Ethan, you know that. " She answered silently. " And I wish you never saw me in such a state." She giggled as he thump started stroking the back of my hand. " I truly wished to have stayed with you but something, life doesn't allow us to be happy. Ethan, this will be the last time you will see me in a hospital." She finished her small speak firmly and I knew that I could trust her. Via was my best friend, best friends didn't lied.
" You mean outside the hospital, right ?" Why did I sounded so much like a little kid wanting something so badly ? Have I never grown mentally over the years ? Have I truly always stayed this little child afraid to be caught ? Maybe...
Instead of answering, Via smiled faintly at me and for once, I wasn't able to read on her face usually so easy to read through. All I could perceive was her sadness.
As I was about to ask her what was wrong, the door opened and a doctor took me by the arm, forcing me to back away from the hospital bed. I tried, I tried very hard to snatch off his grip to kiss farewell to my Via, but the doctor was stronger. I wasn't able to fight against someone like that.
So, when he tried to throw me out of the room, I yelled to Via, tears flooding off my eyes, blurring my vision : "Promise you will never leave !"
Via never answered. She just looked at me and said coldly to the doctor : "Take him away."
Years later, I understood why she never respond. She didn't want me to have as a last image of her a whipping girl. She only wanted to be seen as the strong girl she had always been. Via was strong indeed. She fought against her illness during the years, she accepted my friendship even if she knew it would pain us both side, she never gave up. Via could be the true definition of a hero. Someone that never say stop or ask for help. Someone that could find the solution by herself just by using her brain a little. A hero didn't have to wear a cape and costume. They could also protect by pretending to be everyone else.
And my Via would stay forever in my mind as a hero. My hero.
When I came back home that day, my parents screaming at me after coming to fetch me at the hospital, I hadn't said a word. I was too crushed by what happened. So for the following week, I was a whipping mess, refusing to eat food by it's on and never sleeping because too afraid to see your past haunt you.
For the ones who didn't experiment that... it was very difficult to understand my point of view. The loss of your best friend, the One you saw as your sister. How horrible was it ?
The others at school laughed at me, saying openly how weak and stupid I was. Roger would against purchase me and try to dump my head in the toilets but it didn't happen. It didn't happened because I wasn't afraid anymore. I stood for myself, I refused to run again. Because now, three years later, I've learnt from my errors. If before I thought I hadn't grown mentally, I knew I was wrong. With Via, I had the time to see where the bad and the good layed. I've learnt many new things from her, things that teachers wouldn't teach to their students.
And even if she was gone now, even if something I would cry from the pain in my heart, Via would forever stay the strong girl she has always been. The one that showed me the right way or the one that would stop me doing a false move.
She wasn't only a strong girl, she was my hero.