"That exhibit was exceptional! I don't regret coming here." Emily said as we exited.
"See, I'd told you that you'll like it," I said beaming at her.
"But I still think that going to the concert with my brother would have been more fun."
"Oh come on, We could go to their concert next time and it's not like I've dragged you here. You came voluntarily," I say, trying to defend myself.
"No, I didn't. You practically begged me on your knees and dragged me here"
I know there was no point arguing with her because she was right, and I was tired so all I said was "Okay, you win," as I l lead her towards a bench by a tree on the sidewalk. She took out her phone and started playing a game and I just sat there drowned in my thoughts.
It is a peaceful evening. I could see families heading towards their houses or diners nearby, cars rushing through the roads, and the chatter of people from the cafe across the road. I inhaled and was immediately hit by a waft of cinnamon rolls.
The sun was setting and the sky was breathtaking. It was in swirls of pink, blue, lavender, and a hint of yellow. It's amazing how God could create such magnificent scenery.
It reminds me of what my mother once had said to me 'the sky is a canvas and God is the artist. Each time there's a different painting that we can admire, which can never be the same. Every painting is unique even though it's on the same entity. Like how every person is unique even if they're from a certain culture or race.'
I sat there staring at the sky for a while until my phone beeped in my pocket indicating that I got a text. I took it out to see it was from Ethan.
Ethan:
Be there in 5
Me:
K.
"Ethan said he's gonna be here in 5" I informed Emily.
She pocketed her phone and stood up to stretch her legs.
I saw a familiar black car across the road.
"Come on Emily, we better cross the road before the lights turn red," I say, as I moved towards the road to cross.
While crossing the ring from my fingers slipped and fell towards the middle of the road.I went to pick it up quickly because it was too valuable to me and I couldn't afford to lose it. In the hurry of getting the ring, I didn't hear Emily call out my name. When I picked it up and put it in on my finger, relieved that I didn't lose it I heard a sound behind me.
"EMMA! MOVE!!!" And I was pushed off the road; only to see a car swerve by and hit Emily.
"Emily nooooo!" I said running towards her. The driver of the car backed up and switched to the other lane as if he didn't hit a person with his car.
Tears started pricking my eyes as I saw her lying there unconscious on the ground,covered with blood. I held her close to me knowing that I am not strong enough to carry her because we both are almost of the height.
Ethan was in the car and saw it all happen. He rushed out of the car towards us and scooped her up in his arms. His eyes were glossy as we hurried towards the car and laid her in the backseat on my lap.
He removed his shirt and pressed it against her head to stop the bleeding. I couldn't help but sob seeing my best friend in this state because of me. If only I had put in the ring more tightly...
Ethan then got in the car and took us to the hospital, seeing that the ambulance wouldn't be here on time.
As soon as we reached there he jumped out of the car and held her in his hands and ran towards the ER, with me close behind.
People were staring at us. If I were one among them I would've too, seeing our condition, two kids, one wearing a white shirt covered in blood and another bare chest and covered in blood holding a barely alive girl.
The doctors and nurses came quickly and started examining her. Ethan and I were sent to the waiting room.
My heart was pounding in my chest
and my hands were shaking too.
My eyes were clouded with tears,
I tried to hope for the best but,
I couldn't.
Ethan called mine and Emily's parents and informed them about the accident. They might take some time to reach here because this hospital is 40 mins away for where they live.
Ethan held my hand tightly and I cried on his shoulder
"I don't want her to leave Ethan. I can't bear another person leaving me."
"I know Emma, I know... I don't want to lose her either. But fate is not in our hands, all we can do right now is hope for the best" Ethan said with a sigh.
Emily's parents and my parents came rushing towards us and Ethan filled them on what had happened.
" It's not your fault Em... Don't blame yourself," Aunt Stacy told. All I did was smile weakly at her and laid my head on Ethan's shoulder.
I might've slept because of the weariness. The next thing I know is someone poking my shoulder. I looked up and saw my twin Tyler holding out a cup of coffee. I took it and muttered thanks. Tyler looked like a mess, his eyes bloodshot and hair poking out in different directions.
I started sipping up the coffee. It was finished before I could properly taste it.
I looked around to see Uncle John, Emily's dad pacing around. When he saw me looking at him he gave me a weak smile and I returned it.
The doctor came out of the room where they were operating on Emily. Both our parents rushed towards them.
I didn't have to hear to know what happened. It was obvious that we lost her because Aunt Stacy fell on her knees and cried the moment the doctor opened his mouth.
"Noo! This can't happen, there must be a way to save her. Please tell she's not gone...please" I ran towards the doctor and begged
"Please tell it's not over, please tell me you can save her..." I looked into the doctor's eyes pleading, hoping that the doctor would say that " it's not over and she could have her normal life back, that she's not gone"
But life never goes the way we want it to be." Sorry ma'am, we couldn't save her" he said, with remorse lining his voice.
I stood there stunned, not knowing what to say. Processing what happened. And then it finally hit me. She's gone... forever. And no one can bring her back. With this consciousness, I held back my tears and ran, I ran to the park nearby and sat on the bench and started crying.
I heard footsteps shuffling next to me, I looked up and saw Tyler coming near and he sat next to me.
He didn't say anything, he just held my hand in his and let me cry in his shoulder. I noticed his other hand was formed into a fist and his knuckles were almost white.
It's hard for him too. Emily had been our best friend since we could barely walk. We had our first steps together, first words, we had done everything together. And now that she's gone it's like a piece of my soul is taken away.
"I shouldn't have dragged her with me" I whispered.
"What?" Tyler asked.
"I never should've dragged her along with me, Ty! If she had gone with her brothers this wouldn't have happened." I said.
"It's not your fault Emma," Tyler said trying to comfort me.
"Yes, it is. If I had gone to that exhibit alone she would've been alive. If I had put the ring tightly it wouldn't have fallen off my fingers. If I had been more careful this wouldn't have happened. She's gone because she saved mine. She sacrificed herself just to save my pathetic life" I said as tears started rolling down my cheeks.
"It's not your fault Em...she's gone and you can't do anything about it now. Don't blame yourself like last time" Tyler said, his voice almost cracking. A tear fell on my knee, I looked up and saw Tyler crying.
"You can do nothing about it. She's gone for real...gone...forever" he said more like assuring himself than me.
We held each other and cried until our heart's content. And we started walking back to the hospital. I saw Ethan's car parked at the entrance of the park.
We got in and headed towards home. I slept the whole way back. I woke up in my bed, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.
That's when I knew it started again. My nightmares which had stopped since the last few years had begun again. And this time much worse.
The night she died, I became an insomniac...again.