My Version of events- short stories based on songs

Stay - Miley Cyrus

You called his cell, it went to voicemail and his familiar voice said, “Hi, this is Josh. I can’t pick up the phone at the moment. You know what to do.” BEEP. You called again knowing for sure, all you would ever hear were these 3 lines. But his voice was something you couldn’t resist. You called again and again and again till tears made their way into your eyes. Your hands went numb and so did your legs. The phone slipped through your fingers and you sat down on your knees, facing the tombstone. It read-

Josh Hedgeworn

Loving son and beloved friend

1988-2011

“It’s been a year. How are things there? I hope you are doing better than me. Maybe you’ve forgotten me, or maybe you think about me sometimes, or wonder how people are doing here. I’m as lonely as I was a year ago. In fact, I’ve been lonely every second of every day. It’s like everybody is moving, time is moving and I’m still at the same place where I was a year ago, lost in all those moments we spent together. Not a day passes by without me wishing to have you by my side. Just one wish, that’s all I want. I miss you, so much that it hurts. I need you to be in my life.

‘Betsy tried to set me up with some guy.  But I couldn’t. I can’t just give your place to someone else. Nobody, you hear me, NOBODY can take your place. Every second I live without you, my love for you grows. Even though I don’t see your face every day, I see your face every day. I love you even more than I did before. Life without you just keeps getting harder and harder every day.

‘Just tell me that you feel the same way, tell me you love me. “

A tear rolled down your cheek. You wiped it and continued, “I’m sorry you had to see me like this. I’m sorry I’m broken this way. I know you can’t talk to me, I know. But that problem will be solved soon.  I’m coming there. I’m coming home. Soon I’ll be there with you. And I’ll stay with you forever, that’s only if you want me to. Just ask me and I’ll stay.

‘I know I’m not supposed to do this, I’m not supposed to die for you. But I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for me. I tried to live, I really did. I tried it for a year, tried and tried and failed. But I can’t take this anymore.  I feel all alone without you, all empty inside. It’s like someone tore apart my heart while it was still inside my body, and then another heart popped up and he tore it again and again and it never stopped.  My chest feels like a graveyard of hearts, all ripped in pieces, all belonging to you.”

Another tear managed to escape your eyes, followed by others. You looked up in the sky and remembered how he used to love the sight of stars. You somehow felt closer to him staring at the stars.

“I hope you are able to see them from there, maybe you have a better view. It’s just like the old days when we used to go to the park and look at the stars. If I close my eyes, I can almost hear you say that you miss me and are coming back and you promise to stay.” you said while closing your eyes and you fell to the ground. The poison you had taken earlier was starting to have its effect. 

His voice was getting clearer in your head. “Anna, don’t do this. I still love you like always, may be more. Nothing’s changed, you are still mine.  No one can take your place. It’s hard for me too. I see your face every day and it pains me to see you like this. I’m sorry that it’s this way. If I could, I would have chosen to be with you, I would have chosen to live. I had no choice, but you have.  I lost my battle to death; I don’t want to lose you too. Leave this pain and move on. I need you to do this for me. You have to move on, that’s the only way I can move on too. You are the only reason I’m still here. You are the one I’m holding on to, my last connection to this world. I can’t go as long as my heart beats inside you. Let me go. Free my heart, free yourself.”

“And if I don’t?” you murmured as the paramedics rushed you into the ambulance.

“I’ll stay. I always stay.” He promised.

“Go.”

“And you will stay here.” He ordered you.

“Say it one more time.” You pleaded.

“I love you, more than I ever did.” He spoke softly.

“I love you too.” you said quietly, waking up on the hospital bed.

The doctors had pumped the poison out of your body and you were discharged the following day. You heard one of the paramedics say that you were delirious and murmuring when they arrived. You wondered whether you really heard Josh or whether it was a dream or a hallucination caused by the poison.

You asked the doctors how they did found you and you were informed that a man called and gave them the address of the graveyard saying that a girl had been poisoned. They could not give you a phone number.

You knew what you needed to do.  You started living again. You never stopped loving him but you made space in your heart for other things and people; your family, friends, work, hobbies; there was so much to do. You tried to call his cell to hear his voice but the number was no longer in use, since that day. You did everything you were supposed to do. You stayed here because he wanted you to STAY.