Love Never Dies (an Unconditional student/teacher romance)

Chapter Two - Memoirs of a Dead Girl

Chapter Two - Memoirs of a Dead Girl

When Emily awoke, she smiled. A warm smile. Looking next to her, her smile grew larger and larger; Mr Radcliffe was back. Three months of not being near him almost drove her to her insanity. For two reasons: one, she was alone for the first time in years, and two, she wasn't near him.

　

Emily thought she could explode with the sudden rush of ardent emotions cleansing her. She freely traced the palm of her hand down his cheeks. Like a birds fluttering wings, Mr. Radcliffe opened his eyes. He too smiled. It was unreal how much they missed each other. Sure, it was a little soppy, and for others it would be pathetic and irritating, but they were in love - even after sixteen years their love was still as strong.

　

Their silent moment was ruined when Emily's phone rang. She wrapped herself within the white bed cloths and collected her mobile from the unit next to her. Ruby?

　

"Hello?"

　

"Hi there, Miss Clark. Ruby's husband, Adam, speaking here. I was wondering if I'd be able to have a word with you?"

　

"Yeah, sure. Hold on a moment," Emily looked at Mr. Radcliffe; he was half raised from the bed, a bewildered expression reflecting from Emily's face onto his own.

　

After Emily had managed to pull on her nightgown, muttering a few embarrassed sorry's on the phone to Adam, she settled down in Mr. Radcliffe's study.

　

"Right, go on."

　

"Are you sure? You're dressed now, yeah?" his voice was low, almost as if he was really distressed. Emily grew more anxious by the second.

　

"Sorry, you know what I'm like Adam... Is everything OK? You sound a little... Err, down?"

　

"No, everything's not OK. There's been a... a horrible accident, and I feel obligated to inform you about it. Ruby... she... well she died. Hit and run so it was. She got taken to The Royal in Edinburgh the moment they found her body in ASDA's car park up in Whiteston. I just thought you should know, seeing as you were her best friend throughout all these years. The funeral is tomorrow, and... I was wondering if you'd be able to make it - show your respect, y'know?"

　

Tears dropped headlessly from Emily's chin, so fast that she never even noticed she was crying. Listening to Adam's whimpering on her mobile, informing her that her best friend for thirty-two years was now dead, was the last thing she had expected. "Yes. Yes I'll come. I'll drive up tonight from London, might not reach yours until tomorrow morning. I'm assuming the service will be held predictably in St. John's crematorium, right?"

　

"Yeah, everybody knows how Ruby felt about being cremated. She was passionate about it."

　

There was an extremely long, strained silence, before Emily said, "I'm so sorry Adam. I don't know what to say right now. I'm in such shock. I -"

　

"Just keep it formal. I can withstand formal conversation. It's the soppy stuff that gets me going. I'm sorry too. I know how close you both were growing up."