Like Real People Do - Jill Roord

Time

"Hunts," I grew more and more desperate as each second passed, "Please it's me. It's Jill."

I looked around the corridor, seeing no one but praying someone would come. Anyone. I just needed to know I was doing the right thing because the fear that I wasn't consumed me, I couldn't mess this up. I knew I couldn't mess this up. 

I was begining to realize that Hunter was becoming my everything. That's the face I wanted to see everyday when I walked into the gym, when I lined up for a match, when I walked onto the bus. If I had it my way, we'd spend all day, every day together because I knew that I'd never grow bored of someone so full of life.

"Jill!" I heard someone call from further down the corridor, much as I wished it was Hunter's voice, it wasn't. 

It was Lia and Leah, they were jogging down the corridor, my heart sunk as I saw them, I felt my knees weaken slightly as the hopelessness grew. 

"Beth told us to come," Leah said, "What's happened?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed. 

My breath was ragged, the panic gripping at my throat, "It's Hunter. It's Hunter," I repeated, pointing to the door.

Lia's expression dropped but she tried to remain calm, "Okay, what's happened though?"

I shook my head, "I don't know but it's Hunter."

"Yes, it's Hunter," Lia nodded, holding her hands out for me to calm down, "Where is Hunter?"

My soul was shaking, I could feel the trembles from within my body, I brought my hand to my face feeling the tears choke me, "I think in her room, I don't know though."

Leah stood there, I could see the fear in her eyes, she hadn't said anything though but her mind was running through millions of the thoughts, I could just tell.

"Okay," Lia nodded, "It's going to be okay, we'll get to her."

Leah pushed past the pair of us, throwing any idea of calmness out of the window as she pounded on the door, "Hunter! Hunter!" She called, every word shaking, "It's me, can you let me in? It's Leah, please let me in!"

Now, hearing Leah's panic, I could feel the ground shake beneath me and a gaping hole open up in my stomach. It all felt real, this situation felt real and it was out of my hands. It was all out of my trembling hands that longed for nothing more than to hold Hunter, knowing she was safe.

"I'm going to the reception to get a spare key," Lia quickly said then ran, I watched for a second as her figure disappeared through the hallway, the winding corridors practically spinning. 

"Hunts!" desperation clung to Leah's words, "Please let me know you're okay."

I felt like a third party in this situation, my body had almost turned numb and I watched it all play out. The words had disappeared, my mind had gone blank as I felt like everything was crumbling around me. 
I didn't even know this girl but my heart told me something was wrong. Something was really wrong. 

Leah's bangs on the door became slower, more like a last effort, "Please Hunts. Please just let me in."

It could have been hours waiting for Lia though it was probably only a few minutes, time didn't seem to exist in a situation of crisis. Waiting was pure torture because every second that slipped through our fingers, felt precious. It felt like wasted time and if too much time was thrown down the drain, anything could happen. Everything could happen.

I heard the pants of Lia as she ran up behind me, practically throwing the keys into my hand, "Here," her voice cracked, "Open the door."

Leah stepped aside, I saw the tears rolling down her face as she looked to the keys, she looked like she'd failed. This windswept and almost vacant expression clung to her face, like she'd fought in a war and come home with a great loss.

I begged for Hunter to be in her room or she could be anywhere so as I slotted the keys into the lock, having to use both hands to stabilize my shaking, I prayed.

I ran into the room, Lia and Leah quickly behind me but it seemed untouched. Her suitcase lay unpacked on the bed, the duvets still tightly tucked into the mattress, the blinds open to reveal the darkness outside. This didn't look like a room Hunter had been in. I turned around, and my eyes fell onto a sight I'd feared. It was sight I hadn't even allowed myself to envision because seeing it in front of me, was like my heart being ripped directly from my chest. 

Lia had seen her only moments afterwards, a shriek escaping her throat which would haunt my memories forever. 

Time.

That's what we'd waste.

Time.

That's what we couldn't afford to loose.

Time.

That's what had beaten us.