Legends never die

Heartbeats of Rembrance

"Panic isn't the way to deal with this situation, you need to STAY CALM!!!!" Derek reminded me again but how could I not panic? Today could be a new beautiful beginning or a catastrophic end of my life. Today if we succeed in passing the borders without getting noticed, then we would start a new life, a life where we won't be at risk of getting murdered at any moment or so. But most importantly we would be breathing in our country, where at least we would have our own identity. This was the last mission and the most dangerous one, so staying calm was indeed the wisest choice. I took a deep breath and inhaled the smoke and smell of dry blood and sweat, probably coming from me or Derek. Focussing all my attention on the border I sighed, it was now or never. Derek and I stared at each other and nodded. We had to make a run before the guards returned. Derek and I mouthed together ''One...Two...Three' and then we ran as if our lives depended on it because it did. I focussed on nothing but the land beyond that border and a bright future, feeling like an enthusiastic teenager staring at his first sports bike.
But my enthusiasm was shot by the sound of a shotgun and the thudding voice of a body falling over. When I turned around, I saw Derek heavily breathing with blood splattered all around his chest. All the enthusiasm and future dreams forgotten, I rushed to his side and tried carrying him with my broken arm, but Derek whispered harshly, "GO! Leave without me, you trying to help me will get both of us killed." Before I could protest, a bullet zoomed past my ear. "LEAVE at least one of us should be alive to tell our tale..." He started coughing blood, the border was near but the enemies approaching us were getting closer, Derek raised his bloody fist and I thumped it with mine before trampling on my heart and running towards the border.

I woke up with a start, sweat trickling down my forehead, on a cold Friday morning. I took a deep breath and went outside the balcony to clear my head; it's been 6 years, yet that memory still haunts me. I sighed at myself before looking at the dim city lights in front of me and letting a stray tear escape. I wondered why every beautiful memory I ever held dear to myself became one of my worst nightmares. 

Derek, my best friend, my first friend, my comrade or whatnot had been with me for as long as I remember. All my childhood he kept on pulling my leg to keep me from drowning in the ocean of loneliness. My biological parents had left me in an orphanage where I met him. We both had no one to call family so we became each other's family. We grew up together while fighting with each other and fighting together against others. We were always a team. We were incomplete without each other, we often joked how we were living in a symbiotic relationship where the other would die without the other, a chemical bond that held us together. He was my cation while I was his anion. Yet I am alive, people would often call me heartless or living dead but I am still breathing without him.
I.... I know I should be grateful for the life blessed upon me for not everyone lives on the top floor of Burj Khalifa and wakes up to the glamorous view of tall skyscrapers with sparkling sunshine spreading over their eyes, every morning, but somehow even this luxurious life felt hollow to me. 

If Derek heard my thoughts, he would surely smack my head, while glaring at me like I had committed a crime. Chuckling to myself, while imaging his reaction, I recalled the days when we used to dream of living on top of the world. We often argued to decide the king or the ultimate ruler of our imaginary world. At times, we seriously considered marrying each other so we could share our power but as none of us agreed to be the queen, the war used to rage on. Well, you can't expect anything better from two 5-year-old children. 

At present, I may not be the ruler of the world but being the CEO of a Well-known Security Company, my income is high enough to make me reach the top of the world. Smiling to myself I looked ahead as the cold darkness faded to be replaced by the warm light of the sun.
I left home quite early today to visit the graveyard like every Friday, when I stopped at the signal as an old lady slowly crossed the road, as I drifted to one of my old memories....... 

An old lady was screaming for help, as a masked man, stole her purse and ran away. Derek and I ran behind the man to a dark alleyway where he turned towards us. More masked men appeared and surrounded us. "R-Return the bag to that lady THIS INSTANT, or else..." Derek tried to sound confident but they all laughed at us, before shooting us a warning glare. I just smirked and calmly stated, "I just alerted the police they would be here soon.". They scoffed at us before fear featured on their face as they threw the bag and ran away after hearing the police sirens. I heard Derek muttering how he would have knocked the daylight out of them if police had not arrived as we handed the bag back to the lady. After receiving her thanks, something clicked in Derek as he turned towards me and asked when I contacted the police because I was with him the whole time. I merely shrugged and said," I didn't" and played the recording on my phone and continued, "I prefer to play it the smart way." Derek irritatedly looked towards me and huffed while I smiled proudly. 

The honking of the car woke me from my daze as the signal turned green and I drove towards the florist shop to pick up the white lilies. As I continued to drive, my mind wandered back to that memory lane where I recalled, how that little incident had grabbed the attention of the intelligence agency. They soon contacted us and after examining our physical strength offered us a job in the agency. Being young, naive, and full of patriotism for our country, we immediately accepted the job. After being vigorously trained for two years, we were stationed in an enemy country at the military base. Our mission was to pass confidential information while being discreet. We were given fake identities and lived in constant fear of being caught. We pulled on the facade for four years, when a new comrade got caught and gave away my name. I panicked thinking about the fate that awaited me when Derek calmed me and reminded me of Plan B i.e., escape. It was during that unfortunate event that I lost him. To distract myself from the survivor's guilt I started investing all my blood and sweat at work which led to my progress. I have everything money can buy now except the only thing that I truly desire for - my beloved friend. 

My eyes glistened as I stared ahead at my friend's grave and spoke with a heavy heart, "It's been six years since we last saw each other but not a moment passes by when I don't think of you or miss your smile, our thumps or even your egoistic laugh. Your friendship was the most beautiful blessing I ever had and your loss was the deepest scar engraved in my heart. You may not be breathing in front of me but your memories and acts of bravery will never be forgotten, your tale will always be the source of inspiration for me and our comrades. Your sacrifice will forever stay in our hearts and you will stay alive in our memories forever etched in the fabric of time. After all, Legends never die!"
I let a tear escape as I offered the white lilies to the grave and thumped my fist in the empty air.

 I have written two endings , this one is quite sad,but the next part is full of hope ,love and the joyful bliss of reunion, so if you are a happy ending person (like me) you could read the other ending after finishing this part.

Happy Reading!!!