Him | Her | Others
"He-"
"Hi."
"You're never going to let me compete the greeting, are you?
"Nah. What's the fun in that?"
"You know, it's very rude to interrupt someone."
"I know. And I know it irritates you to no end. Hence, why I do it."
"So, you called. Again. So much for not calling until you find a name for me."
"You asked."
"And you complied."
"How could I not?"
"Why would you?"
"Because..."
"Because? Come on, I'm waiting to hear what you gotta say."
"Uhh, shut up."
"Haha. You okay?"
"Yeah, I suppose. Thanks for making me smile."
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure."
"I- I lost someone too. I can imagine how it would've felt finding someone you love in a pool of blood."
"Did they- you know?"
"Killed themselves?"
"Yeah."
"No. They're no- not d- dead. But something happened, something b- bad. And I still can't get over it. It feels like just yesterday we were arguing over pineapple toppings on pizza. I can't get over the fact that they don't barge into my room anytime they feel the need to anymore."
"Can we cry? Together?"
"Virtual hug, baby."
"Baby?"
"Yeah."
"How many more terms of endearment do you plan on giving me?"
"As many as I can, sweetheart."
"Okay."
"..."
"..."
"It was my fault."
"What was?"
"The incident. I-I c-cou-couldn't pro-protect h-h-"
"Stop. Please. I may not have known you for a long time and I may have never met you in person but you're the most amazing person I know. You would never let anyone get hurt on your watch. I know that."
"B- But I did. And it hurts s- so much."
"I know. There are some things that you don't get over, ever."
"I hate this."
"Hate what?"
"The fact that my family walks on eggshells around me. They treat me as if they're just waiting for me to snap. One small thing and boom."
"They love you, darling. I'm sure. Dylan loves you, I know that, at least."
"Yeah, he does. He can be an annoying little sh*t but he never forgets to check up on me twice a day everyday. He checks up on me more than dad does."
"You're very fond of him, aren't you?"
"Yeah, don't let him hear this or I'll never hear the end of it, but he's the best brother, ever."
"I can hear it in your voice. Your smile."
"You know, sometimes I feel guilty, for not being there for him. He deserves a big brother who he can depend on, who he can come to for advice. Not some f*ck up like me."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"D- Dyl-"
"Can I join you on the floor?"
"Yeah."
"Scoot over."
"I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Okay."
"Stranger?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm not mad at you anymore, okay?"
"Okay."
.....................
"Why are you still up?"
"I just got home."
"You went out?"
"Yeah, I felt like taking a walk after dinner."
"Dinner was hours ago Dylan. Are you sure, everything's okay?"
"I may have lost track of time at the park?"
"You went to the park?"
"Yeah. To our place."
"Oh."
"You were talking to her again?"
"Yeah."
"You like her, don't you?"
"She's engaged."
"You didn't deny my question."
"..."
"Can I talk to you about something?"
"Always."
"Do you- are you okay?"
"How much did you hear?"
"I heard enough. I- you've never talked about her before. I always thought that we would never be able to talk about what happened."
"I- I'm still not ready for that. But yeah, I'm not going to break down every time someone brings her up."
"I miss her, you know."
"I miss her too."
"She- I- She uhh."
"It's okay Dyl, calm down."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. There is something I want to tell you, you deserve to know, but I cant- I don't know how to."
"Just take your time dude. I'm not going anywhere. As if I can."
"Don't say that, please."
"..."
"It was easier to talk about this to her, she just understood. Always. I don't know how to say it out loud to you."
"I'll wait Dylan. I'll always wait. Just tell me whenever you're ready."
"Thanks."
"..."
"I want you to get better, you know. I want us to have that again."
"It'll never be the same Dyl, not without her. Things will never go back to normal."
"I know. I just wish she'd get better soon."
"It's been seven months, Dyl. There's still no hope of her waking up anytime soon."
"Don't say things like that. Please."
"I haven't seen her since."
"She'll beat the sh*t out of you for that when she comes home."
"I'll take all the beating she has to give, I just want her home. With me. With us. Bossing us around, having all of us wrapped around her finger."
"..."
"How's she?"
"Good, I guess. Physically, at least. The wounds are all gone. There are still some scars on her face. Mum says it's the same all over her body."
"She's going to hate herself."
"She's always been conscious about her body."
"She was never fat. A bit healthy, yeah. Fat? No. I just wish she could've seen how beautiful she is. Just the way she was."
"I know. I hated it when she'd starve herself half to death."
"Yeah."
"Do you think she was being bullied?"
"I don't know. She hated talking about her school."
"Except that one time."
"The incident that went viral on the internet. When the students started a revolt."
"No. There was another incident, I think. I vaguely remember her saying that she met a girl with black hair and bright green streaks."
"Yeah, I think the girl had beaten the sh*t out of some guy who was body shaming a girl."
"Yeah. I think she mentioned her name, I can't recall it properly."
"Something with A, I think."
"No. I think it started with an R."
"I don't know."
"Do you think they were friends?"
"I don't know. Did she ever came to the hospital to see her?"
"No. No one did. But then again there were very few people who knew what happened."
"No one called to ask about her whereabouts either, did they?"
"No."
"What about Allie? Has someone heard from her? She goes to your school, doesn't she?
"About that..."
"What?"
"I wanted to talk to you about her. I- she- Allie-"
"Dylan-"
"I like her."
"Sh*t. She hates you."
"Jeez. Don't you think I know that already?"
"How long?"
"Ari knew."
"At least eight months then."
"Eleven. It's going to be a full year in March. I realised it on the night of the spring formal, last year. Came home drunk. You were out that night, I think. Ari threw a fit when she found me drunkenly passed out on the front porch."
"Why did I never got to hear about this!"
"Ari was the best secret keeper, you know that."
"Yeah. She saved our asses so many times."
"So many things that she handled single-handedly and mom and dad never had a clue about anything."
"I know, right? She was the best."
"Is. She is the best."
"Yeah. That."
"You keep talking about her in the past tense. You don't think she's ever waking up again?"
"I dont know. Truthfully, I'm scared. Scared to face her. And the world. What will I say? That I let my little sister get hurt on my watch? That she trusted me the most and I broke her trust? That I couldn't protect her?"
"Come on, Ad. You know that's not the truth. Everyone knows that you'll put your life on the line before letting any of us down."
"Yeah. Isn't that why Ari is in coma?"
"Ad-"
"Please. Don't."
"Is that why you don't go out? You're scared of facing everyone?"
"It haunts me Dyl. Finding her in that alley like that. Battered and broken, on the verge of death. I don't think I can ever face her, or anyone else again. It's hard facing you everyday. And mom. She hasn't been the same with me since then, and you know that. And dad, I know he loves me Dyl, but I also know that I remind him of the daughter he almost lost. One that'll probably never wake up, which is pretty much the same as loosing her."
"I love you Ad. I don't blame you. Neither do they. It just hurts them. They didn't just loose one child Ad, they lost you too. I was so, so scared the first time you freaked out. It felt like I was loosing you too. That I was alone. That you'll leave me too."
"I would never do that to you Dyl."
"Don't blame yourself, please?"
"But-"
"No. Promise me that you'll try. Try getting out sometime. Even as far as going to mom's garden outside. You haven't stepped out of the house since that haunting night Ad. It took you months to step out of your room without having a panic attack. Please Ad, do it for me? For us? For Ari? She would never want you to lock yourself up like this."
"I'm not ready for that yet Dyl. But I'll try, someday. I promise."
"Thanks Ad."
"Don't you have a quiz tomorrow?"
"Ugh don't remind me."
"Go and study Dyl."
"Go to sleep bro."
"Maybe I will."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I feel oddly relaxed tonight, after such a long time. It doesn't feels like someone's constantly choking my windpipe."
"Is it because of a certain someone?"
"Yeah. You."
"I wasn't talking about myself."
"I know."
"Just don't get yourself hurt, please? It won't be just your heart that'll break."
"I'll try."
"Now, I'm going to head out and you, go to sleep."
"Okay. Help me up."
"C'mon."
"Dylan?"
"Yeah?"
"I wasn't lying when I said that you put my heart to rest. You really are the best brother ever."
"I care about you Ad, always."