It's so hard to get used to normality again after everything that's happened to me and to us. When I woke up in hospital, human again, it was like resurfacing from a horribly realistic nightmare I'd been stuck in for months. The first thing I was aware of was voices shouting loudly, yet they sounded far away. I couldn't understand what they were talking about, but laughter echoed among the words, so I knew that whoever they were, they were happy. What felt like days later, but was probably only an hour or so and I could discern what the people were saying, and even begin to decode it. A male's voice, who I definitely recognised and who sounded the closest, was talking to another person quietly, a girl I think, about when the nurse was coming back to check on me. The girl replied, saying she would go and check, and I heard footsteps fading away. Then, I felt a pressure on my left hand, and heard the guy take a deep breath in, as they he wanted to say something but didn't know how. I lay there, immobile but expectant, and somehow I knew that whatever was said next was very important. "Hey Em. I know you probably can't hear me, but I'll say this to you anyway. I want to say that I'm sorry for everything that I've put you through this year. I haven't been fair to you, but I suppose when you love someone like I love you, you do stupid and crazy things to keep them safe. I now that what I've done to you is probably unforgivable, and I get that you might not want me back, but I want you to always know that I love you, and that every fucked up choice I made, I did it to keep you safe, even if it didn't work. And, I just really hope that when you wake up, you won't give up on me and my messed up life. That's all I ever wanted from you, was to hold on just that little bit longer. But first, you need to come back to me. So Em, I need you to wake up, please?" the guy's voice said, and I heard the catch in his voice as he started to cry. I felt his head leaning on my arm, his sobs gently shaking me. That was the moment when something clicked in my head, and I knew that the voice, the voice was Will's. I struggled to open me eyes, so I could look at him and tell it wasn't his fault, that he hadn't done anything wrong. It was like trying to wake from a nightmare, only this time I was already half awake. I was stuck, caught between two consciousnesses and fighting for a way out. I tried to focus on simply opening one eye, but no matter how hard I fought I couldn't get to him. I was so frustrated, and also very confused. Why couldn't I do anything, but I could still hear? Was I in a coma, or paralysed somehow from my change back into human? Would I ever open my eyes and see Will again?
After that I slip into unconsciousness again, and I don't hear any more voices. But, soon after that I wake up, only this time properly. My eyes flutter open and are suddenly blinded by a bright light that turns out to be sunshine, streaming in through an open window that shows a beautiful summer scene outside. I blink a few times to get used to the sudden brightness, and take in my surroundings. I knew from overheard conversations that I was in the local hospital, so that explained why so many drips and needles were hooked up to me, as well as the constant beep of the heart machine next to me. I was lying in a large bed in the middle of the room, wearing a white tank top and my favourite pyjama pants, expensive Peter Alexander ones Will had bought me for Christmas last year, that were yellow and covered in pictures of Vegemite jars. (Quick A/N These pyjamas actually exist and are actually in my possession as we speak! I know, awesome right?!! P.S for anyone who doesn't know what Vegemite is, I want you to go out into your backyard, dig a hole and die in it, that's how disappointed I would be in you. Anyway, back to the story...) I was relieved when I saw I was in my own cool jammies instead of those embarrassing hospital gowns that show your butt. I sighed and tried to sit up, but a searing pain burned through my chest, so I flopped back onto the pillows, annoyed at my frailty. I looked down at my chest and was shocked to see it was covered in bandages, a smallish but growing bigger red splotch of blood staining the white bandage. I reached up a hand to tentatively prod the wound, and gasped as pain flashed through me again. I slumped back onto the pillows again, wracking my brains to try and figure out why I had a massive wound in my chest. I certainly didn't remember it, but surely that was why I was in hospital. My hand rested lightly over the blood stain, rising and falling with each breath I took. My eyes started to flutter closed again, me feeling suddenly tired after the effort of dragging myself out of the black hole of unconsciousness. I was about to slip into a deep but normal sleep when Jilly walked in with coffee and a zombie like tired expression. She stopped in mid-yawn, frozen in shock as I stared happily back at her, though for some reason I couldn't get my voice to work. Jilly's coffee slipped from her stiff fingers, and suddenly the linoleum hospital floor was stained latte brown as she jumped over the puddle and launched herself at me. "OHMIGOD Em YOU'RE AWAKE!!!! AHHHHH" she screamed happily as she bounced up and down on my dangerously creaking bed, burying her face in my tank top but leaping back immediately when she heard my tiny gasp of pain. I looked up at her ecstatic smiling face, and couldn't help feeling a tiny (yet painful) ripple of happiness as I realised that I had my best friend in the whole world back. Still unable to form any words, I pointed down at the bandages wrapped around my torso and then looked back at Jilly with a questioning look in my eyes. "Oh, you mean the bandages. Well it's a long, long story. Get comfy, this could take a bit of explaining," Jilly laughed, and settling herself at the end of my bed she began to tell me all that had happened while I'd been running around the forest and baying at the moon. When she had finished I realised that my mouth was hanging open, and I snapped it shut quickly, staring disbelievingly at Jilly's gleeful face. I knew she was probably laughing at my expression, and I had to admit that I probably did look very funny. We both looked at each other for a few seconds, and then collapsed into a fit of raucous giggles, clutching at each other and gasping for breath. A minute or so later and I fell back into the pillows, trying to force air back into my lungs, but failing terribly. Jilly stopped laughing though when she saw who was in the doorway. Framed in sunlight like a gorgeous black silhouette was Will, and he looked equally as surprised as Jilly had to see me awake. He walked slowly towards me, his eyes sparkling as he looked incredulously at me. I smiled shyly, looking up at him from under my lashes, which suddenly reminded me of the first time Will and I had ever met, that fateful day when I spotted him across the quad and knew he was my one and only.
He whispers my name softly under his breath as he walks towards me, and I reach a pale thin hand out to him, wanting him so badly after all our time apart. When Will reaches me he ignores my outstretched hand and reaches for my face, holding it in his hands and stroking my cheek gently with his thumb. Tears roll silently down my face as I lean my head against his sturdy chest, and as he holds me, this is when it fully hits me just how much I almost lost. I cry harder, silently but sadly, and Will pulls away a tiny bit, taking my hands and looking deep into my swimming eyes. "Em, is there something wrong? Do you want me to go?" Will asks concernedly, but I shake my head vehemently, trying to hold back the flow. I rest my head on his taut stomach, breathing in his familiar scent and calming myself down. "Are you angry at me? I know you should be, after everything I've put you through, but I couldn't resist coming to see you one last time. I've been so fucking worried, I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep without knowing if you were alright, and I couldn't stand it every time I reminded myself that I was the reason that you were in here I just.." Will trailed off, and I shook my head at his silly outburst. I tugged on his hands, indicating that he should sit down. Jilly had instinctively left us alone, so the room was silent as Will pulled up a chair next to my bed, still holding my tiny hands in his huge ones. I smiled lovingly down at him, trying to convey all my love and happiness in one single look. I took one of his hands and held it up to the sunlight, so our entwined fingers turned gold, and twisted them this way and that, like a child might with their mother. Then I lifted his hand to my face, and kissed the knuckle of each finger softly, looking up at him as I did so. His eyes were closed, a blissful look on his face. I shook his hand a little, so that his eyes flew open and met mine quizzically. I let go of his other hand, and raised it to my chest, placing it over where my heart lay beating. Then, I took the other hand and put it over where his heart was, feeling his steady heart drum under my fingers. I looked strongly into his eyes, trying to tell him that our hearts were one now, and that I would never leave again. His eyes suddenly brightened in understanding, and he smiled happily. Slowly, always watching my face to check if this was okay, he leaned over my legs and pressed his lips softly to mine, and suddenly there were fireworks again.
Coming back from an ordeal like mine, it was very hard. Getting used to being human again was extremely difficult, but the hardest part of it all was revealing everything to my mum. She still thought I was dead, so I have no idea how much of a shock it was for her to see me walking towards her for the first time in months. Her eyes widened, and for a minute I thought she was going to faint. I walked slowly and hesitantly up to her, unsure how I was going to explain this time. "Emily?" Mum whispered, and I nodded bashfully. "But, you're dead, I saw the police report, I went to your FUNERAL! What the hell is going on?" Mum asked frantically, and she reached out as if to touch me, but faltered, almost as if she wasn't sure whether I was real or not. I waved at her, and wondered what to say next. "Is it really you?" she asked again, and I nodded. "Yeah Mum, it's really me. I'm so sorry about everything, but I have a really good excuse, I promise." I said, then I looked back at Will, searching for his approval. He nodded encouragingly and smiled, and I turned back to Mum confidently. "Come on Mum, I'll fill you in," I said, and taking her hand I lead her over to a seat, and began to tell her everything.
After the air was clear between Mum and I, life went back to how it was before it all began. Will, Jilly and I graduated high school, Will the handsome school captain, Jilly receiving an award for her dancing and me becoming dux of school, graduating top of the class. After a blur of ceremonies, thrown hats and diplomas and a thousand and one celebratory parties it was over, our school days finally behind us. The future had never looked brighter, with the promise of university, independence and adulthood on the definitely nearer looking horizon. The three of us were enrolled in one of the state's top universities, Jilly on an arts scholarship, Will going into pre-law and me on the fast track to my dream job as a front page journalist, like I'd been dreaming since I was five. But before all that the three of us were taking a gap year together on a tour of Europe, before the final stop in Hawaii, like we'd always promised we would do. It was all shaping up to become a perfect life, barely marked by what had happened to us. It was the middle of the summer holidays, just before Christmas and the entire pack had decided to go on a picnic together, one of the last before we all parted ways, at least for the foreseeable future. We were all sitting around a massive campfire, even though it was around 4 or 5 in afternoon. We were all laughing and talking, drinking in the beautiful summer's day and enjoying each other's company like we hadn't in months. I was sitting with Jilly on one side and Will on the other, when Jilly nudges me and signals. I roll my eyes, and pull out my guitar as Jilly calls for attention. "OI! Emily here has something she needs to say!" Jilly shouts, and everyone immediately stops their conversations and looks at me. I feel the butterflies grow in my stomach, surely by now I would be used to people staring at me. I absentmindedly strum on my guitar's strings, taking strength from its familiar feel. I had been playing the guitar ever since I could remember, and the one I owned now had been mine since before my dad left Mum and I. In fact, it was one of the last presents he ever gave to me. And, even though I didn't like to admit it, I had also been told on numerous occasions that I had a good singing voice, and had started writing and composing my own music when I was about 11. Taking inspiration from everyday life, writing songs and putting them to my own music was my personal escape, a way for me to leave the real world behind for a few hours, especially when something was upsetting me. Of course, most of my songs were about Will, but they could be about anything. "Hey guys. It's really good to see the family back together, especially with everything that's been going on lately. As you all know, I have taken to writing music, and I wrote a song for you guys. Well, really it's about you know who, but I hope you guys like it, so sit back, relax and enjoy," I said playfully, nudging Will when I mentioned him. I slipped the worn strap over my head and settled the guitar comfortably on my legs, taking a deep breath in before I started to play. My fingers danced over the strings, picking out the familiar melody I'd been working on for weeks now. When I reached the moment, I began to sing.
One Drop
Verse 1:
When you love someone like I do
You take every chance you can get.
You would do anything for them
Anything to save them
Anything to keep them
How far would you go?
Chorus:
One Drop
That's all you needed
One look
That's all it took
I'm in paradise that's for sure
And I'm never lookin' back
Verse 2:
So I gave it all up for you
I made a sacrifice I was willing to give
But you wouldn't give up on me
And now I'm back and I won't go again
Coz it was like I could not breathe
Without you
Chorus:
One Drop
That's all you needed
One look
That's all it took
I'm in paradise that's for sure
And I'm never lookin' back
Verse 3:
These have been the best years of my life
And I wouldn't take them back for anything
Not for money or any possession you could give
I'm so happy I could cry
This is where I'm supposed to be
Chorus:
One Drop
That's all you needed
One look
That's all it took
I'm in paradise that's for sure
And I'm never lookin' back
Never leaving you again
Coz you're my sun and moon
The centre of my universe
And I couldn't leave that all behind
One Drop
As I strummed the final chords of the song I opened my eyes, not even realising that I had closed them. I looked around the circle at each of the members of my family. Because, even though we weren't linked by blood, we were a family. These people had protected me, loved me and taken care of me like no real family could. Every song word I wrote for them was the truth, and I could spend one lifetime, or one thousand lifetimes trying to tell them how much they meant to me. They all stared in awe at me, tears in the eyes of some and smiles on every face. I turned to Jilly, who was crying but laughing at the same time and shaking her head, as if to say How is it even possible for you to be that talented? I grinned shyly at her, gripping the neck of my guitar and turning to the one person that I had written the song for. Will was smiling down at me in amazement, and I knew that he finally understood why I had done it for him, given up life so he could be whole again. I leaned into him, laying my head on his broad chest and listening to his heart beat, content with my place in the universe. As my song had said, this was where I was supposed to be, with family and the love of my life. And it truly was paradise.
Hey all,
It's a sad moment when your labour of love is finished. Yeah guys, I'm sad to say but this is it, the last chapter of One Drop forever... I know, I'm crying too (not really, but still, I'm very depressed). This was my debut story on Wattpad, so it was my first published work. I've loved it, sweated and fretted over it, and now it's done. But, don't worry guys, there's still one last epilogue, which will be up in the next week I hope. I'd just like to take a moment to thank all the beautiful people who made this possible, so here goes. To the Wattpad peeps who run the show, thanks for making this amazing website that has made one of my biggest dreams come true. Next, to my amazing friends who supported this from the beginning, you guys are awesome! And finally, to my creative partner and biggest fan, NimiDW, who wrote the story almost as much as I did. Thanks babe, I couldn't have done it without you!
Oh, and one last thing before I go...
I hope that you guys liked the song Emily sings in this chapter, it's very close to my heart. For all those who don't know me (which is probably many!!!) I REALLY like singing, and I've also turned amateur songwriter. I decided I wanted to add some much-needed musicality to the story, and so I wrote this song. However, unfortunately I don't play the guitar, though I wish I did, so there's no actual music to the song, but I'm hoping that I can somehow record me singing it and put it up for you guys, however I've no idea if I can. Stay tuned and I'll see what I can do! So, I hope you like the song, and tell me what you think in the comments section below!!!!! Anyway, this author's note is getting way too long, so thanks again to anyone reading this, and also again to all those people mentioned before! Hope you guys enjoy the epilogue, which'll be out soon!
Love you all, you guys are amazing!!!
BoBo99 <3