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It all happened so fast. At first it was just the building that was shaking, which, in retrospect, is not ideal but we’ve survived worse. Ashlyn yells out “get under something!” and so, we all do as she says except, she couldn’t make it in time. The roof falls from its place, falling right on Ashlyn’s head, my eyes widen and my ears ring as I watch her collapse from my space under the desk. I can faintly register my arms moving on their own, desperate to save her, to bring her under the desk, to swap our places, anything.
“Ashlyn!”
And yet, my voice is the only thing that rings out in my ears and my throat is hoarse from the sheer amount of terror in that one word. I scramble to get up, hitting my head on the top of the desk but it’s nothing compared to the painful beating of my heart in my chest as I cast aside the rubble, finding her bloodied and unconscious. I pray and pray she’s only unconscious as I drag her back under my desk, scared any more debris will fall on her.
“Ashlyn… please. Wake up. Hey, Ashlyn.”
I whisper as I cradle her head in my lap, pushing any hairs stuck to the blood on her forehead. Her orange hair. Her perfect orange hair. Is dyed red. She has a gash on her temple, blood seeping down into her hair, staining it red like ink and paper. My breaths are coming out hot and heavy and I just stare. I stare at her. I can hear Taylor yelling, trying to grab my attention but I don’t process any of it, my eyes are unfocused as I cradle her head in my hands.
And then, just as suddenly as all this had happened, we were sucked out of that world.
I shoot up straight, jumping out of my place on the living room floor, screaming. “ASHLYN!” My voice cracks as I scramble to hold her, shaking her gently, trying everything. Anything. But she just keeps convulsing. Her father takes her from me and as he does, I notice something. Her eyes. Her once beautiful, green eyes. They’re pitch black. As if her pupils have taken over the green.
My eyes are locked with hers, my chest heaving as I see her father take her from me, cradling her, his hands shaking, when I hear her cough and her body suddenly goes limp.
I faintly register a commotion around me, it’s Ben, my mind helpfully supplies. Ben places a hand on my shoulder, it’s a heavy and grounding weight but that’s not what I need right now. What I need is Ashlyn. Alive and well. I wish I hadn’t asked Ashlyn to come with us to Savannah, hadn’t pestered her about it, hadn’t begged her parents. If I hadn’t done that, she wouldn’t be lying here.
My heart beats painfully in my chest, guilt creeping up on me as I stand on shaky legs, collapsing before crawling over to her.
I reach out a shaky hand to feel her pulse when I notice she’s looking right at me. Her eyes are now that wonderful shade of green that I missed so dearly that I can’t help but choke on a sob before almost falling as I rush to hug her. My grip on her shirt could rival that of a god, I hug her tight, tighter than I would anyone else as I bury my head into the crook of her neck.
“You- you weren’t waking up and you were so bloody I didn’t know what to do I-” I whisper brokenly into her neck; I hadn’t realised how tight my muscles were until I felt her hug me back. Immediately, as if she were magic, my muscles relax. I suppose she is magic. We both groan as we feel a mass of weight join us in the hug, I lift my head and see It’s Taylor, looking as rough as I am feeling. Through sobs she manages “I- was so scared-” before she erupts into crying, harsh sobs racking her body.
Ashlyn smiles as much as she is able and wraps an arm around her too, hugging her. That’s when they all pounce. Even Tyler, the grouch, he mutters something along the lines of “don’t scare us like that again.” Before hugging us all. We fall asleep like that, hugging everyone close, it’s like a balm on our souls.
The next morning, we wake up, everyone is getting ready for the morning, Ashlyn is making her way upstairs and I follow close behind. Partly out of worry she’d fall and partly because I want to speak with her. I walk into her room with her, sitting on her bed. “Ashlyn… how do you feel?” I ask, painfully awkward. Usually words come easy to me, I can carry a conversation one-sided for hours and yet, here I am, struggling.
“I feel fine other than a headache.” She replies. I nod and start to fiddle with the blankets as I look around. My eyes focus back on Ashlyn again. “You don’t know how…” I pause, unsure of the word but I settle on scared, though that’s an understatement. “, scared I was.”
Ashlyn purses her lips, shifting her weight onto her other foot. “I’m sorry, I thought I had enough time to close the door.” She moves to sit next to me on her bed. We stay like that, silent but enjoying each other’s company until I break the silence. “Ashlyn. I think I-” I hesitate for a moment, but shake my head, plastering on my usual smile. “Never mind, sorry.” I could do it yet. Not when I was so close to losing her last night. I can’t bear to lose her, not yet.
And so I let my feelings simmer and bubble, sweetening like caramel.