The next day? I was sore and guilty. My legs felt like iron, aching with every step but my conscious also. It was my fault, I had brought him out there, he had been put in danger by my decision to go out.
And now I was going home, unable to visit him, to say sorry, to know how he was doing.
I couldn't even talk about it with my family, they would know I had been out of school when I shouldn't have. They don't care that I saved a friends life, they do it every day to loads of people. My actions are insignificant to them.
I packed my bags and went to the meeting point in the parking lot where Gordon was waiting for me.
"Did you have to keep me waiting? I want to get back as soon as I can to do some more laps" he said.
Ah Gordon such a joy to talk to, self-centred, arrogant and never has time for anyone one else. I tend to just ignore him, if I didn't I'd be at him all the time and angry as well, pointless effort in my opinion.
I just got in the back of the car on my phone while Gordon began to drive of back to the island. Flying cars are pretty useful now. I contemplated how I was going to get news from Kai. Should I phone his parents or him? Send an email maybe? Maybe just not disturbed them in their trying time. I still remember the sensation of his ribs bending and braking under my fingers, his unmoving and gasping body, so pale like a fresh corpse.
I'll just sleep till we get to the island.
On the island:
As soon as we get home, we have dinner. I'm not really hungry, more tired and worried about Kai. I just sit at the table and listen.
"You did great on yesterdays rescue, saving all those victims. I'm proud of you" Jeff said, he them turned to me, oh joy.
"However I'm not proud of you, Alan, for not answering my call yesterday. You know my calls are important and that you should always answer them. For that tomorrow I want you to run around the island. It should make you understand the importance of your actions. And don't cheat I'll be watching." "For how long?" I asked knowing already that I was in for it.
"Till I say stop" Jeff then turn back to my brothers, showering them with praise for yesterdays rescue.
I always felt a little left out. Jeff loved Scott, John, Virgil and Gordon. But me, that's another matter. Every time he see me he makes a comment, no matter how little. 'Alan you could do better in your studies' 'Alan you could do better at this' 'You need more patience' 'Be more like Scott'. He never ceases to compare me. I give up, I'll never be to the standard of Scott or the others. I'm just Alan, the wild child to them.
As soon as I'm allowed I leave the table for my room, hiding from judgement. Maybe I should try and call Kai's parents? No they wouldn't want to hear from me, I'm the cause of this mess in the first place.
A few hours later my phone rang an unknown number, I answered anyway, I've got nothing better to do. "Hello?" I called.
"Alan? Yes, I'm just calling to tell you that Kai was in the hospital…. Someone brought him in on Wednesday after he had gone running…. He passed yesterday from an undiagnosed coronary artery abnormality*. Apparently the run triggered it and his body couldn't cope…. There won't be a funeral because Kai didn't want one…." Kai mum I think her name was Sallie, told me crying. I was shocked and completely blind sighted, I didn't expected Kai condition to be so serious.
"My condolences ma'am… if you need any assistance don't hesitate to ask" I said holding back my tears.
"Thank you Alan. I'm going to go back to my husband and later this week we are going to pick up Kai stuff from your dorm room if that alright…?" She asked trying to calm herself and finish the conversation.
"No problem..." After that she hung up quickly, I think like me she couldn't hold back her tears any more.
I laid on my bed letting my tears run till they were dry. Kai was gone, I no longer had a running buddy nor a room mate or even a friend.
Fermat had gone to a school for the gifted a year and a half agoleaving me alone at Wharton's. Kai managed to switch rooms into mine and had be my buddy since.
I couldn't believe Kai was gone and it had been all my fault…. If I had never mentioned and encouraged him run, he would have not died from his condition.
But had it never happened that day, he would died alone somewhere else, when his condition would flare while exercising.
It didn't make me feel any better but at least I had tried to save him and gave him a chance.
*Coronary artery abnormalities is a condition where people are born with heart arteries (coronary arteries) that are connected abnormally. The arteries can become compressed during exercise and not provide proper blood flow to the heart. Undiagnosed it can be fatal but is very rare.
All of this is kind of based on my usages of my first aid knowledge (in France you pass a test). And I've used it a lot for bandaged and common. But we did a large amount of of CPR and I had many thoughts about the day I would use it. Anyway till next time x.