*** Tara dealing with Sammy's death
Chapter 2: GONE AND BACK
He was gone. She would never see his smiling face again. Never hear his tinkling laughter ringing down the halls. Never breathe in his comforting scent. Never wrap her arms around him as he hugged her. Never again.
She tried eat, and failed. She tried to smile, and failed. She tried to talk, and failed. She tried to comfort her friends, and failed. She couldn't even think without him. Worse, the thing that should have helped her most escaped her. Dance could not bring Sammy back.
His face haunted her day and night. Tears swam in her eyes as she lay in bed at night. Even sweet unconsciousness could not bring her comfort. He was always there. Always in her dreams. She prayed, prayed for his help. She prayed for strength and prayed for closure. She hoped for a miracle. She had to know why. She had to know what could have been. She had to know where life will take the gang now, she had to know who to turn to, now that he was gone.
For some reason, that night as she lay in bed, something was different. She couldn't figure it out, but it felt off. It was like she was a fish out of water. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't feel, she was in the dark. She was drowning, drowning in her mind. Nothing would be able to help her. Her body lay on the bed rigid, but she could not feel her body any longer. She hoped it would be over soon. She would welcome anything but this abyss of nothing.
Images began to float in front of her eyes. She was watching the car coming, straight for her; she was seeing the last few moments of her friend's through his eyes. Then she felt only pain, and unconsciousness closed in on her.
She felt a fleeting touch on her arm. She felt a light kiss upon her head. A gentle hand brushed the curls from her forehead. Then the sweetest sound filled her ears;
"Tara? Tara, sweetie, you must wake up now. I've been calling your name for ten minutes. Tara…"
I stirred a bit, and shut my eyes as tight as I could.
"NO, NO, NO," I cried.
"Tara what's wrong? Please open your eyes."
I slowly opened my eyes and turned my head to face the person. My eyes widened in shock:
"?"