Anyway, one with the fanfic! Oops, almost forgot.....I do not own Wild
Thornberrys or any of its characters. ^^;;
SISTER
Story by DarkHououmon
I let in a long, shallow sigh, and breathe it out. As I did I could feel my throat shuddering. I felt a lump in my throat, but I hold it back. My blonde hair sways in my face, but I don't care. I looked at the ground, and saw my reflectioin in the small pool of water. My face...it was red and tear-stained. My eyes were puffy and seemed to be blinded by the salty tears that poured out of them. I raised my hand and wiped them, sniffling as I did so. Why? Why did it have to be this way? Why?! I felt like tearing out my own heart...just to go through what she did..to experience her pain, which she could no longer feel. She could no longer feel anything....or do anything. She was gone. My sister....she was gone.....
I sat down next to my parents. I could tell they were just as upset
as I was. My dad seemed to blame himself for what had happened. He kept
on saying he wished he could've gone faster. Dad, it wasn't your fault.
I looked at the coffin, where my sister's stiff and lifeless body lay,
waiting to be buried. This only caused more tears to come to my eyes. I
almost broke down, but knew I had to at least try to be strong. I suddenly
felt someone hugging me. I looked down, and was surprised that Darwin had
clung onto me. Normally I would push him away, but not this time. I could
tell he was really attached to the red-haired girl I had once called family,
so I knelt down and gave him a hug back. Am I really hugging this filthy
animal? Yes...I was. I didn't deny it. I tried to look for Donnie, but
the little runt had took off somewhere after seeing what had happened.
I understood. I don't think anyone who knew my sister wanted to see her
like this...Not like this....
I kept replaying the incident over and over again....It was one thing
that would plague my mind for the rest of my life...Eliza...why did you
have to die? Why.....?!
FLASHBACK:
We were in the hospital. Dad had just arrived a few minutes prior to my arrival, and had handed Eliza to the paramedics. She wasn't in great condition. Earlier I had thought it was only an upset stomach. She seemed to be getting those a bit often, but this time, it was far more serious. I paled when it dawned on me that she could die. This was appendicitis! It wasn't something that could be treated at home...Man oh man....why did it have to be her?!
How will I start
Tomorrow without you here?
Whose heart will guide me
When all the answers disappear?
Is it too late?
Are you too far gone to stay
Best friends forever?
Should never have to go away
I sat down on the chair, and read some of the teen magazines they had available. I wasn't too interested in any of them. I just couldn't stay focused...couldn't get Eliza off my mind. We had been through a lot together, she and I. I know she can be a pain sometimes...especially with how she dresses and her interesting in this wild....animal things, but she was my sister after all. I did love her very much, and she and I did share a strong bond. Sometimes, I wonder if she felt as though our bond was severed since the day Dad took the job of traveling around the world video-taping wild animals. We had grown distant from eachother, seemingly too different. But it was only because she is still a kid and I'm a teenager. Well a newly aged teenager. But hey, just because I think she can be a geek sometimes doesn't mean I don't care about her.
"Is she going to be alright?" I heard my Mom say. I didn't look at her; I kept my eyes glued on the magazine, and was pretending to be strong. The truth was, I was on the verge of breaking down. I decided to look briefly, and looked at the doctor. The doctor, who seemed to have the same shade of skin as Eliza, that my mom was talking to was holding a few pieces of paper. A pen was stuck on his white shirt pocket. His dark eyes bore a look of great sadness. I shook my head, and turned back to the magazine. The doctor spoke, and his voice was soft and slow, laced with depression, "I'm sorry...but her appendix had burst...almost an hour before you arrived." I heard my Mom clap her hand to her mouth in shock. The man continued, "We have already given her antibiotics, but it won't be enough. I'm sorry...I can't guarantee she'll survive the night." He exited the room to allow us to muse over the horrifying news.
What will I do?
You know I'm only half
Without you
How will I make it through?
If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give if you'd
Return to me, someday, somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you
Back to me
I dropped the magazine on the floor. My eyes widened in horror. My mind was racing, and my heart ached more than it ever did. My body started shaking, and I was trying to digest this new information. My lip quivered. I wanted to scream...shout....anything to let my frustration out, but I could only manage a weak whisper. "Eliza...no....."
Everything seemed to stop around me. The world seemed to stop around me. I couldn't remember what happened. All of a sudden I was in one of the hospital rooms. I looked down at myself, and then at everyone else in the room. I found that I had a few tiny bruises and my clothes were a bit torn. I suggested to myself I must have gone into a wild-like state or something. But I didn't want to think about it. I turned towards my sister. She wasn't on Life Support...they didn't think it would be necessary. She wouldn't survive the night even on Life Support. I tried to hide my tears as I walk towards the small girl. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see my mother clinging to my father, and sobbing uncontrollably. I could tell my father was trying to comfort her, yet he too was crying. Darwin and Donnie were back in the convee. They didn't allow animals in the building, and Donnie was too wild to be let in the hospital.
I'd cry you an ocean
If you'd sail on home again
Waves of emotion will carry you
I know they can
Just let them guide you
And your heart will chart the course
Soon you'll be drifting into the
Arms of your true North
Look in my eyes
You'll see, all over, tears have run by
And still they're not dry!
Eliza's breathing seemed raspy and slow. Her face was pale and a painful look was covering it. My hand shook as I gently stroked a lock of hair on her cheek. I felt myself breathe in a sharp gasp as I attempted to once again keep the tears from flowing onto my face. "Eliza....." I whispered, placing my hand on her forehead. The whole world around me seemed to vanish; and it was just me and my little sister. I knelt to the floor beside her, buried my face in my hands, and pressed against the side of the bed, and finally allowed a few tears to escape.
If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give if you'd
Return to me, someday, somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you
Back to me
"D-D-Debbie?" A very weak and hoarse voice had asked. I snapped my eyes open and jerked my head up. Eliza's eyes were open, but just barely. Her gaze was towards me, but her eyes held a vacant, almost distant look. I peered closer and saw that her eyes were already beginning to cloud over. My heart ached again as I knew what was about to happen. I stood up part way, and gently clutched her hand, a weak attempt at reassurance. "Eliza...you shouldn't be talking in your condition....." I winced physically as I said this. How could I tell her? How could I tell my own sister....that she was dying? I heard her weak voice managing to say, "Wh-what condi-dition?" She smiled faintly and made a weak laugh, but it turned into a small coughing fit. I raised my hand, worried that something was wrong. Wait, something was already wrong.....I sadly looked at her. "The-The doctor said that-that you won't s-survive the night..." I managed to choke out, my throat holding back a sob.
Eliza gasped slightly, and her eyes seemed to register the look of horror. A few tears escaped from her eyes as well, staining the pillow her head rested on as they had rolled across her cheeks and onto the sheet. I bit my lip, my grip on her hand tightening. "Oh sister....I-I love you..." She smiled, feebly raising her other hand and placed it on mine. It felt cooler than her hand usually does, and it was paler, too. "I love you, too...Debbie." I smiled despite the mood I was in. She spoke again, softly, "Debbie...I-I want to-to tell you something....b-before I go-go....." I leaned in closer, being careful not to put any strain on her fragile form. "What is it?"
I hold you close
And shout the words
I've only whispered before
For one more chance, for one last chance!
There's not a thing
That I would not endure!
"I-I...c-c-c-can....t-talk to anima-mals.....uhh...." Before my mind had time to register the shock of the event, the beeping of the machine had stopped, a long and steady monotone beep filling the air, and the green line straightened completely out. Eliza's hands went limp. Her eyes rolled back in her head and closed slowly..forever. No...no...this can't be happening....Eliza can't die...She just can't! No! "Eliza? Eliza?" No response. A dead cold air filled the room around me as the horrible truth sank in. "ELIZAAAAA!!!!!!"
If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give if you'd
Return to me, someday, somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you
Back to me
My cry echoed throughout the hospital. But I didn't care.... I picked
up my sister's body and held her to me. I couldn't hold my sobs anymore,
and broke down. I didn't care who saw me. I held my sister tightly...and
sobbed into her hair. "Eliza....no.....no...NO!!" I screamed in anguish.
The body before me could provide no comfort. I couldn't believe my own
sister was gone. I didn't even get a chance to apologize for what I said
to her in the past....
END FLASHBACK:
It has been almost 6 days since my sister's death. People have tried to comfort me, but it didn't work. Nothing will work. I let go of Darwin and walked out of the room. The funeral was over, and Eliza was lowered into the ground, never to be seen again. I took one last look at her, and left to the convee. I walked inside, and it suddenly felt empty, even though Donnie was in there, moping around. I expected to hear the girl jump out to greet me, or ask me to play a game of chess with her. But all I got was a silent wind surrounding the room, chilling my body more than before. It was just too quiet.
"I shouldn't have....I shou...I don't know." I growled in frustration. "You just had to die, didn't you?!" I snapped at the skies, though they were blocked behind the ceiling above me. "Why did you die?" I asked in a softer tone, but the only answer back was a call from one of the local wild birds. I walked into the bedroom. My eyes gazed across the room, and I knew how empty this room will be now that Eliza was gone. I don't think I could survive without her. She was my sister, after all. We were so close, even though we fought a lot.
I looked at one of the drawers and pulled out a picture. It was of Eliza and I just a year ago. I smiled faintly, remembering that day. I placed the picture back down on the shelf, and let out another long sigh. I seemed to feel more distant. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, though I knew that talking was the best solution for this. I walked out of the convee and looked up towards the stars. They shimmered dully, as if they were also mourning the loss of an innocent. "Eliza, if you can hear me....I'm sorry..sorry for what I've said and done to you in the past. I-I didn't mean them.....Really I didn't...." I wiped away a tear that was strolling down my face.
I smiled slightly up at the sky. Rest in peace sister....I will never
forget you, and I hope you will never forget me...wherever you are now.
Goodbye...Eliza.
_______________________
A bit rushed and a bit depressed. Yeah...my favorite genre...Angst. ^^; I know I know....I killed Eliza. But judging from the people here, not many people would care anyway. > No offense, but I don't think there's many people here who like Wild Thornberrys for who knows what reason. Anyway, I actually got the idea for this after watching The Wild Thornberrys Movie. My original idea was an AU ending of the movie, where Eliza either never got her powers back, or died in that rapid river. But I changed my mind and made an AU of my favorite episode, the Valentine's Day one, which I forgot the name of. Oo; Well I hope you enjoyed this story.