Ever felt your life flash before your eyes? The fleeting moment when everything you know is about to dissolve into oblivion? The minuscule second that makes or shatters your whole world.
Isn't it funny? One breath can hold or drop your entire existence. Everything that you own, all the relationships that you made can be taken away by that one simple puff of air that your lungs take in.
It is that easy for you to fade into oblivion.
"Morning Hales." I greeted her as I called her early in the morning.
"Wow, who died? That doesn't sound like my chirpy Brooke." She commented.
"Yeah, so I slipped and fell on my ankle yesterday. Now the whole thing is a swollen purple mess and I can barely limp. So, if you didnt mind, could you pretty please drive us to school. I know you don't have a car, so just come to my place, and you can drive mine." I explained.
"Oh! Are you okay, Tigger?" She asked.
"Yeah, yeah. It just hurts if I move it a lot." I answered.
"Okay, I'll be there in fifteen minutes. I was going to ask Nathan and Lucas for a ride anyway." She replied.
"Cool, I'll see you then." I greeted before hitting end.
I had already managed to shower. As well as I could by plopping my self in the bath and trying not to slip on the water on the floor while limping my way outside. It helped that I hadn't even slept a wink the night before. I had plenty of time to take my sweet time to get ready.
Taking one step at a time, I finally reached the bottom of the stairs. I let out an audible sigh to show my elation to make it down alive. How did I manage to hurt myself that much?
Deciding against cooking an actual breakfast, I grabbed a granola bar and an orange as I sat on the couch, waiting for Haley to get there.
She made it just as I popped the last piece of orange into my mouth.
"Hey B!" She said as she entered the house. I cautiously staggered to my feet.
"Hi." I replied before taking tiny steps towards her.
"Let's go, and thanks for getting me." I told her while handing her a granola bar. She just continued to stare at me with concern in her eyes. Something I truly despised. Pity.
"So did you show your ankle to the doctor?" She asked as she sped up the car.
"Nope. I think I'll be fine. I'll just keep icing it. It isn't that bad." I shrugged.
"It looks gnarly!" She exclaimed as she scrunched up her nose.
And that sent me into fits of laughter.
"Yeah, it does." I agreed before giggling some more.
"Looks like the Scott brothers are late." Haley said as she looked towards their usual parking spot. "You and Lucas doing fine?"
"Well, I have tougher things on my mind, like how Theresa is going to kill me for bailing on her so close to the Sparkle Classics." I whined as she parked the car in my usual spot.
"Wait, I'll help you." Haley said as she got to my side of the car.
"Thanks bud." I said in pain as I tried to move my sore leg.
Slowly, I was managing to limp my way to the main school gates. Haley was holding my hand to keep me steady. I was so tired that I felt like just sitting on the floor and not moving for the rest of eternity. Some sleep would have been good too. Maybe I could sleep for the rest of my life. Yeah, that would be good. A drama- free life. No babies, no boys, no time capsules. Bliss.
We reached the main door by then and entered. There was a small glass door that seperated us from the main hallway.
I saw that kid, Jimmy Edwards being beaten by Hodney and his friend. The laughed as they finished beating him and started walking towards their lockers. It was then, that I saw the full view of the events unfolding.
I stopped dead in my tracks, grabbing Haley's hand in fright as a gun was directly pointed towards me.
My breath hitched as cold icy fear coursed through my veins. Still holding Haley's hand, I ducked down, my eyes still glued to the barrel of the gun. My mind was unable to comprehend what to do, it threw all survival tactics out of the window as I forcefully shoved the two of us to the ground, in a lame attempt to save us.
And then the shot rang, a magnanimous screech in vacuum, tearing the tissue of our ears and hearts simultaneously. It blared loud and clear, as everything thing halted for that brief trace of a second... before throwing every atom in sight into utter chaos and bedlam.
There is a moment, when it all changes. When everything turns into a different colour. When all the specs of dust floating around under the rays of the sun suddenly cease to move. A moment when everything seems to pause. Then, comes the rush. Where everything greets you all at once. Completely knocking you out of your illusory reality.