fear [feer]
noun
a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain,etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
It was 3am that night when I couldn't sleep. After being at the pub for so long, I thought I'd be tired. I stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to clear the thoughts the alcohol hadn't. Then it rang. I looked over at my cell phone that I haven't received calls on, unless it was telemarketing. The sudden light blurred my vision a little, so I grabbed it to get a closer look at it. The name read Anthony Padilla.
I nearly dropped my phone trying to answer it, but I managed to answer and I let out a croaked, "Hello?"
"Ian?" said the voice at the other side of the line. It sounded somewhat desperate. Hearing his voice. Hearing his voice after three years made me completely and utterly speechless. "Ian, are you there?"
"I-I'm here." I stuttered.
"I have to tell you something." His voice was shaking. What could have possibly been so important that made Anthony call me at 3am after not talking for 3 damn years? I have to admit, I was angry. He knew my cell phone number. He just called it. But he never had the time to call me before?!
I heard him take a deep breath before he let out another word. "Earlier today, Kristen and I went for a nice lunch." Right. He calls her Kristen. I heard him take another deep breath. Why is he telling me this? "It was so beautiful. I never thought having lunch could ever be so beautiful." His voice cracked at the word beautiful. He cleared his throat and took another deep breath. "She was actually just eating a salad, because of her morning sicknesses…" He paused. Morning sickness? Was she pregnant? Was Kalel pregnant with Anthony's baby? Is that why he was calling me? No. He kept on talking. "The next thing I knew, her face turned from a smile to fear. There was an explosion at the back of the restaurant, and a fire started." A fire? Today? Wait… in L.A. "The guy sitting at the table next to us ran towards the fire to see if anyone was hurt, but off went another explosion. Now, this one made my ears ring. I couldn't hear anything. My first instinct was to grab Kristen and get out. The fog spread too quickly and I couldn't see her. I heard her scream my name and I searched for her." His voice was shaking a lot at this point. I heard him sniff, like he was crying. Then he took in another deep breath. "I found her, but she was out. I picked her up, and tried to find the nearest exit, and cried for help. I screamed as loud as I could. But then everything turned black." Could this be the same fire that the man at the pub spoke about? "I-I woke up in the hospital. I couldn't hear or see anything. Just muffled voices and obscured vision. Then the sound burst into my ears and the light came into my eyes with no warning. I found myself on one of those rolling hospital beds." Rolling hospital beds? He's 30 years old and he didn't even know what to call a gurney. "I heard one of the doctors announce that I was awake, and I looked around. I got scared and I screamed for Kristen. I just screamed her name, over and over again. One of the doctors looked concerned and told me it will be okay. I began crying at that point. I still screamed for her." No. I couldn't take this in all at once. It was just too much for me. "I told them I was fine and that I just wanted to see my wife. I asked them if she was okay, but they didn't answer me. I screamed at them, I threw a tantrum until they gave me an answer. The oldest doctor looked at me with pitiful eyes, and apologized. Apologized for what? He told me that she didn't make it. The girl I have spent 7 years with didn't make-" Then I heard him choke on his last word. He was crying. I heard each sob come after the other.
"I'm so sorry. Anthony," When I said his name, I felt the burn again. I haven't said his name in so long. "I really wish there was something I could do for you. I do."
He tried taking a deep breath, but it came in parts. As if he didn't hear what I just said, he said something that just made him break down. "The baby…" He couldn't hold it in. I've never heard him cry like this before. "I'm so sorry, Ian! I'm so sorry. I miss you!" He was screaming. He was yelling my name. I was terrified. Right there, I hung up the phone. I ran out of my house with my keys, wallet and cell phone. I got into my car with those three objects, not even wearing any shoes. What am I doing? I drove as fast as I could to get to L.A. I was driving as fast as I could to see me best friend again.