A/N: Okay, this chapter and the next few are the final ones, and they will be short, so I'll post daily. The ending is kinda depressing, unfortunately, but I still like the way it turns out. Thanks for reading!
4
Vivian
I could feel him slipping away. From that moment, I knew the image of that innocent girl would be embedded in my brain forever. I could never let go what had happened. It had affected Manasi enormously, and I felt myself, against my will, wanting to protect him. Why did I want to protect him? I had no idea. He had, not intentionally, caused my brother's death. There was that again - not intentionally. Both of us had been victims of circumstance. Maybe we had more in common then I had thought.
"Hey," I began. "It's okay. It's going to be fine."
"You don't understand, it's all my fault," he managed between deep breaths. could tell he was holding back a wall of sobs.
"I know how you feel."
He remained silent, his eyes gazing somewhere beyond this world.
"I… I'll always be there for you. No matter what." It finally slipped out of my mouth.
He froze, even his tear stopping midway down his cheek. I looked up at me, with a hopeful gaze in his eyes. "Really?"
I nodded, smiling. His lips slightly upturned, returning my smile. "Me too," he said, sitting upright and leaning closer to me.
I couldn't tell one feeling from another anymore. I looked into Manasi's deep blue eyes, like the endless depths of a still ocean.
"Can I tell you something?" he asked me.
"Sure." I didn't know what I was saying anymore. I was lost in his misty gaze.
"I've never felt such a close connection with someone before," he said softly. I didn't know what was happening. I wasn't in control of my emotions anymore. I could see every sparkle in his eyes, every hair of his eyelashes. They were speckled with tears. We were breathing in sync, in and out. In and out.
Suddenly, my heart took control of my brain and I closed the distance between us. The world was spinning. I couldn't see, or hear, or anything, All I knew was him and me, as one.
After what seemed like eternity, we separated. He wordlessly took my hand and guided my out the doorway. I could feel my racing heartbeat through my chest.
We gazed up into the night sky, the stars shining like diamonds amidst the dark. I felt… strange. Like jumping into a pile of flowers, despite what I had just seen. Did anyone see us? I didn't even care. I had never had a crush. Not once. But in such a small amount of time, among arguments and tantrums, we had bonded.
We sat in the tall stalks of grass, watching the stars twinkle.
I thought about what had happened in the past few hours. We had only known each other for four… five days? It felt like years. Somehow, I felt that this was the beginning of something beautiful. I had been searching since my teen years for the right person… The time wasn't right. Not today. But someday, someday it would happen.