CHAPTER 2, PART 6

RUSH

I lay back on my bed, the whirling thoughts in my head refusing to settle.
"Sayori's leaving..." I murmer. "Not least of which, she's leaving me..."
I look out my window to see Sayori waving goodbye to the taxi cab. Is she not leaving today? I guess if she's not, that's a good thing. It gives me some time to figure out what the hell is going on...
Sayori tried to kill herself... She's leaving for who knows how long...
Why? What caused all of this so suddenly? I ask myself dozens of questions before I realize I'm asleep.

I look around me. I'm in pitch black darkness.
"Get up..." I hear a voice whisper to me. "She doesn't want to leave you, can't you tell?"
"I know! I don't want her to leave either.. but she doesn't have a choice!" I yell back at the voice.
"And what makes you so sure of this?"
"I just... I know! This... is for the best..."
"Everyone has a choice, Shin. No matter the situation, everyone has a choice. Get up. Make yours."
I see a memory... A memory of...

The night Sayori and I confessed to each other. It lasts for a brief moment, and I return to the darkness.

The darkness gives way to light. I'm awake. I look at my clock.
"Oh, Sayori's leaving..."
I hear a trunk door slam shut.
"No." I say to myself
The engine starts up.
"No."
I hear voices...
"Bye, Sayori!" I hear Natsuki yell.
"NO!" I yell. I clamber to my feet, and haphazardly slip my shoes on, and bolt out the door. I look out in front of Sayori's house.
The taxi's already leaving. I run as fast as I can to catch it. It's about 100 meters in front of me. I guess all that time in the track team is really paying off now. Every time it stops, I gain about 5 meters. We reach the edge of town, and I'm about 20 meters behind it. Once it leaves the city limits, the speed limit goes up, and there's no way I'll catch it.
It's now, or never.
I remember a poem we read during the festival, and re-read it out to myself to give myself the last bit of motivation I need.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Suddenly, the cab stops.
The door opens, and Sayori steps out, crying.
"SAYORI!" I cry out to her.
"SHIN!" She yells back to me.
We run to each other, and stop about a meter apart. Tears are streaming down her face. I don't realize it, but tears are running down my face as well. We move to each other, and embrace each other.
"I don't want you to go, Sayori..." I whisper in her ear, running my hand through her hair.
"I don't want to go either, Shin, but what choice do I have?" She backs away from me slightly.
"You can..." I pause "You can stay here, with me, with the other club members. We'll keep a close eye on you, just... anything to where you can stay here... I..."
"What?" She fills the silence between my sentences.
"I love you too much to lose you now, Sayori..."
"I.. I love you too, Shin!" She bursts into tears, finally unable to control her sobs. "I'll.. stay.. then..."
"Thank you... thank you..." My grip on her tightens.
"What.. what do we say to my parents?.. And the doctor?"
"I can try to- no, I will convince them to let you stay here. With us.
"Let's... let's do this.. together, Shin."
Sayori holds out her hand; and I take it.
I say one final word to Sayori before she takes out her phone.

"Together."