Three years ago was when it happened. It ruined his life, relentless grief consumed his everyday until these so called ‘best years of his life’ became so blurry that they seeped into one another turning empty and meaningless.
On the 12th of November 2008, he was a naive young teenager, unknowing and innocent, the idea that something even remotely distressing(let alone catastrophic) could happen to him was unimaginable. Yet, life goes on and fate doesn’t change- his whole world was about to collapse right in front of him.
A constant static hiss persisted against the window as the sky divided in two. Silver veins raced down the glass, distorting the world outside his flat.
knock , knock, knock. Unexpected visitors! The surprise imminently turned to suspicion as he approached the door and squinted through the keyhole. It wasn’t Allie. In fact, not anyone he knew: three intimidating police officers stood in a triangular formation with a woman who had eyecatching platinum blonde hair in front and two men behind her- on tall and lean, the other short and stocky, however they were both menacing. All arms were folded and expressions were absent. They all had one thing in common that his gut was screaming out: they were here to deliver news that he didn’t want to believe, no one would have.
Creeeek. Hesitantly, the door inched open before the officers. Plodding n one-by-one they entered the flat and made their way to the sofa. He stared, they stared back. None wanted to start the conversation, no one wanted to accept what had happened. Finally, he asked “So why are you here?” as rain persisted against the window that once separated him from reality. Still air hung around them as what felt like years of time passed before he got an answer. Silence suffocated him as he desperately grasped at the officers for an answer.
A rehearsed heavy breath was exhaled from the platinum-blonde lady signalling imminent destruction of a stranger’s world. His world. Cautiously, the news was delivered. Explosive, raucous laughter erupted from him, he had to laugh to spit out the harsh words that tasted like poison “Are you forreal?”. The insensitive, colloquial tone hung in the air.
Denial washed over him: surely this was a cruel, evil joke. Desperation engulfed him as he searched for any sign this wasn’t real. A smirk? A wink? Anything? Allie was gone and there was nothing he could do, there was nothing he could have done- not even say goodbye.
Just as the rain did outside, tears rolled down his pale skin. Grief started to seep through gaps in the floor and cracks in the ceiling, emerging the four of them into complete stillness.