Time of death

It was just an accident. William didn’t mean for this to happen. The sounds of an ambulance cried in the background as William stayed in shock, unable to process what he had done. Red and blue lights escaped through the shutters , as crimson liquid stained his hands. A broken form of a body lay in his hands, threatening to go limp. William’s ears ringed, making him unable to hear the medics urging him to move.

"Move! Get back!"

A medic’s hand shoved William's shoulder, but he was an anchor. He wouldn't—couldn't—let go.

An unforgettable corner of a counter dripped red, the same place where all this mishap happened. William didn’t mean to push Lucas, he didn’t mean for Lucas to hit his hand.

“Will, this isn’t your fault.” Lucas gasped for air while tugging on William’s sleeve as if he knew what he was thinking.

Time slowed down as the cuckoo bird struck midnight, unleashing William from his trance.

And then, Lucas stopped tugging as his hand fell to the floor.

His friend stayed unblinking as blood spilled from his mouth. A scarlet red drop fell to the puddle of dark red blood. "I didn't mean it," William cried, "Lucas, I didn't mean it." he whispered , a desperate voice cracking like tires on gravel, hoping for a reply.

The medics heaved Lucas's limp body onto the stretcher, as William felt the phantom warmth of Lucas's skin, his own hands covered in red, shaking and suddenly empty.

On the drive to Iowa Methodist Medical Center, William nearly crashed his beat up, red honda to the rail guards. The squeaking of a swerve filed the abandoned dark road as the head lights spun uncontrollably. He halted his car to a stop. William banged his hand on the driving wheel and at last, his sobs finally breaking through the shock. The radio cracked to life, as a sad tune of memories by Maroon 5 matched Willaim’s cries. Ugly crying took over the song, and after 10 minutes, he was too tired to cry, unable to shed any more tears. The rest of the drive to the hospital had been a blur, ran through 2 stop signs and a red light. And finally, the brown building with an American flag pole came into view.

William scrambled inside the facility, and stumbled to the front desk.

“Lucas M- Mar-Martinez” William studdered.

“Room 415” The front desk lady replied.

William ran to the elevator, and practically punched the level 4 button. He pins his back against the wall as he slides down and hugs his legs while biting back the last few tears.

“Ding” the elevator sounded, as William bolted for room 415.

403… 408… 4011… 415.

Wiliam skidded a bit, before opening the door to a sympathy look. The monitor didn’t beep. Willaim concentrated on the monitor for any signs of a little beep. Nothing.

“Time of death, 1:32am” the doctor whispered.

William opened the double front door slowly, as the sky stared down with gloomy clouds.

A fat, wet drop landed on William’s leather jacket, And within seconds, the sky began to collapse. Rain bounced off his hair, as he walked to the middle of the parking lot.

“ WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO SUFFER?!” William shouted at the sky.

Lighting flashed, as if the clouds replied, “ deal with it.”

William finally walked to his car after getting completely soaked. But the door handle was jammed. William yanked relentlessly, and finally opened the door, but the handle broke off just as the sky rumbled as if it sneered and chuckled. William opened his mouth and screamed HALELUIAA in vain. He climbed inside his car, turned the keys but the engine just won't start. William yelled in frustration and that is when he broke down crying. Sobs after sobs, tears poured down his cheeks like waterfall.

“Will, this isn’t your fault.” William remembered Lucas's last words.

“ Lucas, please, come back.” His voice is soft but desperate.

But there was static emptiness in his heart. The rain is no longer pugnacious, just continuous— just a gentle tapping against the roof of the car. His breaths turned into shallow breaths that trembled every few seconds—like mini aftershocks.

William knew he was just in denial. But all his life, it felt like the world was against him. The barrier between fulfilment and dread grew thicker by the minute. He stared out the window, slightly foggy but clear enough to see more droplets. His arms drooped tirelessly onto the steering wheel, the more tense that it should’ve been. The rain just kept coming down, it felt like it haunted him—like his guilt

William looked ahead, through his windscreen. The hospital shone, its radiance beamed through the storm. Maybe he shouldn’t have left.The place where people were talking, walking, laughing softly—living their lives.

William decided to start the engine once again. It spluttered but then it came to life. His heart lifted a bit but the feeling of bereavement was still raw. Because it was real. William decided to not stay put—but to go somewhere else.

But he had nowhere to go.

The gentle hum of the car bombarded his ears. He rested his head upon the seat and slowly shut his eyes. William’s options were limited. Home was just another way to live through his past. From wall to wall, Lucas’s smile would be beaming from all the gloom. Each corner felt somehow—brighter. But now his best mate was just stuck inside a frame, the home just felt suffocating. All because of him.

William’s watch flashed.

2:23am.

Lucas had died an hour ago.

An hour later and he’s still dwelling on what he thinks is the present. But 5 minutes was all it took for someone to disappear, forever and to scar another mate.

“William, this isn’t your fault.”

His voice didn’t sound like a ghost, it sounded authentic.

William’s breath felt shallow as his throat burned.

“I…know.” He responded with hesitance in his tone—because he wasn’t sure.

William waited for Lucas’s response but he vanished—but it didn’t have the effect of a ghost. Just someone passing by.

The atmosphere no longer felt like a lightless void. It felt enlightened with hope and possibility. William rubbed his eyes, and didn’t let the tears soak in deep. Wherever he was heading, Lucas would be right there beside him.

He turned, then twisted the key with his tapered fingers. It had a good sensation. Soon, the engine rumbled and he stepped on the gas.

“I’m proud of you mate.” Lucas whispered.

A MONTH LATER *

It had already been winter now, and William felt the first snowflake touch his hands. A bouquet of flowers in hand, filled roses and chrysanthemums. He arrived in Keokuk National Cemetery and the field of tombstones lied in front of him. His feet guided him to one tombstone on top of a hill, he knew this path far too well. William could measly walk there blindfolded.

“Hello Lucas.” William stated.

He stared at the grave, but unlike any other times, now he only remembers the joyful moments they spent together. William sat next to the grave, and he could feel someone behind him.

“Hey lucas, how ya’ been?” willian asked, without turning back.

“Hey will, ya know it aint’ healthy for you if you keep visiting me. “ Lucas crackled.

The sun begun to set on the horizon, slowly creeping to slumber. By now, the snow danced everywhere, as William stared at the pink nacreous clouds until it became littered with blinking stars.

He walked to his beat up red honda, upped the radio to butter by Bts and drove away, leaving his memories there forever, never to turn back again.