[original story] Broken Memories
Title: Broken Memories
Author: rin_no_himitsu
Genre: Angst/Romance
Rating: T (PG-13)
Word Count: 989
Summary: A year after his death, Mirelle and Anita visit his grave. Mirelle remembers the times they had together. Monologue-ish.
A/N: For the PP auditions. It used to be around 1500 words, but the Jr. Editor-in-Chief wanted it to be short. I managed to cut out one-third of it. Sigh. Flashbacks are in italics. Enjoy!
“Hey! Mirelle!”
I whirled around, catching sight of Anita. Her short, blonde hair bobbed up and down while she ran towards me.
“Where are you going? You left class so quickly.”
For a second, I just admired her. She was so strong. If she hadn’t been there for me when it happened, I don’t know what I would’ve done.
“The…cemetery,” I replied. My voice was softer than usual.
“Ah.” Understanding registered on her face, and she gave me a small smile. “It’s been a year already?”
“Yeah…”
She gestured for me to start walking, and then fell into step beside me. “Time flies, doesn’t it?”
“Yes… It’s hard to believe. It’s almost as if he was a memory.”
She nodded, a sad look in her eyes. We walked in silence after that, each of us returning to happier times. Back when he was still alive…
It was a hot June morning. Anita and I were walking to school, as usual. We were running late, but the heat made it hard to speed up.
“Yo!”
We turned to see Kyle on his bike, his dark brown hair stuck to his forehead with sweat.
“Sweating so much so early in the day? I wouldn’t want to be near you when school ends!” Anita joked.
“Shut up,” he retorted. “At least I’ll get to school on time.”
He turned to me. “Hey, Mirelle, let’s ditch her. She can run to school by herself.”
“Huh? Wha-” He pulled me onto his bike.
“Hold on,” he grinned. I clung to him as he started to pedal, literally leaving poor Anita behind in his dust.
“Sorry, Anita! Ah…um… See you at school!”
He laughed, looking back at me affectionately. “You’re so cute, Mirelle.”
---
Anita and I sat down in front of his grave. I dusted off his headstone, placing a fresh bouquet of roses in the vase. I could almost see him there, scolding me for bringing him such embarrassing flowers. Almost.
Anita spoke first. “Hey… How are you doing? You know, as much as it pains me to say this,” she cracked a small smile, “it’s not the same without you.”
She went on to tell him about school, our lives, and other recent happenings. I listened to her soothing voice. It reminded me of all the times she gave me advice.
“You should tell him.”
We were in Anita’s room, working on a project. She had broken the silence a few minutes ago. I still hadn’t replied.
“T-Tell him what?”
“That you like him.”
“How did you-?”
She smiled. “You’re not hiding it very well.”
“Oh…”
“He isn’t, either.”
“Hm?”
“He likes you, too, you know.”
I sat straight up in surprise.
“So you should tell him.”
***
Kyle and I met up after school, as usual. Anita was running late, or maybe she just decided to leave without telling us.
“Where’s Anita?” he asked impatiently.
“I don’t know.”
Suddenly, she came running up to us.
“Sorry, guys,” she said between pants. “The softball team is holding an emergency meeting. You two go on ahead.”
As she passed by me, she whispered into my ear: “This is your chance! Good luck!”
I sighed. Behind me, Kyle was getting onto his bike.
“Come on,” he said. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Okay.” Neither of us talked on the journey, but somehow, it was as if we had an entire conversation.
“We’re here.”
I got off the bike. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
As he got ready to leave, I remembered Anita’s words. Now is as good a time as ever, no?
“Um… Kyle?”
“Yeah?”
“I…” I couldn’t bring myself to confess.
Without thinking, I leaned up and gently pressed my lips against his. I felt him stiffen, then relax, kissing back.
When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against mine.
“See you tomorrow.”
I nodded, smiling. I didn’t need to say anything. He knew how I felt. And my feelings were reciprocated.
---
“I have to leave now, Mirelle. Get home safely.” Anita turned to his grave. “See you later.”
I watched her form disappear, and then lied down on the grass. A warm breeze blew over me, reminding me of our first time.
I woke up in his arms. Glancing up, a faint blush on my face, I saw his smiling face.
“Morning,” he greeted sweetly. He gave me a peck on the forehead.
“Morning.”
And we just laid there, basking in each other’s presence.
---
The sun had set when I first spoke, my voice but a whisper.
“You know, after you left, I was devastated. It was suffocating. Every day was the same. Without you there, it was like living in a monochrome world.
“I still remember the day I found out you were gone…”
I woke up early, since we were supposed to go on a date today to celebrate your birthday. I spent the better part of the morning getting ready. When I finally went downstairs, I found my mother waiting for me, a serious expression on her face.
“I have something to tell you. It’s…best you sit down.” Her tone worried me.
“I’m telling you this because I think it’s important you hear it from someone close to you.”
Why was she being so apprehensive?
“Mirelle, Kyle is…dead.”
What?
“You’re kidding, right? I… I just saw him yesterday.”
No. No. This isn’t happening.
“Honey, I’m sorry.”
Everything went silent as I cried out in pain.
---
“To me, you weren’t just another death. It always seemed so trivial when I heard about those on TV. Now I finally know how those people feel.
“I miss you, Kyle… I want you back more than anything in the world.” I wiped away a stray tear. “I still love you. I always will.”
With that, I got up. As I walked away, I heard his voice one more time: a sweet, gentle whisper.
“I love you too, Mirelle.”