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(Part 2 of Welcome to the End)
We talked for what it seemed like hours, about anything and everything in between. I knew so much about him now, and vise versa. I knew his favorite color, which just so happened to be purple, his birthday, name, and everything I could have possible imagined. I knew him as well as I know Abel, and I know Abel… I let my barriers down, and really talked with James… He told me his name in the first few minutes of our conversation - what a gentleman! I even started talking about Abel, and all my worries and troubles with him. He held up a crimson coated hand. “Hold it, who’s Abel again, and…is he like you?” He asked, positively intrigued, or rather, he was desperately trying to get his worldly pain off his mind. I nodded a response to the second question and replied sheepishly to the first, “He’s um, my friend…” James shot a wayward glance at me, one that said “I know what you really mean by ‘friend.’” I blushed a deep scarlet and he waved a hand, splattering blood just over my eye. I ignored it, and so did he. “Don’t worry about it, if he’s anything like you, sweet, kind… Everything’s bound to turn out alright.” His sapphire eyes twinkled happily and I had to smile back. “I’ll take your word on it…” I laughed a little, nudging him slightly in a playful manner. “You better take my word on it, I’m James the All Knowing.” He said flashing me yet another smile, one as pure and genuine as the first I’d seen from him. We sat for a moment or two, just enjoying each other’s company. I closed my eyes and sighed, leaning my head on the brick. “Eden?” James whispered harshly, the sound was wrong and forced. I’d been watching him die for the past half hour, this couldn’t be the end. I dared myself to look at him. His complexion had turned pallid and waxy. James had turned into a freaking wax doll! Crimson blotches highly contrasted with his now cobalt lips. Tears pricked behind my eyes, willing them to fall. I wouldn’t, I had to be strong for him. No matter how much it hurt me. James peered at me for a fleeting moment before he said, “I’ve never had the pleasure of kissing a girl before, and I have most certainly never kissed anyone outside of my species, may I kiss you? As my dying wish?” He asked softly. I froze. Kissing? James?! I’d never kissed anyone myself, so it would be a first for the both of us, but…did I really want to share anything that intimate when he was going to die minutes after? It was my job to fulfill the wishes of the dying…unless it was unethical or impossible to do… It was his dying wish? I was created to grant that wish, but, the question was…would I do it? “James…” I moaned, slumping my shoulders. “I really don’t want to… I-” I began to explain why, but he cut me off. “Then say no more, I don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t want to…” He stated quietly. He was so sweet… I held my arms out and motioned him forward. “Come on, gimme a hug, James.” He looked to me, to his wrist, then to my open arms. He gave a small smile before flinging himself into the embrace. It was as if he could pretend no longer that he was going to die, that he couldn’t hold it together anymore. “I don’t want to die!” He sobbed, burying his face in my chest. That got to me. I broke down, and those awaiting tears fell eagerly while my heart rose to my throat. “It’s okay, James, you’ll be fine, you won’t hurt anymore, you’ll be free…” I chanted to him, trying to make myself believe my words… His crying ceased after I finished repeating the words that were supposed to make everyone feel better three or more times. “Thanks Eden… You’re the only person who bothered to get to know me. You treated me like I’m human, and you didn’t judge me… You’re my best friend and I love you.” He admitted, choking back another urge to sob. Why did my job have to be so hard? He didn’t deserve this painful way to die. I didn’t deserve the pain of watching him die painfully… We didn’t deserve this pain… “ What kind of person would I be if I didn’t do all those things?” I exclaimed, still in hysterics. “You would be like everybody else, normal…” He replied. I kissed his forehead, allowing my tears to fall freely now. “I love you too, James…” It was all I could say, there was nothing else I could do for him. I just hugged him tighter, trying to keep him here with me, if only for a moment longer… “I’m not afraid anymore, Eden… I know I’ll be safe wherever I go, because you will always be in my memories to comfort me…” He explained, closing his eyes. “Goodbye, Eden…” He said after a moment, “Goodbye, James…” I whispered back, stroking his matted hair. I continued to whisper words of comfort long after James stopped breathing, I wanted to believe them myself - that he would no longer feel pain…that would be happy and free - but it just wouldn’t sink in. The boy in my arms was James no more, James had gone… All he left was the shell of himself. His worldly body. I laid his body down on the earth he cared so much about, the earth he fought to protect. “Little goober, trying to fight global warming alone…” I said to him, placing his hands over his heart. The most beautiful thing about him… I stayed there, knowing I should leave soon, before anyone sees me. I stayed and wiped away his tears that were still streaming down his sallow cheeks; he looked like a true angel. I never thought that one person could have such an impact on my life, in such a short time at that… “You’re free now, James, that what you always wanted, no one can hurt you now…” You’re no longer bound to this earth and its cruel inhabitants, you’re truly free… I finished in my thoughts, standing up. “Can’t walk out of this alley, I’m blood-soaked, I guess I’ll have to fly…”
 Mary_Weather_Ann_Black · Sat Sep 13, 2008 @ 05:17pm · 0 Comments |
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