Took a while to write this, pretty sad so be warned. Sensitive topics too, just heads up for you all

Life is something that should be taken as a gift not a thing to be taken advantage of.

I sat in silence with Colleen on the couch. We hadn’t gotten over the shock and she hadn’t felt it hit her. I really didn’t want to see something like this happen but at the same time it was inevitable. This would feel like the end of the world. It was only two months until our graduation and it seemed like the world was falling apart. At the same time though it seemed perfectly normal. The world was chaos but seemed fine to me. It was like I was used seeing things falling apart. Sometimes when life was falling apart, I was putting it back together. Now everything had fallen to the floor. Riley was in Ireland and Mitchell was off training in Edmonton. We had no one to turn to except each other.

I turned to look at her. She was still emotionless and blank. I wish that I could have prevented this from happening but I couldn’t. Her exit was peaceful and happy not full of pain. She just fell asleep and silently took her last breath. I held Colleen’s hand and gave her a serious look. She returned my gesture with a grim smile. “I can’t believe she’s gone.” That was the first thing she had said in an hour. There had been no tears, no screaming, just silence. The silence had now been broken and that in turn opened many doors. Many doors that lead to an equal, if not infinite number of possibilities. A knock came on the door. I saw that it was our mailman. He handed me a package. I didn’t know what it was. I opened it. It was a present that I believed to be from Alice. She was in Switzerland visiting a new coven of gifted vampires. Carlisle was interested in seeing them and their powers before the Volturi heard of them. He hoped to lead them in the right direction. I sat down on the couch and slowly pulled it apart. A note was revealed. The present, I discovered was not from Alice but in fact Riley. “”I have to keep this short as I don’t want to hint where I am. I’m in Ireland yes but I can’t tell you where. My phone died a few days ago and frankly, I can’t find my charger so ya, my phones dead till further notice. I’m sorry its going like this, I know this is the last thing you want but it will have to do. I’m sorry Sarah, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. I promise as soon as I am back we will book that trip to Europe. I love you and I hope you appreciate your present, though you probably don’t enjoy the context. I have to go. I love you. Riley.” I dropped the note on the floor and left it there with the intention to burn it later. I just had to find a lighter that would be impossible. “Is that from Ry?” Colleen asked. She came to sit with me. I opened the package further and it revealed a Celtic cross. I hung it up in my room. It gave me hope that he was alive.

I went out into the living room and picked my phone up off the floor. I was curious; I wanted to see if his phone was indeed dead. If it was he wouldn’t answer. If it wasn’t I knew he would answer me. I dialled his number and he almost immediately picked up. “Hello.” “Riley?” “Yes, who is this?” “Ry, it’s me. Where are you?” There was a long pause, he was thinking. “Sar? I can’t exactly tell you. Did you get my gift?”  “Ya, I did. I like it. I need to tell you something.” I had to deliver the news to him this way. “Ry, you have to come home. Soon.” “I know you miss me but it will only be five more days.  It will be only five more days love.” I didn’t get why he was avoiding what I was trying to tell him. I wanted to tell him out right but thought that would do more harm then good. “Look Riley, something happened and I have to tell you. You don’t get it and you need to listen. Your Aunt as you know is not well and that things were going down hill quickly. She passed away last night. You need to come home, now. Colleen has called Mitchell and he is getting here as soon as he can.” There was a long pause on the phone and I heard his cell drop on the ground and then commotion. “I’m getting on a plane as soon as I can. I love you and I will be home in a day and a half. Tell Carlisle!” He hung up the phone.

I sat in the airport with Colleen in my arms. She had begun to cry when I told her Mitchell was coming home. He would be here in an hour and Riley would be here in six. This would feel like the longest wait of my life. People walked passed us and stared. They found us weird, in a city like Toronto you would think that people wouldn’t care if a girl was crying in another’s arms. A person came and sat beside us, we promptly moved. I looked at the girl who was crying in my arms. This wasn’t her. She was the strongest of all of us and now she is a wreck. We always looked to her for support but now she was the one that needed supporting. I was now going to be the one leaned on. I looked at the flight board. His flight from Ottawa was delayed two hours. I didn’t tell her. She instead got up and went there herself. She dropped to her knees. I went to her side. She didn’t cry. She just stayed there silently and wept. I looked at my phone. Carlisle hadn’t answered my texts or calls. Esme was gone and Alice was somewhere. I needed Jasper or Emmett, or anyone for that matter. I closed my eyes and started to pray. “Please God let them here me, please. We need them now and we need some help. Please.” My phone then rang at that moment. “Carlisle!” I said panicked. “Sarah? What’s wrong? Are you alright?” I debated on how to word this around Colleen. Either way I knew it wouldn’t end well. “Colleen’s Mom,” I began. “Alice told me. I’m on my way.” “Carlisle!” The line went dead. I put my phone away. “Where are you?” I said sad. I looked down at my feet. I walked down to sit again. Colleen slowly crawled back to me. She put her head on my lap. “They won’t come fast enough.” I stroked her hair. “I know honey. I know.” “Where’s my change of clothes?” She said lifeless. “In the Mini.” I really didn’t want to get her clothes but if I had to, I would. Her stomach growled. “Hungry?” I asked. She nodded. “Do you want to come with me?” She nodded again. We walked holding onto each other in search of food. She decided upon McDonalds and I, Subway. After we finished we returned to our posts in the waiting area. I saw a person who looked like Carlisle and Colleen got up and started running. I followed her from behind to catch her if she fell. As we got closer he slowed down and she ran into him. He held her tight and she began to cry into his chest. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms. “I’m so sorry sweetheart.” He said. He had a hint of his old British accent in his voice. He walked around and carried her. People stared and he just glared back. In about five minutes he had her laughing. He placed her in one of the chairs. I looked at the time. Riley would be in New Jersey right now. Ever since Carlisle had come time had gone quickly. I had been able to have a shower, eat and sleep a little. Even if it was one some random person’s suitcase. Mitchell was an hour away now. It was a waiting game right now. I missed Riley; I missed Dallas and most of all my Mom and Colleen’s Mom. I still can’t believe she’s gone.

I walked around the airport. I watched reunions, families returning from Florida. Almost anything that could happen did. The one thing I saw that touched me the most was a couple who had just gotten back together. I found out that she was coming from Paris. He got down on one knee and proposed to her. I smiled and clapped. Something like that could make anyone do that. I walked back to where Carlisle and Colleen were. She looked happier and then I realized Mitchell was there. I didn’t realize that my wondering took that much time. He was there, in his military uniform holding her. Carlisle just watched. I eavesdropped a little. “I’m only here for 48 hours and then I’m back.” “That won’t work.” Carlisle said. “I know but I couldn’t get grievance.” He replied. “I think we can go now.” Colleen said confident. I wanted to snap then. Just because Mitchell was here didn’t mean all was fine. I still needed Riley but then again I suppose I could drive home myself. “Hey you.” I heard from behind. I turned around. It was him. I jumped on him. “Riley.” I breathed. He pulled a piece of hair away from my face. He put me down. He cupped his one hand around my cheek. “I love you.” I smiled. “I love you.” He kissed my Claddagh. He then pulled me into a kiss. I leant into him. I pulled away and he kissed me again. He spun me. I pulled away and realized that we were surrounded by people and cameras. I was flattered and blushed slightly. He took me by the waist and dragged his suitcase behind him. “Where’d you go?” I asked. He put his suitcase in the back of the Mini. “I met one of the covens. I researched a little and spent some time with them. They’re quite fascinating really.” I pulled the keys out of my pocket. “Want me to drive?” He looked jet lagged. “Ya.” He said tiredly.

The drive home was long and drawn out. I had to explain everything that had happened in the past two weeks. When I was done I felt relieved. “Wow.” He said as we sat in the driveway. “So where is Colleen going to live?” He asked. “I honestly don’t know.” I kept my hands on the wheel. “All I know is that we have a funeral to plan and a dress to get.” He looked at me with a grim face. “We both have to.” “What do teenagers really know about funerals?” I asked. “We know they’re for loved ones who died and they cost an arm and a leg.” “And we’ve got school soon.” I added. “And we sure as hell don’t have enough money for that.” He bit his lip. “We have each other…I guess.” I looked into his eyes. “Yes, yes we do.” He paused. “What do you mean I guess?” He asked. “I got accepted to U of T. I accepted the offer.” I showed him the letter. He pulled something out of his pocket. “While I was over there Liam took this to me.” He opened it. “I did too.” I let out a little bit of a squeak. “I accepted.” I reached over and hugged him. “Oh my God!” “I guess that some sunshine has come out of this rainy day.” We got out of the car. Despite the horrible circumstances, I believe that things are going to only go up from here.