Goodbye: Preface

 Don't even know where this came from. It kind of started out as a dream I had the other day, but then I remembered a question I had about this story and decided to explain how Amelia died.

I shouldn't be up this late…it does weird things to my brain.




    A sudden jolting impact shook the car. Headlights flashed, blurry in the corner of her widening eyes, rendering her temporarily blind. The screeching scream of metal against metal rose above the wails of pain ripped from her throat, mingling terribly with the horrified gasps arising from onlookers’ cars.

    Sudden fiery pain raced through her body, accompanying the sudden collision. Limbs locked and knuckles white, she released a terrible, agonized scream into the night.



    The tense tranquil of the hospital room was nearly too much to handle. Hannah stared, wide-eyed and shocked, at the disastrous mess that was Amelia. Her face was sunken and sallow, giving her a lifeless appearance. Protruding from her skull unnaturally, Amelia’s roughly repaired jaw only added to the skeletal aura about her.

    A weak, tearful hiccup disrupted the taut silence, making Hannah jump. It took her a moment to realize that it was she who had made the noise. Her face felt oddly wet, and she put a hand to her cheek to discover a steady stream of tears drizzling down it. Inhaling in a choking sort of way, she lowered her shaky hand and resumed her silent vigil.

    Beep, beep, beep. The monotonous chime of the heart monitor was a welcome relief from utter silence to Hannah, an incessant reminder that there was still hope for her misfortunate friend. The only additional sound was an occasional raspy exhale from Amelia herself, to which Hannah’s heart leapt hopefully. Time after time, however, her shaky optimism was unrewarded. Seconds, minutes, hours passed with no change in Amelia’s condition.

    After what could have been either centuries or merely a few scarce moments, a gentle touch to her shoulder startled Hannah out of her horrified trance. She stared, eyes wide and wet with tears, into her mother’s comforting gaze.

    “Come on, sweetie,” she murmured softly. “We have to go home.”

    “N-no,” Hannah tried to protest. “Amelia’s…”

    “I know.” Mrs. Jones half-smiled in an attempt to persuade her. “I know, sweetie. But staying here and losing sleep won’t help her get better. You have to stay healthy, too.”

    “But —”

    “Listen, sweetheart. Amelia’s gonna be okay. You’ll see her again tomorrow. Just trust me on this, alright?”

    Reluctantly, Hannah allowed herself to be led into the elevator, through the lobby, and into her father’s white Sedan. She stared unblinkingly at the back of her mother’s headrest, wishing that life would be simple and happy. Her wish went unnoticed, apparently, as her father chose that moment to swerve and consequently knock her head against the window next to her.

    A horrible, pounding headache resonated behind her eyes, threatening to worsen Hannah’s day even more. She closed her eyes in a desperate attempt to escape the distressing world around her, and allowed the soothing sway of the car to lull her into a restless slumber.



    “Hannah…Hannah, baby, wake up.”

    The teenager groaned pitifully, rubbing at her eyes to ward off the light. “Dun wanna. Sleepy.” She had been having a wonderful dream, where everything was back to normal and Amelia was healthy as ever. Upset at having to leave her dreamland, Hannah managed a grumpy pout. “Go ‘way.”

    “Hannah Grace Jones, wake up now!”

    Surprised at the urgency in her mother’s voice, she opened her eyes and sat up. “Mom?”

    Mrs. Jones was wide-eyed and wild-haired, a fearful expression etched across her graceful features. She looked horribly upset, and Hannah felt her stomach drop with apprehension.

    “Hannah, sweetie, I’m sorry, so sorry…” her mother mumbled, jaw shaking.

    “Mom!! What’s wrong? What happened??”

    “Amelia. She’s dead.”

    With those three simple words, Hannah’s world abruptly stopped.



    Life blurred indistinctly, vague images flying around her at a speed to great for her to comprehend. The only escape from the tumultuous cyclone was anger.

    “You promised I’d see her again!! You promised!!” she screamed, fingers clenching into fists.

    “Sweetie, I’m sorry, I know…”

    “It’s your fault, Mom. Somehow, it’s your fault, I swear.”

    “That’s not fair! How was I supposed to know she wouldn’t make it through the night?!!”

    “Shut up!! Just shut up, please.” Hannah’s voice lowered to a croaking whisper, her eyes squeezed shut to hold back the tears.

    “Hannah…oh, baby, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, but there’s nothing we can do…Hannah?”

    There was no response. No words would do at that moment. Instead, Hannah meekly embraced the silence.