Picture of Silyn Zerron 

Dust clouded the atmosphere once the bullets finally stop raiding the house. There was an eerie silence that followed, which had me tensed all over, fearing for what would come next. I brought up my hand to wipe away the dirt that was on my face but stopped immediately once I realized the amount of blood that was on my hands. 

It's not mine, I concluded as I checked my clothing and body frantically. I peered at Adara, who was no longer trembling in fear, but rather slumped on the counter, grasping at her side. I gasped loudly, and without hesitation, I stood up pulling the roll of paper towel that was still in tact on the counter. I then pressed the towels to her side, making sure that they slowed down the bleeding.

"What happened?" Zion cried as he ran down the stairs to my side with Colette and Jacé right on his heels. "We heard the sound of shooting downstairs, so I pulled Colette and Jacé into my room." His eyes widened at the sight of Adara, and the amount of blood that had pooled at her feet.

"She's been shot," I whispered, still cradling her in my hands. 

"I'll call an ambulance," Jacé announced and rushed to the phone with shaky hands. I doubt she'd be able to dial the number properly. I stared at Adara. Her cloudy eyes were closed to slits now. 

"Please check on Tammie and Silyn. Especially Tammie," I said slowly. The memories of her lifeless body still had me shaken. Zion rushed over to them, checking their pulse with a concerned look but soon breathed out in relief.

"They've just fainted," he concluded. I still had her in my arms, brushing away her ginger strands from her face. Her breathing was audible but rather faint. I was worried about her outcome.

***

"I'm so sorry," she croaked, the tears falling down her face. She looked at me with such poignancy that I almost broke. "I wasn't thinking straight, and I was obviously being selfish." I sighed deeply, taking her hands in mine.

"Adara, how many times do I have to tell you that it's okay. Now rest." She looked really distressed, so I just wanted her to drop it. It would have just caused the level of her anxiety and blood pressure to rise. She nodded in agreement before resting her head on the pillow behind her.

A few minutes before they'd allow us to see her, the nurse had told her parents that it was just a graze from the bullet. All she needed was whatever special kind of bandage they gave her, along with her medication and she'd be fine.

"Are you hungry honey?" Mrs. Zenth, Adara's mother asked. She'd just come from running all around town, looking for something for Adara to eat. Adara nodded quickly, a smile forming at her lips as she took the long hamburger her mother handed to her. I excused them, walking into the hallway where my parents stood, conversing with Adara's father.

"We definitely need to get a dog," I heard my father mumble, as he ran his fingers through Zion's hair, as he latched unto our father. He was quite shaken up after the whole shooting incident. I smiled as my mother walked up to me. The rain was pouring heavily outside, echoing off the walls of the corridor we stood in. She was been out busy getting something for Zion and me to eat since we'd been here from since morning. I vowed never to leave Adara's side.

My mom pulled out a Caesar salad in a medium clear container with its dressing, which I beamed at, knowing that she bought this because it was my favorite, along with a bottle of orange juice. I was a salad person. I grabbed the items, thanking her in the process and walked to the open area where visitors were free to take a seat and eat.

I pulled out my fork and stabbed into the pile of lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese and satisfied my taste buds and stomach. I continued eating, enjoying the fact I was alone and pulled out my phone, browsing through whatever social media I had on it.

"Hey," a disembodied voice said shyly from behind. I only set a sullen facial expression once I turned and realized it was Tammie and Silyn standing, each looking a tad uncomfortable. "May we seat?" they asked. I merely nodded. "We just wanted to say how sorry we were, for trying to turn Adara from you," Tammie began somberly. "I guess we were just jealous that she chose to stay with you from the beginning, after the... incident." I just sat, crunching the contents that were already in my mouth.

"You were jealous," Silyn scoffed. "Not me." Tammie just rolled her eyes before turning back to me, looking apologetic. 

"We just hope you'd forgive us. I mean, who knows... Maybe if we didn't come over, Adara wouldn't have been hurt," she said.

"Why are you coming to apologize only now?" I asked, anger dripping from my tone.

"Because," Tammie sighed. "We've just come to realize that we were in the wrong, and you... There was never anything wrong with you, and we treated you so bad, like the day when we put the caterpillar in your bag, and we knew you were afraid of caterpillars, but we did it anyway, and that day when you had your asthma attack, and we finished your pump, and the other day when you were using the toilet, and you forget your phone on the tank and we-"

"Okay!" I interrupted. "And the list goes on." I picked up a napkin to wipe the dressing on the sides of my mouth. "Listen, I forgave you guys a long time ago, but that doesn't mean that things are going to be back the way they used to."

"I understand," Tammie nodded.

"Me too," Silyn replied, which was the first sensible thing she'd contributed to the conversation. "But I really missed our old days."

"Yeah?" I quirked my brows, nodding slowly. "I don't." Tammie's soft smile fell a bit. "But I will remember this day." I threw in a reassuring smile.

"Remember this day, when it's raining outside, and our friend's on a hospital bed?" Silyn cocked her head to one side with a frown.

"We have nothing else, do we?" Tammie replied, clasping her hands. "Let's just hope for the best, that police finds out whoever did this, and give them the justice they deserve."

***

Thank you so much for reading.

Taja D'amore.