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All Chapters of The Day My Friend Died: Chapter 1 - Chapter 4
4 Chapters
Chapter One
The Day My Friend Died/Mandi Martin
The day my friend died.The memory is clear yet also hazy. I remember sitting near the old railway bridge, breathing the toxic combination of mould and whatever substance he was smoking.Matthew wasn’t much older than me, but he had a world of experiences I could never have imagined.We both admitted these experiences wouldn’t scratch the surface of those we would have had in the city on the mainland, but they were still thrilling. Ventor was beautiful, with rolling, steep streets leading to the beaches and a virile fishing spot. We were admired for the fresh fish and seafood, and understandably. There’s nothing better than fish that has just been caught; there’s a flavour that frozen food can’t match.Couple with homegrown vegetables…it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. But as a youth, you don’t appreciate how lucky you are. The grass is always greener, or should I say the sea is always bluer.He had been a clean-cut and polite boy in public. His brown hair was impeccably
Last Updated : 2024-12-25Chapter Two
The Day My Friend Died/Mandi Martin
I awoke to the glare of artificial light and the rhythmic beep of a heart monitor. A tube connected the back of my hand to a drip, the bag half empty of fluid.A stiff hospital gown had replaced my clothes; worse, my underwear was gone. No doubt, because I was unable to move to the restroom. But despite everything, that was the first thing that bothered me.Then I felt the warm hand clasping my own and the tears dripping onto my skin.My mother was sobbing silently, her eyes full of relief. After holding back her sorrow, her delight at seeing me wake up had overwhelmed her, and her heart released her emotions. My father was sitting by her side. He was the more stoic type. But I could tell from the redness, half hidden by his glasses, that he hadn’t been without tears himself. Guilt flooded over me, and if I hadn’t been so tired, I would have been crying, too.“You bloody idiot.” My father spoke first, the reprimand dulled by the happiness he clearly felt. He was holding back a smile.
Last Updated : 2024-12-25Chapter Three
The Day My Friend Died/Mandi Martin
I can’t describe how I felt when I stepped into the house. The familiar smells, sights, and comforts were like manna from heaven after the sterile hospital. I knew such relief would be slightly short-lived since we would be moving, but heck, I was damned well going to enjoy it!The next few months passed without much to talk about. I saw odd shadows now and again—shadows that had no business being there—but I didn’t think much of it. Three weeks after my discharge, my parents took me to the new house for the first time. It was in a quieter neighbourhood, set back from the road and close to the farmland spanning green and gold in the near distance.It was a quaint building and older than the other homes, most of which had been built for social housing, so the red brick exterior and arched windows stood out.The garden was the most impressive part, at least from the outside. It was a haven for wildlife with roving roses and bushes speckled with wildflowers that poked through the leav
Last Updated : 2024-12-25Chapter Four
The Day My Friend Died/Mandi Martin
I couldn’t avoid the old bridge on my way back. Typically, workmen were making so-called improvements on the street, diverting traffic and pedestrians. I often wondered how much work got done. The times I saw them, all they were doing was chatting like washerwomen or going over the plans. I seldom saw actual work. The work, or lack thereof, was the furthest thing from my mind as the bridge loomed dark and severe before me.The tunnel looked endless as the gloom consumed the light, and the sound turned to pitiful echoes.The memory of Matthew and that fateful day surged forward and made my head throb with its aggression. I could almost feel the bile return, and my muscles twitch and contort again. ‘Be brave.’The voice returned to me, singing like the seraphim in my ears. It was so clear I turned to look to see where it had come from.But there was no one, only the leaves dancing in the breeze from the wilting trees.Nothing but weeds ever grew here, no matter how hard people tried.
Last Updated : 2024-12-26
