So I wrote this back when I was 16. I wrote it for a semester exam (I think) and my teacher made me read it out in class. Embarrassing, yes. But hey, at least my classmates liked it.
Not exactly the best short story you can find, but like I said, I was 16.
Hopefully I'll write more (and better ones) in the near future.
Enjoy!
I look up towards the night sky
and the stars are blinking at me like little spotlights. The moon is bright and showers its faint
white light around me, as if welcoming me back.
The scenery is exquisite. I have
forgotten how wonderful the night sky is.
I remember the last time I
came here. It was with him. I close my eyes as my mind drifts back to
that very day. It has been months since
I thought of him, or anything related to him.
Memories of him are the reasons why I no longer go star-gazing anymore. At nights like these, I would be covered and
wrapped up in my comforter and blankets, surrounded by piles of pillows. It is my way of secluding myself from the
world. I have never left my safety
cocoon for months. Until tonight. On top of that I could no longer ignore the
calls of the night sky.
“It is just one cigarette.
Don’t worry yourself. I just want to try
it,” he said as he lighted the thin cylinder of
finely cut tobacco rolled in paper while our backs pressed against the hard
plane of the tree trunk. “You trust me,
don’t you? You know I’m just being
curious, I hope.” I pursed my lips
before deciding whether to believe him or not.
After all, why would he lie to me?
We were best friends. I trusted
him with my life.
The following week, I was
walking towards the library and I heard his voice. I followed it and peered behind the science
building. I caught him lighting up a
cigarette with a couple of dodgy looking kids from school. “What are you doing?” I voiced aloud. He turned around with a guilty
expression. Instead of denying what he
was doing, he defended himself. “It’s
just one more. Don’t worry about
it. This will be my last cigarette and I
promise you it will not make any difference.
You know how stressful exams could be, right?”
I looked at him and wondered
if I should just ignore the seriousness of the situation before me. After all, even I was feeling stressed out
about exams. I silently nodded and
walked away. I knew I should have
stopped him. However, I also knew an
argument will pursue if I did. Somehow, at
that moment, I felt that walking the other way was the right thing to do.
As weeks flew by, we drifted
apart. However, I tried my best to
understand his angst behaviour, as he ignored me. He started hanging out with the same rowdy
kids from the other day instead of me. I
felt empty without him. I was losing my
best friend. While I tried desperately
to cling to our friendship, he did nothing.
I should have done
something. If I did, I wouldn’t be
grieving over him. I knew he had asthma. I knew him smoking would pose a great danger
towards his life. I saw him getting
weaker every day. All the same, though, I did nothing. And now he is gone. Forever.
I look up and could not help but notice the irony. The glorious
sight above me is the opposite of how I feel.
I feel ugly, dirty and most of all, hopeless. As if a black hole is sucking me out of this world
while the beautiful sky is mocking me. I
cannot squelch out the guilt and regret I feel within me. So, for the last time that night, I look up
towards the night sky and said a silent prayer.
Farewell my best friend, farewell my brother. May you finally find peace.
Hope you liked it!
Lost Mermaid
PS: Idk why, but the font in the third paragraph can't be changed to a lighter colour.
Tried fixing it, it didn't work. Apologies for the inconvenience!
