My Short Story

Hi All,

Are you ready for my newest masterpiece? Some of you know that I was struggling with my 3-5 page short story that I had to write for my final for Creative Writing...Well, here's the result. I hope you all enjoy it! And please post a comment telling me the good and bad parts!

*WARNING! Possible sappiness and tears*

"My Best Friend"

I pushed through the automatic doors and had the mixed smell of cleanliness and sickness hit

me, but I was too afraid to even notice. I ran right past the receptionist, a quizzical look on her

face, and my mother following shortly behind me apologizing to people I bump into and picking

up things I knock over, because I'm so focus (and unfocused at the same time) to pay any

attention. I run into the elevator and push the button to take me to the sixth floor. Every second

feels like a lifetime. The elevator is not responding as fast as I want it to, so I continue to push

the button with the big "6" on it, thinking that this will make it work faster. As soon as the doors

begin to close, I see my mother running to catch up to me (I had completely forgot about her),

but it was too late, and I was too worried to stop the elevator, for if I stopped it, it might not decide

to go up for another hour, after all, she could find her way herself.

After what seems to be an eternity, I make it to my level. My heart begins to pound even harder

then it did when I got the phone call. The fear of what Matt might look like took over. I begin to

look for his room number, not bothering to ask one of the nurses. Room 652, 653, 654, THERE!

Room number 655. I hold my breath and close my eyes as I turn the lever, not even thinking of

knocking (But then again, how much thinking was I REALLY doing?). Instantly, a slow beeping

along with a struggling breath fills my ears.

"Matt?" I whisper in case he's asleep.

"Gwen!" An excited, yet exasperated voice says, but it's not Matt's, the only voice I want to

hear.

"Mrs. London!" I exclaim as I run over to her and throw my arms around her neck, "How is he?

What's happened? Is he going to be alright?" Before she can answer, my eyes go directly to

Matt, my best friend who I loved more than anyone in the world, who was lying there, helplessly,

with tubes and machines connected all over him. I immediately go numb.

"Oh my God," is the only thing I can think to say.

"Now, dear, I'm not going to lie to you. He's not well..."

"Oh my God..." I say as I continue to stare at him.

"He was going to see you. He said there was something he wanted to tell you. He didn't see the

ice..." She goes on.

"Oh my God..."

"The highway was really busy and the fog was so thick. Alot of people were hurt."

My mom finally makes it up to the room. She comes in breathing deeply, but I don't pay much

attention. I keep staring at Matt. And then the reality sets in. I sink to the floor and begin to cry.

He was coming to see me. I could have gone over to his place and it could be me in that bed.

I would much prefer that, if only he could be fine and well. My mom and Mrs. London come over

and console me, not with words, but a light touch on my shoulder and a soft hug from my

mother. They decided, still wordlessly, to get me into a chair and leave me to be with Matt.

I sit there, with my head in my hands bawling, wanting to throw my arms around his unconscious

body, but too afraid to touch him for fear that I might break him even more. I sit there for longer

than I know, not sure of what to do next.

Finally, I just start talking, thinking that he just might hear me.

"What were you thinking?! You have more sense then that, Matt, you knew the roads were bad!

What were you thinking?!"

At these words, there was a slight stir under the covers. My jump with a combination of excitement

and fear.

"Matt?!" He slightly opens his eyes, "Oh Matt!"

"I needed to talk to you," A voice that isn't his comes from his mouth. This voice was hoarse

and scratchy, opposed to his usual smooth and confident tone.

"What was so important that you couldn't have just called me?" I say with my eyes begining to

fill with tears again.

"I had to come see you..." He begins to say as the door squeaks open and our mothers slowly come

into the room.

"Matt! You're awake!" Cried Mrs. London, as she comes to the side of his bed and gives him a

hug and begins to cry on his white hospital gown.

"We thought we heard voices," My mom says, "Come on. Lets leave them along. It's getting late

as well. Visiting hours will be over soon."

"I'll be back tomorrow. Promise." I say sincerely as I give his hand a squeeze and he just grins

at me.

As I leave the room, I breathe a sigh of relief.

The next day, I arrive at the hospital early in the morning, not as frantic as the day before.

Mom and I go up the elevator (which seems to be moving faster today as well) and turn the corner

going to Matt's room as if we had gone there every day of our lives. But suddenly, I began to get

a horrible feeling in my heart. I look down the quiet hallway and see Mrs. London walk out of

room number 655 with a solomn look on her face. My heart begins to race as I run toward her.

"I'm so sorry, dear...He's gone."

Not even an "Oh my God" came from my lips. There were no words for this. Only tears.

The three of us just stood there crying and holding onto

each other. After several minutes of this, Mrs. London gathers enough strength to push back the

tears and pull something out of her pocket.

"I found this in his jacket. I'm sure he would still want you to have it." She says as she places

an envelope into the palm of my hand. I begin to cry even more at the sight of my name in his

handwriting on the front of it.

The next two weeks are a blur. I was unable to read the letter from Matt. Naturally, I was very

curious about what it might contain, but on the other hand I was terrified that it might make me

cry all over again and that I might never be able to stop.

I finally work up the courage to read the note. Granted, it was through a curtain of tears, but

it had taken me long enough to get to that point.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Dear Gwen,

We have been friends for far too many years and we are not going anywhere. So before we

waste any more time, I must tell you something that I have been keeping inside for a very long

time. I no longer want to be JUST friends with you. You are everything to me. There is not one

day that goes by that I do not think of every wonderful thing about you and I know you feel the

same.

I love you. I love you more than you will ever know. And I will always love you.

With my whole heart,

Matt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I blink away the tears, I feel a great amount of peace fall over me. I read the letter once

again and take in all the words and emotion.

I lift my head to look upward and say, "I love you too, Matt."