Chapter 1
2 Years ago my best friends died. Since then my life has been turned around, upside down and been transported to a different universe. I'll start from the day i was told.
"Coral. Could i speak to you please." My Headteacher (Mrs White) had a solemn expression plastered to her face. Quietly i followed her out of the now silent classroom and we made our way to her tiny office. Never once did she check to see if i was following her. I walked in and sat on one of the blue spinny chairs in her office, staring blankly at the images on her computer screen.
"Coral. I have just received a call from the hospital." A gut wrenching feeling coursed through my entire body. Hospital? It had to be connected to me otherwise i wouldn't have been told and the only one not in class today was my best friend. Madeleine. I sit deathly still, waiting, hoping to be proven wrong.
"Madeleine and her dad have been... been... they were in a car accident and they didn't make it out alive." No! I picture Us in swapped positions. Her, sitting on the seat next to me. Her dark hairy pulled into a messy ponytail. Her big Hazel eyes glazing with UN- shed tears as the news is delivered. Long dark eyelashes blinking rapidly to get rid of the water, her pink lips trembling sadly.
Then i picture myself. Quivering lips, teary eyes, shaking limbs, sharp breaths. Blonde hair losing color, blue eyes turning a dull grey, pale skin gone pastel white. All around me the room drains of color and shape. My whole world lost of reds and yellows, blues and green. Strangely not a single salty drop of water has fallen from my life-less eyes. Across from me Mrs White slumps sadly, saying something that doesn't quite reach my ears. Muffled noises are all i can comprehend. A drawer being opened a door being shut, high-heels clacking against a polished floor. Some time during my 'space out' the bell rings, i am pulled away from my calming world of nothing, back to the harsh reality.
The floodgates open and tears fall endlessly over already damp lashes. Soon i am up and out of the door. I crash into Alex who was waiting outside of the office.
"Coral? whats wrong? what happened?" I don't answer. Instead i hug him, the only anchor i have left to the real world. Comfortingly he puts his arms around my back, letting me get his jumper wet. Patiently he leads me to the spacious spare room and sits me on a cold hard table. I eventually mange to babble something understandable because soon tears threaten to spill onto his own face. This scares me. Never before have i seen his diamond blue eyes dull to the sea, never have i heard a sad whimper leave his pink lips. I realize then that being a bubbling mess isn't going to fix anything. Sitting in an empty room with my friend since Nursery crying aimlessly is not going to bring her back.
I suck in breath, counting to ten in my head, Carefully wiping my eyes and giving Alex another hug. "It's gonna be alright." he whispers gently into my ear, barely keeping the wobble out of his voice.
"I need to continue." I say although i get the feeling i'm convincing myself more than him. "I'll dance. In my dance i can tell her story, keep her alive."
"Good idea." He replies. Something snaps between us, instead of being just my friend he becomes something more. Something needed. Only he can give me the comfort i need and only i can give him the comfort he needs. A new level of understanding and friendship sparks and i'm glad he is the one sitting next to me with his arms wrapped around my body.
