Chapter 844: 844-I Can Die For You
Jessica:
Flashback:
"Come on, Norman, you’re doing it all wrong," I yelled, frowning at him while he tried to mix the cookie batter.
"No, this is how it’s done. I’m reading from the book. You’re wrong," Norman hissed, as always. We were the best of friends, but he was cocky and full of himself.
"No, show it to me." I hurried toward him, trying to grab the bowl out of his hand.
"Jessica, you’re gonna drop it," he muttered, pouting at me while also glaring me down.
"No, I’m not. You’re the one at fault," I argued, and he grunted, letting go of the bowl.
As he did, I almost fell back on my butt. He realized I was putting too much pressure into stealing the bowl, so he rushed forward and grabbed my dress. I tumbled a little, but he managed to steady me.
"Look what you almost did to me," I complained, and he rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest.
"Jessica, you’re always telling me what to do. Always, Norman, you’re wrong. Always, Norman, you’re full of yourself. But you’re the one interfering. I was doing the right thing. All you had to do was ask me for the bowl, and I would have given it to you. Don’t use your hands."
As soon as he grunted and said that, I began to settle down, because I realized he wasn’t wrong. Every time I came to his home, I picked a fight with him, only because I was annoyed at how easily he got things done.
Today we were making cookies for his little brothers. We were young too, but since his mother never really cooked or baked for them, she let us use her kitchen, even the oven.
"Okay, fine, I’m sorry," I stated, pouting as I held the bowl back out to him. He stared at me for a moment, then took it from my hands.
"How about we do it together, hmm? You tell me, what do you think I’m doing wrong?" As always, Norman gave up after a little arguing. That was what I admired most about him. He acknowledged his mistakes, and then he did anything to correct them.
"No, I realized you weren’t really making a mistake. It’s okay, we can do it together." I smiled at him, and he smiled back at me. There was a charm in his smile.
I felt lucky to be his best friend, but I got annoyed whenever I saw other girls trying to be friends with him. They didn’t deserve his friendship like I did, because I was sure they didn’t understand what it felt like to be surrounded by people yet feel so lonely.
I was the lonely one, and Norman understood me. He took care of me. That’s why, whenever I was harsh or rude to him, I always came back to apologize.
End Of Flashback:
I lunged toward Helanie, holding a dagger in my hand, but before I could reach her, Norman stepped in the way like a bulletproof vest. He always did. He always got in the way for her, always doing his best to make her his first priority. It was painful to watch him slowly turn into someone who lived only for Helanie. And to be honest, I knew why. She was perfect.
The moment I lunged at her, he grabbed my hand and stopped me, pulling me closer. I didn’t waste a second before hugging him and crying into his chest.
"It’s alright," Norman whispered.
As he said that, guilt hit me hard. I wasn’t this person. I wasn’t someone who would hurt another. So what had happened to me? What had turned me into this crazy woman?
I cried against his chest while he held me.
"It’s okay. Everything will be fine," he whispered, and I cried so loud it was deafening.
I gently held his hand, the one he used to stop me. The dagger was still between us, pressed tightly to the side so it couldn’t hurt us. But I knew what had to be done. Too much had happened. Too much time had passed.
I placed his hand, still holding the dagger, against my chest. And I noticed he didn’t pull away. I guessed he realized I had become someone who wouldn’t stop until Helanie was gone.
So when I pressed the knife to my chest with his hand on it and hugged him tighter, the sharp end began to pierce me. He didn’t stop me. That’s how I knew it was time to let go.
I pushed myself closer to him until finally I felt the dagger stab my heart. The pain was unbearable, but still better than watching him with her every day, or staying alive knowing he wasn’t mine.
And then it was over. I gasped, taking my last breaths.
When I pulled back from him, I saw Helanie. She had been watching silently, in shock and confusion, and when she saw the dagger in my chest, tears filled her eyes. I felt even more guilty. I had tried to hurt this woman, a girl who couldn’t even stand to see anyone in pain.
I closed my eyes as my body sank into a strange kind of pain. Norman caught me again, trying to hold me up.
"Helanie, take the baby," Norman said softly, still thinking of her, still trying to shield her from the agonizing sight.
Once the others started to leave, I pulled back so my body could fall to the side. He caught me, holding me in mid-air while I placed my hand on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Then I gave him one last request.
"I want you to be the only one to carry me to the well in your arms, and not hate me," I whispered, as a tear rolled from the corner of my eye down to my ear.
And then everything turned silent. No more heartbeat, no more pain, no more cries. Just peace and silence.