Warrior Cats: The Four Clans

Not Goodbye

 

            "Its not fair!" Shouted a young boy with tears streaking his pale skin. His bright blue eyes were puffy and red from the anger and anguish that boiled inside of him. He was only eight years old and he felt like he had been betrayed. "She said she was going to come play catch with me!" The young boys shoulders shook with rage as he remembered the girl next doors promise. Her pretty face a light with her laughter.

            They had always been together. They had shared everything and now she couldnt come over. He turned his raging eyes to his mother. Her eyes were puffy and red as well. Her lips quivered as she tried to contain herself. She kneeled down and wrapped her arms around him.

            "Tyler," she said gently as her voice cracked slightly, "Trisha, wont becoming over anymore". Tyler wriggled in his mothers grasp and tried desperately to pull away. He didnt want to hug his mother. He wanted to see Trisha. He wanted to see her gingery red hair flow at her shoulders. He wanted to see her deep green eyes sparkle when she laughed.

            Why was he mother telling him she couldnt come over anymore? He managed to wriggle from her grasp and clutched tightly to the baseball mitt in his hands. "I am going to go see Trisha!" he shouted at her. Tylers mom merely turned her head away and closed her eyes harshly. Her shoulder shook with sobs as she stood.

            Tyler gritted his teeth as he raced past her and burst out of the front door. He jumped in to the front yard and stumbled a bit. As he tried to regain his balance he belted out his pain to the sky. He screamed in fury and rage. "Trisha!" he called. His voice echoed down the empty street.

            His head slumped on his shoulders as he collapsed on to the grass. He grasped the baseball cap from off of his head and let his messy golden hair flop on to his face. He gently reached on to his pocket and pulled out a locket. It was one that Trisha had given him about two years ago. It had his picture in one side and hers on the other. He closed it and squeezed it in his hand.

            The sound of an old engine chugged down the street and Tyler looked up from his hands. He glared at the black car that had tinted wings in the back. It was longer than most cars and had a large black box in the back. Tyler growled at it. The car pulled up slowly in front of Trishas house. A thin man that looked like a skeleton stepped out of the car. He gave a tired sighed and glanced at Tyler.

            The old man gave him a sympathetic look and Tyler felt his rage build once more. The skeleton man wore a black suite that hung loosely on his thin body. He walked stiffly to Trishas door and knocked gently. A pretty woman with light brown hair stepped out of the house. She wore a black dress with a black veil covering her eyes. She held her hand close to her mouth with a handkerchief pressed against the veil.

            An arm wrapped around the woman, who Tyler knew to be Trishas mom, and squeezed her gently. The man that held her wore a black suite that looked just like the skeleton mans. Tyler could bear it no longer. He stood from where he sat and stormed toward them. "Why cant she come back!?" he howled in frustration. "Why did she have to leave like that? What did I do to make her leave me like this?"

            Tears streamed from the young boys eyes as he stared at the faces of each grown up, desperately searching for answers. "Why!" He demanded. Trishas mom tightened her grip on her handkerchief and let tears rolled down her cheeks. She pulled away from her husband and bent down to him. Her voice was hoarse and cracked from the crying she had been doing. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

            "Tyler," she started, "Each of us has a time we must go. We dont know when or how, but there is always a time for each of us. Trisha wont ever be able to speak to you here again." Tyler pulled away for a moment only to see his anguish being reflected in the womans hollow eyes. Staring in to the brilliant green eyes of Trishas mom he saw the pain and grief that he was going through. He choked back a sob and fell in to the womans arms.

            "Why?" he chocked, "Why did she leave me now?" He felt her arms wrap around his back and squeeze him as if he was the only thing keeping her from being swept away.

            "Tyler, she didnt mean for this to happen. She kept telling me that someday you two would grow up and marry each other." Her voice tried to laugh but it came out hollow. "She always talked about you. Day in and day out everything she talked about was you."

            "Then why did she leave me?" he whispered as another sob rose in his throat.

            "I dont know sweetie, I just dont know." Trishas mom rested her head against Tylers and held tight. He refused to let go of her until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced up with his puffy red eyes. Trishas dad gave him a very tired and worn out smile. The arms around him loosened and pulled away. He desperately wanted that warm embrace again.

            "Come then. It is time for the ceremony." The skeleton man said solemnly. Tyler glanced up at him.

            "Cant I see her," His voice holding all of his desperation in it. The man shook his head softly.

            "Not until we get to the funeral hall." His voice was even and never wavering. Tyler glanced away and his shoulders shook even more. Trishas parents straightened up and walked away from Tylers side. Skeleton man followed them with a grave expression.

            The young boy stared after them. What was he supposed to do? He couldnt just sit here. He raced away from Trishas front door toward his own. He burst in to the house and no one was there. He growled slightly and headed for the stairway. He heard sobs coming from his mothers room and he slowed down a bit. He came to a soft halt outside the door. His light blue eyes peered through the crack in her door.

            His mother clutched a blanket his father had gotten from his father a long time ago. Yet his father was gone now. He had left just like Trisha had. It wasnt fair at all. Tyler sniffed a bit and wiped his nose with his arm. This was the last time he was going to let anyone leave like his father and Trisha.

            He walked steadily to his room and stared in surprise at a black suite that would fit him. His brow furrowed and tears well in his eyes once more. He grabbed the suite and put it on himself.

            Tyler slowly made his way to his mothers room. She wore a black dress now. She had changed when he had. His mother sat on her bed and stared down at the blanket, "What do I do now Jeremiah?" Tyler glanced away. He didnt really remember his father all that well, but he did recognize that name. His father had had a handsome name, or so Tyler thought.

            He glanced up at his mom, "Come on mom. We should go visit Trisha before she disappears forever." Tylers mother looked up at him. Her eyes were swollen and tired. She nodded softly and stood. As she came around to the door she gently grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him toward the stairs and the front door.

  

            Tyler stood at the very back of the large church they now stood in. The preacher spoke softly in to the microphone as he told things about Trishas life. He spoke of how sweet she had been. How many peoples lives she had change. His eyes were soft as continued, "We all know just how dangerous drunk driving is for our young men and women, yet those young men and women never take in to account just how many other lives are in danger. Trisha was one of those poor people they never thought about." Tyler glanced around to see many of the people who had come to visit Trisha.

            His lips pulled in to a harsh scowl as his eyes narrowed. Some of the people glanced down at their watches or turned their heads to see the clock on the wall. Others talked amongst themselves saying jokes so the others would have to place their hands over their mouths to stifle their laughter. Tyler shipped his face forward before he grew to angry to do anything.

            His shoulders shook harshly for a long time. The preacher glanced out in to the small church, Now please come up row by row to pay your last respects. The first two rows in the front stood and walked slowly toward the small black coffin. Tyler sat and waited his turn to see her.

            A few more rows got up before it was his turn. Tyler stood, his heart pounding. He practically raced up to the coffin. Tylers light blue eyes, which were stained with the puffy redness of his tears, glanced down at her. Many others came up and muttered a few words. Many of them were goodbye. Tyler stood right next to the casket unafraid to be so close to his friend. Her face was pale and her beautiful eyes were closed shut. Tyler wanted her to open them. He ached to see the beautiful green sparkle with the delight of seeing him. The joy that they held as they played, or even just the times when they were sad. At least then he could wrap his arm around her shoulder and hold her close.

            He longed to see her ruby lips pull up at the corners and let her pearly teeth beam with joy. Yet there she lay. Her thin hands enclosed around a small flower on her chest. Tyler clenched his fists and leaned down. He heard muttering and whispers from behind him. He gently pressed his lips to her cheek. It was cold and lifeless. Tears sprang from his eye and landed on her eyelid. He pulled back and heard gasps from behind him. He didnt care though. He saw the small tear trickle down from her eye to her cheek. It looked as though she was sad to say one last goodbye.

            Tyler choked back another sob, "Its not goodbye," he whispered to her as if she could hear, "Only see you later." He felt a warm hand on his shoulder that pulled him away from the coffin. He desperately reached out his hand and willed her to reach back to him, yet she did not. Tyler glanced up to see the sad eyes of Trishas father. He gently led Tyler back to the rows of seats.

            Tyler couldnt stand this anymore as he sat down. He pulled on his mothers sleeve and she turned her own puffy red eyes to him. "What is it dear?" she asked.

            "I want to go home," he whimpered. His mother nodded and stood. Tyler did the same. They both cast one last look at Trisha before the preacher closed the coffin. Trishas pale cheek still held his sparkling tear before the darkness of her tomb encased her.

 

            Tyler lay in his bed sobbing softly as he drifted to sleep. His bright blue eyes that was so red from today finally closed and rested. Darkness swallowed his vision so that nothing was seen. He shivered at the clod that crept over him. He wanted to see Trishas face again. He frowned and drifted in to a dream.

            A warm light flickered on from behind him. It felt oddly good on his skin. A great feeling bubbled inside of his stomach and he turned to see a blinding light ahead. He shielded his eyes trying escape from its presence. A voice sounded in the distance. "Tyler, why are you crying?" The voice was warmer than the coziest fireplace and yet it demanded as much respect as the crashing seas. Warm soft breath caressed his cheek when it spoke.

            "Tyler why are you crying?" it asked again.

            Tyler glanced at the light from behind his fingers, "Trisha is gone," he felt his throat constrict.

            "Gone," the voice repeated him, "Where has she gone?" The voice sounded as if it knew just where she had gone but wanted him to say it.

            "She... she is..." he whimpered softly, "She died." He said and his voice cracked in pain.

            "Why do you cry for that?" the voices gentle breath felt warm on his skin and wiped the tears from his cheek. "Do you believe she has gone to heaven?" Tyler nodded and hiccupped a sob. "Then why do you cry?"

            Tyler shook his head softly, "Because I didnt even get to say goodbye to her."

            "I thought it was see you later," a very familiar voice sounded near the warm one. Out of the light came a thin girl with gingery red hair that fell to her shoulders. Laughter and complete joy filled her beautiful eyes. White silk robes hugged her body loosely. Tylers mouth dropped open.

            "Trisha?" he whispered breathlessly. The girl giggled at this and raced forward. She nearly tackled him as she wrapped her thin young arms around him. Tyler hesitantly wrapped his arms back around her. Her young hair caressed his cheek and Tyler felt joy exploded in his chest.

            He hugged her tighter as he heard the voice, "Why are you crying Tyler?" It was only then was he aware that tears were trickling out of his eyes.

            "I am happy thats why," he said joyfully. The voice laughed and it sounded like a soft wind. It fluttered past him and he loved the sound.

            "Well then Tyler it is time for Trisha to return with me." The voice grew a little sad for him. Tyler gasped and his mouth hung open.

            "Why?!" he cried out. Trisha pulled away from him. She gently leaned forward and placed her lips on his cheek. A single tear landed on his cheek as she pulled away.

            "See you later right?" she chuckled softly. Tyler nodded softly.

            "Yeah, see you later." His voice grew sad but not as it was before. Trisha pulled away form him completely and walked toward the brilliant light. Her frame disappeared as Tyler reached out for her once more.

            "Dont worry Tyler," the voice sounded, "She will wait for you at the pearly gates." With that the dream disappeared. Tyler smiled in his sleep as rested peacefully.

Oh my Jonas.
That was completely heartfelt and gorgeous.
I felt like I truly was in Tyler's shoes. THeir emotions were perfect and itw as unbelievably expressive and saddening.

Amazing, amazing job.

Thanks so much youg guys!!! I know it was kindah long for a short story but if you look at it, compared to some of my other ones it is kinda short =D Anyway i thank you all so much for reading this!!! I tried so hard to get you to feel Tyler's emotions along with him!!! Thanks so much!!!

this is such an amasing story, eboners. Your writing suprises me more every time.