Remember Me

Prologue//Connor

"Amelia, please, don't leave me," I manage to squeak out through the tears, "I'm begging you. Please."

"C-c-onnor....," she begins, "I-I need to tell you someth----"

"Amelia! Don't you dare leave me. Not now. Not ever," I say frantically shaking her body.

I hold her limp, lifeless body close to me, screaming and crying. I hear the ominous sirens in the near distance. They were too late. Soon after, the paramedics approach me. An older man in a uniform approaches me. He begins to speak but I cut him off.

"Where were you when she needed you? Where were you ten minutes ago?" I yell, falling to the cold, hard ground.

I feel a comforting hand on my shoulder as the man searches for a pulse on the lifeless girl to my left.

"I'm sorry son," he mumbles. "She's gone."
———
"Annnnnnnddddd scene!" yells my professor through a bullhorn.

I jump up from the stage floor and help Amelia up.

"Amazing job this evening, everyone. Outstanding rehearsal. Make sure you bring the same passion and excitement to tomorrow's opening night. Rehearsal dismissed."

I grab my keys and turn to Amelia as I hear our names being called by our director and professor; Mr. Rhodes.

"Connor...Connor Kearns. That performance was...what's the word? Exceptional. I could feel your emotions radiating from the stage as your long-lost true love died in your arms. You're going places young man."

"Thank you, Mr. Rhodes."

"And you, Amelia. You could definitely take some notes from Mr. Kearns here. I need more emotion. I need to smell your passion!"

"Yes, sir. I'll work on it," she says rolling her eyes.

"Have a good night you two."

We walk out of the warm auditorium into the cold November night. Amelia gives me a sly high five and bursts into laughter.

"I need to work on my acting? Ha! I play a dead girl for fifty percent of the time I'm on stage! More emotion? HA!"

"Okay, okay. I say. "I thought you did fine for a dead girl. There's definitely room for improvement though." I joke as Amelia gives me the death stare.

"I'm not afraid to beat you up. Don't forget what I did to you in the second grade."

Suddenly, she slips on a patch of black ice in the parking lot. I catch her of course, being the stunningly handsome super-hero I am. Not.

"I know he said you gotta act like a better dead person, but you don't have to become one!" I exclaim.

She smiles her movie-star smile that brings me to my knees.

"Anyway," she says as she hops into the passenger seat of my car, "It's so weird to act head over heels for my best friend. I can't wait until this play is over."

I sit there in thought and force a slight laugh before replying, "believe me, I know."

But do I?

Although it felt slightly strange to act in love with Amelia. It almost felt...natural. When I'm on stage with her, I'm not acting.

"What's wrong?" she says, breaking the awkward silence.

"Nothin'."

I swallow hard, realizing for the very first time...

I'm falling in love with my best friend.

And I was falling HARD.