The Death of My Best Friend and Me

The rain poured outside,mirroring the frustration in the air.Ethan's face twisted in impatience as he tapped furiously on his phone,messaging me:

"I've already told you,Vera is our god-sister.Today’s her birthday,and we’ve always celebrated it together,just the three of us—me,my brother,and her.It’s our tradition."

Bitterness welled up inside me as I read his messages,finding them sickeningly ironic.He probably didn't realize there was still a bright lipstick stain on the collar of the white shirt he wore.

"She doesn’t have any friends in this country.She needs me more than you do,stop being unreasonable!"

He was defending her again,brushing aside my feelings as though they didn’t matter.

"You should learn from Vera.She even invited you to celebrate her birthday.But what did you do?Instead of being considerate,you’re just been selfish and stubborn.You upset her,and now she feels guilty because of you."

His words cut deep.

"You’re not a child anymore,stop sulking like one.You’re pregnant and yet,you’re out on a night like this?Are you even fit to be a mother?"

I clenched my fists as another message came in.

"Tomorrow,apologize to Vera in person."

Ethan waited for a response.I left the message unanswered.His last message was what landed a punch to my gut:

"Star,do you think I can't live without you?Without me,you are nothing."

Years of love reduced to nothing in his mind.His words echoed in my head,but my tears wouldn’t fall.My best friend,still beside me,tried to calm me down.But I was numb.

The next morning,our battered bodies were found by scavengers,washed away by the heavy rain.A crowd had gathered by the time Ethan arrived with his team.He was expressionless,squatting beside the body,performing his job with chilling detachment.As if he were a stranger.

"Age between 25 and 30…very young…"

His voice was steady as he examined the body,but his hand faltered as he turned me over.Something about my form—my proportions—was too familiar.He hastily lifted my left hand,brushing the dirt from my fingers,and examining them closely.His fingers stopped at my pinky,the one that had been injured when I was a child.Ethan knew it well,but he didn’t know that before my death,each finger had been broken—cracked at every joint.

I screamed until my voice gave out,as the kidnappers showed me the photo of Vera wrapped in Ethan’s arms.Her teasing voice had taunted me,

"The famous forensic expert,huh?A loyal husband at home and a lover outside.What a lucky woman you are.”

I had kicked one of the men in his groin with my last bit of strength,but my defiance only earned me brutal beatings.My best friend had tried to protect me,sacrificing herself to buy me time,pushing her bloodied phone into my hands before a shovel hit her head repeatedly.I watched helplessly as her skull cracked open.

Fighting through the pain,I dialled Ethan’s number,praying for a miracle.The call connected,but what I heard broke my heart all over again.

"Ethan,zip up my dress,I can't reach it."It was Vera’s voice,playful and carefree,as usual.

Desperation clawed at my chest,and I whispered into the phone,

"Help...please…"

His voice,cold and irritated,came through.

"What is it now?Another fake emergency?You’ve already sent hateful messages to Vera and cried wolf over a fever.What's the excuse this time?Help?"

I choked back sobs as he continued,

"I'm exhausted,Star.When you're dead,call me.I'll give you an autopsy myself."

In the background,Evan laughed as well,

"Tell my wife that if she keeps throwing tantrums about Vera,I’ll divorce her.There’s no love between us."

Then came the sound of their laughter,mingling with Vera’s voice,playful and carefree.And just like that,the phone line went dead.

I turned to my best friend’s lifeless body beside me.We exchanged a final,hollow smile,silently surrendering to the inevitable.

The kidnappers continued their assault,but neither of us was struggling anymore.