Chapter 9

He'll come back--I know it

      A dim light scattered its self across the bedroom walls, as I clicked on the lamp. Amber trudged past me and took a sit on my bed. She looked tired, almost as if she would fall asleep where she sat. I didn’t blame her. Our mood had returned to despair, for the laughter we had shared, had worn its self off. Nothing was funny now. I took a seat next to her. Her idea had been a good one, but not one that had gotten us any closer to Angelo. There had to be a way, though. I just knew there was.
       “You want to spend the night?” I asked Amber. I smiled at her, wanting to reassure her that she had done a great job helping. She nodded.
              “I’m sorry.” She apologized, her voice subdued.
       “Don’t apologize,” I said, “You did a great job today, really. I was the one that should have been a little bit more enthusiastic.”
       “Now, we’ll never find him, Hope.” I gazed at her, noticing a small trail of tears. I didn’t want her to say that, to lose hope; because if she did, I would, too.  
              “Hey, don’t talk like that, Amber,” I tried to say. She started to sob.
              “Now he’ll never be my boyfriend!” she wailed. I feel back against the head rest, letting her sniffle.
       “I can’t believe you, Amber. You are such a drama queen.” I rolled my eyes. I let out a stifled laugh as well. Rubbing her eyes, she faced me, almost smiling. Her eyes were red and her eyeliner and mascara were running down her cheek. What was she suppose to jealous about? Even with her make up messy, she was so pretty. If anyone were to be full of envy, it should have been me.  
              “Really?” She half sniffled, half hiccupped.
              “Yes. Now will you stop crying?” I sighed. She did but not before complaining that her throat was dry.
       Walking down the dark staircase, I felt déjà vu. It was as if it were that first night, the night I met Angelo. And out of curiosity, I checked the front door peephole. Maybe if I wished enough, he would reappear. Maybe he would scare me and sneak up behind me; he would say he was offended and I would grab an umbrella. I had replayed that night so many times, that it seemed permanently carved in my brain.
              “What are you doing?” Amber asked, walking up to me. I still kept looking through the little glass.
       “I’m waiting.” I replied against the door. I had my hand positioned at the door knob, ready for instant action when he would walk on in.
       “For what?” She squeezed herself in between me and the wall, trying to see what I was looking at. I moved over, giving her room. “I don’t see anything.”
              “He’ll come, don’t you worry.” She backed away, putting her hand on my shoulder.
              “Hope, he’s not going to come back because we want him to.”
              “I know, I’m just thinking.”
       “Fine, you think. I guess I’m gonna have to get the water myself,” Amber grumbled as she trotted off to the kitchen. I backed away from the door, keeping my eyes on the knob.
              “Hey Amber!” I called after her.
              “Ya?” She asked, peeping her head through the door way.
              Smiling, I said, “I never did use that wish. And I’m itching to be a tree.”
              If this was the only way, then so be it.
              
              “Huh? Are you crazy?! I though we had discussed this already?” She walked over to me, taking a sip out of her cup.
       “Ya, I know. Don’t worry, I have a plan.” I said, marching back up to my bedroom. Amber followed suit. Without hesitating, I opened my window.
              “What in the world has gotten into you, Hope?” Amber asked, confused.
              Not listening, I put one foot over the edge, feeling for the top of the first floor roof. Amber gasped.
              “Seriously, what in the hell are you doing?!” She pulled at my arm, trying to drag me back inside.
       “Listen, I know what I’m doing!” I confronted her, having to raise my voice over the loud wind. A storm was brewing and I only had a limited amount of time. Through the huge gusts of wind, I yelled, “You want Angelo back? Well, so do I! This is the only way!” I yanked my arm free.
              “Hope, you’re going to fall!” She yelled back. “This is insane! You shouldn’t put your life in danger just for him!”
       I didn’t reply. Instead, shielding my face from the hard splashes of rain, I reached for the tree branch nearest to my window. All of a sudden, a huge stroke of lightning shattered the sky, breaking it into a million pieces. I could hear the shriek of Amber and than the sound of thunder roll its way past us. I tightly gripped the branch, and shuddered. I was soaking wet and the wind made it very hard to open my eyes. Out of all nights, why did tonight have to be like this?  Feeling around the branch, I felt secure enough to swing over. I let my foot dangle off the roof and then I jumped, reaching for the branch with my other hand. I made it, struggling to pull myself up. I could hardly hear the piercing screams and wails that Amber kept on making. I couldn’t stop now. As fast as I could, I scrambled up the tree, digging my heels into the tough bark and using my nails to dig into the branches. Luckily, this tree was strong enough to hold me. Yet, the wind, impeccably strong, easily forced it to sway back and forth, causing me to grip even harder.
       I constantly had to battle the wind and rain, almost slipping a few times. What I was doing was crazy, and I knew it, but it was the only way. If I couldn’t go to him, he was going to come to me. “Damn you, Angelo,” I yelled, pulling myself up even further. The soles of my shoes were beginning to wear out and I could feel a tear in my shirt. “See what you have me doing?!” I clenched my teeth, as I began to ascend; the bark only seemed to get rougher and rougher.  Squinting my eyes from the pelting drops, I could barely make out the top of the tree. Up here, the wind was even fiercer, tugging from both sides. It took all I had just to stay on.
       Now I could see the highest branch. Without thinking, I instantly grabbed for it, not realizing that the branch I already held on to, was holding most of my weight. The branch underneath me gave out as I let go. I didn’t have time to think, and so I gave out an earth shattering scream. I couldn’t reach for the branch in time and so I felt myself spiraling down, until my back came in contact with another branch. I hit with an impact, knocking the breath out of me. Slowly rolling over, I instinctively wrapped my arms around the wood. I looked down, seeing Amber reach out to me. I nodded for her to stop. I tried to shout but it was nearly impossible. Pushing myself up, I winced. My back felt as if it were on fire and my knees; my jeans were torn by now; were bleeding.
       “Great,” I mumbled. Maybe Amber was right. He wasn’t worth this; he wasn’t me dieing for. But deep down, I knew he was. H was worth everything and I was willing to risk it all for him. Maybe it was love after all, but not the love Amber had thought of. No, it was much more complicated. I didn’t yearn for him physically, but that fact that he had stayed by me, had made me want more. I had taken his presence for granted, and now, clinging for my life, I realized I would never get him back.
              Knowing the rain would wash it away, I cried, resting my cheek on the bark. I was so stupid. I was going to die.
              “By letting go of the baby birds, they learn to fly.”  Why had Angelo said that?
       And then I knew. I needed to survive for myself, not for any one else, but for myself. I tried again, gradually standing up on my feet hovering over the ground that lay below me. I gulped. Acting like one from the circus, I balanced my self until I could scoot over to the trunk. Wrapping my arms as far as I could around it, I placed my foot at its side. Clinging tightly, I felt my way up, pretending I was only climbing a rock at camp. Before long, I had made it to the top branch.  
       “Yes!” I shouted, crazily happy that I had made it up the top. Gazing down, Amber still look awfully concerned, but she seemed to relax when I gave her thumbs up. Using the splintered wood for support, I eased my way, until I was standing straight up. Luckily for me, this tree had been broken at the top, giving me a pole-like shape to grab unto.
       “Angelo!” I shouted, “If you can here me, I’m ready to be a tree, now!”  I peered around the neighborhood, trying to see over the rooftops. “I want my wish, d****t!”
       I could only hear the piercing scream of the wind and the shuffle of the leaves on the trees. “Angelo! I know you hear me! You said you kept that wish! Well, I want it! Now!!!”
              Now I was getting pissed.
       “Listen, I’m sorry! Will you just stop avoiding me already?! I know I hurt your feelings and I shouldn’t have insulted your mother and you like that! I was wrong! I feel horrible, okay?! Are you happy now?” I screamed, throwing both my hand sup in the air. I didn’t expect what would happen to me next.

Author's Note

Rough draft