By Mandisa Mathew, Grade 10
“Hey, do you remember our prom last night?”
As the question left my mouth, a grin took over my face. The others soon followed suit.
“It was the best night of my life,” Jack said, as I turned my head to face him.
Claire chuckled, “That’s only because Darcy-Lynn went with you.”
I turned my head to face Claire as I laughed with her, and opened my mouth to add to the commentary.
“It would’ve been disappointing if she didn’t go with you! You showed up outside her house with a boombox, playing ‘More than a Woman’ by Bees Gees.”
“She just couldn’t resist me,” Jack smirked.
“More like she couldn’t resist her neighbours complaining about the noise. You kept playing the song on repeat until she said yes!”
We all looked at Lucas, who seemed all too proud of his addition to the commentary. Jack’s nose and ears turned pink, as he fumbled with his black tie and tried to save himself from embarrassment.
“Darcy-Lynn and I are meant to be together. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
Claire and I tried to stifle our laughs, as Lucas sighed in disappointment.
“You should be with someone who wants to be with you, man. End your obsession before you start to fall in love.”
We all looked at Brett, who spoke for the first time since I asked the question. His brown curls covered his face, as he looked at the wooden floors.
He continued to say, “Because there is nothing worse than falling in love with someone who doesn’t love you back.”
His eyes glanced towards me, as my smile faltered. Claire slowly grabbed by hand, and squeezed it.
A loud silence filled the room, which was strange. The five of us were rarely quiet.
My fingers played with the skirt of my blue prom dress. None of us had managed to get changed, we were too busy making memories.
“How are you feeling?”
I turned my head to face Jack. His gelled ginger hair and manicured beard matched his orange shirt.
“I’m okay,” I responded to his question.
“Are you sure?”
I now turned my head to face Claire, whose ponytail was almost tighter than a bodycon dress hugging her body.
“Yeah,” was the response that Claire got.
“No, you’re not”
I turned my head again, this time to face Brett.
“What makes you say that?”
Claire, Lucas, Jack, and Brett all look at me.
“The four of us died,” Lucas said. “And you can still see us.”
When I blinked my eyes, they were gone. The shadow of Claire’s hand remained wrapped around mine, the sound of Lucas’ laugh echoed in my ear, the pink on Jack’s ears were in my sight, and the smell of Brett’s body spray wafted through the air.
But I was alone.
It was just me and the yellow wallpaper clinging to my room.
Elements Magazine 