She Is Gone

Sarah's POV:

"What do you mean by my romance life is over?" I asked, and she chuckled.

"You are thirty-two; what other romantic life?"

"Anthony is waiting for me; good night." I smiled at her before leaving immediately.

She was right. Elma's romantic life was over; she just wanted to live a free and careless life, but what about me? I haven't accomplished anything at this age. Everyone in the community has the right to laugh at me, and I also feel like laughing at me.

When I got downstairs, I saw the driver leaning by the car. "Ma'am," he called before pulling the door open. I scanned around with my eyes but couldn't spot Anthony or the kids.

"They left," Jude said, and I nodded. I had even forgotten that Elma wasn't a big deal to their family.

So I got in and the car drove out. My phone rang, and it was my mother. I had forgotten to tell her not to call me back with this number. What if someone picks up the call instead of me?

But I couldn't answer the call because the driver was present. Then we got to the mansion, and I walked in.

The sitting room was so quiet, I guessed that everyone went to bed immediately after they arrived home.

"Mother?" I dialed her number, and it got connected. Then I took off my low heels and sat on the sofa.

"Sarah, how are you doing?" she asked

"Mother, is it too late for me to experience a romantic relationship?" I didn't know why I was asking her this, but I just felt like I needed to know.

"Of course not; even your father and I still experience a romantic relationship." Mother answered, and I chuckled. They were both very dolly-lovey at that age.

"Sarah," she called with a deep voice, and I got nervous. Whenever she calls me that way, it means she has something to tell me.

"Your friend… Mara, she got so sick that the doctors couldn't save her," she blurted, and my eyes widened in shock.

Mara was my best friend. I can't even remember when we started being friends because we have been friends like forever.

"What do you mean?" My brain refused to understand what my mother was emphasizing.

"Mara is gone; she got the disease, and the doctors couldn't save her," mother said while crying.

I ended the call and looked around the sitting room; this wasn't true. Mara can't be gone; unlike me, she lived a happy life with her husband and daughter.

"No" I pulled my hair frustrated; Mara wasn't dead. Elma had assured me that she provided the best doctors, so how were they not able to cure Mara?

"MARA!!!" I yelled angrily as countless tears kept rolling down my cheeks. Mara, please come back. She was the only one who knew about my current situation. I had promised to tell her everything that happened once I was back, so why couldn't she wait for me?

*

A bright light flashed in my eyes. I saw a figure standing behind the light, and I tried so hard to recognize who it was.

Then the lady walked closer to me. "Sarah," she said. It was Mara. She stood there dressed in her usual white cotton gown and bright smile.

"Mara, it's you. mother said you died... I knew it wasn't true." I jumped down the couch and hurried towards her, but she took a step backward.

"You should find happiness; life is unexpected."

"I remain your biggest fan; I remain the fan in the first row who will keep praising your name once one of your collection is displayed. Just you won't see or hear me," she explained, and I shook my head in denial.

"I want to see you always. I am doing this for all of us in the community. So why do you want to leave?" I scolded her, and she smiled.

"It's never too late; your light is yet to be lit. Goodbye, my friend." Then she walked back towards the light, and I couldn't see her.

"Don't go, come back... Don't leave, please."I fell on my knees and cried out.

"Elma"

"Elma, wake up."

"Stop screaming and wake up."

I kept hearing Anthony's voice, and I opened my eyes. When did I fall asleep? And was all that a dream?

I sighed in relief, but then I felt something was wrong. I picked up the phone and checked the last call. Mother was the last person I talked to; she told me Mara was dead.

"She is gone." I burst into tears. I had cried for a long time before dozing off, and I had that dream of Mara. Now I am up, and all I can think about is her.

"Who is gone? Why are you crying?" Anthony kept questioning me, but I didn't know how to reply to him.

"It's so unfair." I kept crying when he enveloped me in his arms and placed my head on his shoulders.

"Stop crying, okay? Tell me what's wrong, and we will fix it," he said with a soothing tone, but I shook my head in denial.

There was nothing to be fixed. I kept crying and thought of Mara; we were always together, and she was the sister I never had. So how can she be gone?

"Please…" I kept crying, and Anthony tightened his hug and let me cry on his shoulder.

"Everything will be fine," he assured me, and I still couldn't bring myself to stop crying.

After a few minutes, I was a little calm, but Anthony didn't say anything; all he did was give me his shoulder to cry on.

I wiped my tears and looked at him. "Thanks," I said, and he trailed a finger down my cheeks.

"I am always here for you; if someone hurts you, then let me know." I was puzzled by his words. Why would he say such a thing to a woman who hates him like hell?

"Remember, we are still friends. Even if there is no more love, then there should be a friendship," Anthony said, and I bit my lip.