Personal Demons: Memories of Under the Bridge

On the verge of crying, I felt my blood run cold. My stomach turned and twisted, and my lungs felt tight as if being pinched. I was alone. I was all alone in this, I realized, even Mimiru didn't comprehend how dangerous the situation had gotten.

“Mimiru!” I remembered I hadn't seen Mimiru come in. I turned towards the mangled body and stared in horror. The girl on the floor was wearing the ninth grade uniform, just as Mimiru had been that day…and she had light brown hair, just like Mimiru…I shuddered as I stood slowly, careful not to lose my balance. They got Mimiru, I thought, they got her. I couldn't do anything to save her. Mimiru was telling the truth; back at the bridge she said that they threatened to kill us…they had just killed Mimiru…and I was next.

“Mimiru…I…” I kneeled down next to her shriveled corpse, “I'm so sorry…I tried to save you-I did…but-…” I choked, “I couldn't…forgive me.” I felt my chest heave as I sobbed. Trying to regain my composure, I held my mouth shut.

I leaned over the side of the bridge, trying to see underneath. I wanted to see Mimiru sitting there, kicking her feet in the stream, but no one was down there. I was truly alone now, I thought, no one could help me. I didn't even know for sure how many people weren't people anymore, I realized, maybe I'm not the only one left. I sighed and walked towards the iron railing on the edge of the sidewalk. I jumped over it and skidded down to the riverbank and sat under the bridge.

I remembered something Mimiru said to me once…

“What are you doing down here?” I asked, “When you sit with your feet in the water.”

Mimiru looked up at me and smiled, “its simple, Sassi, I can think when my feet are in the water. I don't know why,” she kicked her feet slowly, “but it helps me think more clearly. I can concentrate down here.”

“Hm…” I grunted, “Does it actually work?”

“Yep,” she laughed “it works for me. You should try sometime…when you need to think…”

“Yeah? You think so?”

She nodded, “You should.”

“I might…so, what are you thinking about today?” I sat down next to her, still not putting my feet in the water.

“You…” Mimiru blushed lightly.

“Me?” I asked in astonishment, “Why are you thinking about me?”

Her face went bright pink, “Because I…I like you, Sassi…”

I laughed, “I like you too, Mimiru.”

Mimiru shook her head, “No, I mean I like you.”

I nodded and smiled, “I know what you mean. I like you too…” I felt my face turn hot.

She turned and gaped at me in surprise, “You do? You like me back?”

I nodded again, “I always have…” I said quietly, a little embarrassed, “I just haven't ever had the courage to say it…You're my best friend, Mimiru, and you're a girl…and you're funny and sweet and pretty…I like you.”

I laughed, taking my shoes and socks off, “Those were the good old days.” I said to myself. Mimiru and I had finally gathered the courage to say we had crushes on each other back in the sixth grade. We never started dating though. I may have liked her, and known that she liked me as well, but…I was afraid that it might change the relationship that we already had. Being best friends with her was important to us, so we never spoke of it again. We acted as if nothing happened between us. I had always wondered how things would have been if we started dating then, and I never found out if her feelings about me changed or not. I knew one thing though; I loved her.

I put my feet in the water slowly, bracing myself for whatever temperature it may be. It was surprisingly warm, almost like bathtub temperature, just a little colder. I sat, leaning against a big rock under the bridge, thinking about Mimiru, and thinking about what I should do next.

“I'll get them back,” I said out loud, “I'll make them pay for what they've done to my friend. They won't get me. I won't let them get me until they've paid for what they've done.”

I got home late that day; I had been thinking at the riverbank for hours, “Hey, I'm home.” I stared sadly at my mom's picture and my dad's limp body on the couch. I knew what had happened. They killed my dad too. I went up to my room and sat on my bed, staring out my broken window. What was I going to do? I sat for hours in the river and I came to no conclusions. I still didn't know enough about them to be able to hurt them in any way, but how was I to find out more?

I climbed out my window onto my roof and stood, looking out as far as I could see. There were cars in the streets, but none of them were moving. No people were around…it almost seemed as if the entire town stood still.

Suddenly, I heard the doorbell ring. I quickly got down on my hands and knees, hoping that I wasn't seen. It rang again. I covered my mouth, trying desperately to slow my breathing.

“Sassi,” a girl's voice cried out, “it's me, Mimiru. You disappeared today. Where did you go? Are you home? Sassi?”

I felt sick. Was it them? Were they pretending to be Mimiru to trick me? Or was it really her? I crawled towards the edge of the roof and peeked at the doorstep. Her face looked normal, not to mention her voice wasn't scratchy like the others. Her uniform wasn't torn, as a matter of fact, she looked completely normal.

“Well, if you can hear me, I'll meet you at the church. I haven't seen any of them in there yet. Hurry up because a group of them is coming this way.” She ran off in the direction of the church.

Quickly, I jumped back through my window, slipped my jacket on and ran down the stairs. I stopped on my way to the door and stared at my dad's frozen body, “I'm sorry, dad.” I muttered as I ran out the door.

I stood and stared at the churches windows. I wondered if they couldn't go in. I wondered if we could be safe in there. I opened the large entry doors and stepped into the foyer. Mimiru stood in the back corner of the church, leaning against the wall. “Mimiru…” I felt like crying again. I wanted to embrace her, I wanted to tell her everything that I've held back from her for all these years, but all I could say was her name.

“Sassi, you came!” She looked up and ran towards me, “I was so worried that they had hurt you…”

“Me too…and…you can call me whatever you want…” I laughed nervously.

“Sorry…” She laughed as well, “I guess I already forgot.” She wrapped her arms snugly around my neck.

I blushed and hesitantly wrapped my own arms around her waist, “I don't care…I kinda' like the name Sassi anyway.”

She laughed and looked straight at me, “I…”

I cut her off, “There's something I really want to ask you.”

“What?” Her expression was blank.

I forced the words out, somewhat afraid of what her answer might be, “D-do you…remember sixth grade…when you told me you liked me? Well…do you…still like me like you did then?”

She flushed, “Y-yes…I do…”

For the first time in a long time, I felt myself smile, “You do? Really?” my voice cracked out of excitement. I cleared my throat, “I mean…cool.” I tried to act calm.

Mimiru laughed, “And…you? How do you feel?”

“I…um…” my face became hot, just like before, “I don't know how to say this…but…yeah…I like you a hell of a lot…”

She threw her arms over me again, “Oh, Sassi!” she laughed, “You really are the best.”

I laughed too, “You think so?”

“I sure do.” She hugged me tightly.

I blushed more, “Thank you, Mimiru…”