me hold your heart. It's still bleeding.~
"Why? Why did you make me do this?"
~So that I could see where the hole is.~
"What hole?"
~The hole in your heart. The one that's still bleeding.~
"Ahhh.... What are you talking about?"
~I haven't seen you cry this bad since Stanley's funeral. In fact, every time your eyes would well up with tears, you'd shut them so no one would see what was happening. Crying yourself to sleep is not the same as letting your tears flush your pain when you're wide awake.~
"What's wrong with not wanting others see me cry?"
~What's wrong? Can't you see? You shut your eyes to your own self! You shut them to me! You won't let me see what's hurting you. You don't want to find what's missing! You won't let yourself grieve the loss of your friendship. You're scared to free yourself from the ghost of your one and only true friend.~
"No! That's not true!"
~Of course it is, and you know it. Look at me. Look at me!~
~Okay, good. Now sit back down, wipe your eyes, and let's start all over again.~
"Start what?"
~The day at the gym. You said so yourself—you blocked everything out. You were in shock. Your mind had to remember everything so that you could listen to it later because there was no way you were willing to believe what the principal had said right there and then. It's time to listen. Both you and me. You have to do it. Remember, you want to die for crying out loud! How can you do it if you haven't dealt with the one death that still lingers in your thoughts? You owe it to Stanley, and you owe it to yourself. Face it, make peace with it, and let it go. You must first forgive Stanley for leaving you. You must properly bury the memory of his life if he is to become immortal in your heart.~
"I have no idea what you're trying to say."
~Do you want to die or not?~
"Yes. Of course, I do."
~Fine. Suit yourself. But I think you'd be making a huge mistake if you refuse to go over Stanley's death in detail and keep your feelings locked in as if it happened to someone else.~
"What are you talking about?"
~DEATH! I'm talking about DEATH! Why are you so hell-bent on dying? I'll tell you why! You think it's the only way out! You even think it's glorious!~
"I never said that!"
~You didn't have to. You still did not give me a single good reason why you want to die. I think you don't have a good enough reason. That's why you're still listening to me. That's why you're still buying time. That's why you're hoping I'll talk you out of it. Isn't it? Of course it is. It's all of the above. Check.
~Well, I got news for you. I won't. I won't talk you out of it. I will not be your way out of this. Not anymore. I've had enough. I've had enough of listening to your pathetic, sorry ass attitude. You want to die? Be my guest. The only thing I'll make you do, though, is go back and remember every single thought that went through your pathetic, lonely mind after Stanley died.~
"Why? Why would I do that?"
~I'm giving you a chance to witness what it may be like after you're gone. That's what this is all about, isn't it? To make everyone pay? To shock everyone into grief and confusion, just like Stanley did. Here's the fact: YOU WILL BE DEAD. You will not be able to see or hear any of this. Once you die, you're gone. There's no guarantee you'll turn up as a ghost somewhere like Stanley in Nikki's dream. You'll be gone, and you won't be able to hear anyone talking about you or see any of the posts people will write for weeks, or even months if you're lucky. So, tell me about Stanley. Your story may end up being a copycat of his. I'm giving you a chance to experience what it might be like when you die while you're still alive.~
"This is so insane!"
~Is it? Is it any more insane than committing suicide?~
"Okay. I'll try. Ugh, this is crazy. Where do I begin?"
~How about when the principal left the gym?~
"Chloe gasped and said, It wasn't a dream. He came to say goodbye to you, Nikki. Nikki started to sob