"She spilled her drink on the floor. She slipped and bumped into Kyle, who then pulled onto Oliver, who fell down and accidentally tripped Sophia. I care running into the room and tripped myself, landing on top of them. We all laughed it off, and it's now this running joke of 'don't spill your drink Iliana'" I chuckled, looking at the screen of my laptop.

My friend, Kayla, gazed back at me, gigging herself.

"Ha. The London girl is falling down!" She teased.

"Hey!" I whined. Iliana was from America, where as I lived in England, so she often joked about my ethnicity and my accent.
She laughed again.

"I'm sorry, just the look on your face!" She giggled as she covered her mouth with her hand.

She was laughing because I was making that face where I was trying to look mad when internally I was laughing. If seen it before in mirrors and photos that were shot without my consent. I started laughing to, even given my will not to.

"Ha, oh, it's so nice to see you happy again. I'm just sad I'm not there to enjoy a theses fun times with y'all! I wish I could move back to England. I liked it much better there actually, even though its not my birth country."

"Yeah. We miss you lot!" I tried.

"Well, I mean I cou-"

Buzz. Buzz.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. The ID read in as Iliana's mum. Why was she calling me? Maybe it was just an accidental call. But I didn't want to risk it.

"Hold on, gotta take this." I said.

"Yeah okay." Kayla said. I muted the conversation and picked up.

"Hello?" I tried.

"H-hello. Y-you need to come to the hospital. N-now."

"What, why?!" I asked, my stomach knotting.

"I-it's Iliana. S-she was in a car accident. W-we don't know if sh-"

"On my way." I said abruptly before hanging up. I unmuted the call and stood up.

"Hey, Kayla, I have to go." I said.

"What happened?"

"It's Iliana, she got in a car crash."

"Oh my lord. You must go and see her. I'll hang up so you don't have to, call me back later and tell me how she's doing."

"Bye."

"Bye."

With that, I grabbed my purse from the hook by my bedroom door and rushed out. I still lived with my parents, but I had my drivers license already. Plus they were on vacation for the next few days so that was out of the question.

As I drove towards the hospital, I had been texted the address, my stomach was a black whole, swallowing up every bit of positive feelings and leaving only dread.

I threw my car door shut and locked it before practically sprinting into the hospital.
"I'm here to see Iliana Nightheart." I said as calmly as I could muster.
They affirmed my identity before showing me back into the rooms. People. People violently ill, undergoing procedures, families gathered around those who could be visited.

"In here ma'am." The nurse said. I didn't even acknowledge their politeness as I rushed to Iliana's side.

"Oh, were so glad you're her honey." Iliana's mother started, looking me before turning to her husband. She looked back at me on the verge of tears.
"but....they're not sure if she'll make the night...."she trailed off.
All hope of holding back my tears was lost at that.

"We'll leave you alone." Iliana's Dad says, leading his wife gently out of the room, leaving only Iliana and I.

After a few minutes I forced myself to look up. One of Iliana's arms was broken. Bruises and dried blood from still uncleaned cuts were stark on her face. I listen my still shaking hand to move a strand of hair out of her face. God no. This could not be the end. A year. Only a year. And she had helped me through so much. I could not afford to lose another friend. Not her. Especially not her.

"Iliana please wake up." I pleaded in a whisper.

Suddenly one of the machines she was attached to started beep rapidly. Nurses came rushing in. I was cast to the side as they attempted to settle things. Everything was down so hastily. Everything was a blur. The sounds all became one escort for the sharp tones and repetitive tone of the heart monitor. Which, as if time was slowing, seems to grow slower and slower till each moment between each been prolonged on. Then, the sound went flat.

I was frozen. My mind was moving a million miles a second but my body was till.
'What the hell are you doing, why are you just standing there, do something, that's your best friend for crying out loud'
My brain shouted. But I didn't move. I just collapsed. Then and there, on the tile floor of the hospital room. And I cried.

Seemingly, well actually, literally hours later, I arrived home. I still had water-filled eyes. It seems I had not cried enough. I had barely driven home, refusing the idea of being dropped off by Iliana's parents. I immediately headed upstairs and fell onto my bed. I felt....dead. Strangely empty. I was overcome with pain and sorrow and yet, I wasn't. This all felt so unreal that part of me had yet to catch up to the fact that one of the best friends I've ever had; just died.

I felt my phone buzz. I ignored it. It sounded again. I looked at the screen through blurred vision, squinting to read.

Kayla;
Hello?

Kayla;
How is she?

I sighed and typed out the next part despite the pain.

She didn't make it

Kayla;
Oh my lord
I'm so sorry

Kayla;
I wish I was there to help you. Do you want me to call you?

No. Not now. I'm still grieving. I'd rather be alone.

Kayla;
Oh. Okay then. Talk to you tomorrow, okay? Please, try to get better soon. I know this is hard, but you'll get through it. You've gone through worse before

Thing was? I hadn't. Losing friends isn't the same as having them die. I didn't imagine
I would ever be okay again. My last thoughts were of fond memories I'd shared with Iliana during the past four  years. Now, it was over. It was all over. I would never see her again.