"Come on, Mitch. What could it do?"

I swear, he was a little kid.

"Jerome, it's a monster."

Every time we went to the fair, he dragged me around the rides.

"It is not a monster. How many times have you actually gone on it?"

I had never been a fan of the rides that spun you upside down...

"...None."

And there was a reason for that.

"So you don't know what it's like. Just once, okay? We won't do it again, unless you want to."

Yet I followed him anyways, nothing more than a lovestruck puppy.

"Fine. But if I die, I'm blaming it on you."

I can still remember his chuckle, the way it peaked in volume, and how sweet it was.

"You're not going to die... Much."

I've been made fun of, because now, the sound of tickets ripping from the sheet gives me nightmares.

"That's not as comforting as you think it is."

The rattling of the cage... The warning to grab the bars.

"Mitch, calm down... Its just the Zipper."

They were all memories, more painful than they should have been.

"Jerome, I don't think he locked the door."

Honestly, I haven't been to a carnival since.

"He did, I saw. It'll be okay."

There had been fear in his voice, then...

"O-Okay..."

Why didn't I listen?

"Hey, it's starting!"

Planes terrified me, too, because of the turbulence.

"Oh, fuck me."

The sick feeling in your stomach...

"Mitch, just focus on the view."

Then the jolt back to reality.

"I can't! The door is loose, Jerome. Look!"

Why didn't I yell for them to stop?

The ride flipped backwards, the door opening.

He could still be here right now.

Upside down...

Just one word.

I managed to cling onto the sides, but he didn't have the chance.

It truly is amazing, isn't it?

Sirens... They were pointless.

One word...

The realization hit me like a brick, as they welcomed me out of the cage with quiet words and promises that it would be alright.

I could have saved his life.

····

Never going on the Zipper again. Not only did it scare the crap out of me (I'm weak, I know), but this...?

How about no?

See ya next chapter?

Baiii