Part 6

It was the next day and Yuri was finished with class. The day was stormy and gray, with thunder rumbling in a distance. She was putting her books into her locker when Emily came speeding toward her.1

“Yuri, I don’t know who did it! Come!” Emily gasped, panting slightly. Yuri turned curiously and went after Emily. Emily led Yuri to their dormitory. Yuri opened the door and gasped. Her drawers were flung open, and all her photos with Simon were torn up and it scattered the floor. Tears stung her eyes as she bent to pick the ripped pieces of her photos. Her heart hurt like crazy and she slid onto the floor. Slowly, she felt her breath catch in her throat. She couldn’t breathe. 2

Emily sneered behind Yuri’s back and quickly dropped a quill down onto the floor. Then gasped.3

“Look!” Emily cried, bending to pick up the pen again as Yuri turned around.4

“What is that?” she asked wearily.5

“this pen, it’s—it’s—“ Emily stammered.6

“Whose is it, Emily? Whose is it?” Yuri demanded, grabbing the pen.7

“It’s Thomas’s!” Emily said slowly, studying Yuri’s face. Her eyes widened in horror and anger. Then Yuri ran out of the room.8

Emily’s lips curled into a sneer.9

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Yuri burst through Thomas’s door to find him studying. His dorm mate Willis was sprawled over his fortune cards. They both looked up in alarm.11

“Thomas Vacur!” Yuri shrieked, tears flooding down her cheeks. ”How dare you do that!”12

“What are you talking about, Yuri?” Thomas asked, looking at her, puzzled.13

“Don’t deny it! Yesterday we fought and today I find my room wrecked and Simon’s pictures torn up!” she screamed.14

“Knew something like that would happen.” Willis said. 15

“Shut up, Willis. Your room wrecked?” asked Thomas, concerned. ”But who—“16

“And guess what I found?” Yuri went on. ”This!” she threw the quill down onto the floor. Thomas stared at it.17

“That is not mine!” he cried, enraged. ”Yuri, this is treacherous!”18

The girl covered her ears. ”You know what’s treacherous? Is why I ever see good in a horrid person like you!” she snapped, before bolting out the door, leaving Thomas staring after her.19

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Yuri cried and cried that night. She didn’t return to her dormitory tonight, because she knew Emily would be smirking. So Yuri spent the night walking around the area. She was not exactly angry, just heartbroken. She had trusted Thomas with her heart, and also secretly loved him. Yet he did something beyond horrid, and now the shadow of Simon weighed her down even more. How could she have been so gullible and naive?21

Just then Yuri felt the same pain strike her as it did when she found her wrecked photos. Her legs suddenly felt weak, and they buckled beneath her. Her energy drained out of her slowly and she fell down.22

A loud honk threw Yuri out of her pain. She suddenly realized she was kneeling in the middle of the street and a car was roaring down the road. Maybe this is how Simon died, she thought vaguely. A loud honk and a blinding flash of light. Maybe that’s it. The car horn honked again but Yuri didn’t have the strength to move. White light blinded her and she knew nothing. Her fortune card fell out of her pocket and was crushed by the wheels of the car.23

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Thomas ran down the dark street, searching frantically for Yuri. He had never felt so worried in his life. His platinum hair flew behind him and he breathed heavily, but didn’t stop. Far away, he heard a honk, but a car was nowhere in sight. A horrible feeling struck his head and he began to run, shouting Yuri’s name. But there was no response. 25

Far ahead, lit by the dim street lights, Thomas saw what seemed like a large obstacle in the middle of the street. He ran closer and saw it was Yuri. There was little blood, but there was blood at the corner of her mouth. Thomas was horrified. He picked up her body and begin to run again, ignoring the cramp in his side. He ran faster than he ever had in his life, even holding Yuri. He felt a prickling tear at the corner of his eye, but it didn’t fall.26

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Ambulance sirens screeched as it sped down the road. Inside the ambulance was Yuri on a stretcher, and beside her was Thomas, Aaron Spiel and Emily Radley. The three waited impatiently outside the emergency room.28

Thomas paced back and forth with a furrowed brow, while Aaron Spiel peered anxiously at the door. Emily sat still as stone, deep in thought. Yuri was now in the emergency room, and it was all something that started out with her. If she hadn’t wrecked Simon’s photos out of her jealousy, Yuri wouldn’t have left and got hit by the car. Damn it, Emily thought. She just had to get hit, didn’t she? But she probably knew about Emily anyway. Yuri just wanted Thomas to like her more, that’s why she got hit on purpose. And plus, who told her to go outside at night anyway, Emily thought sneeringly. Yes, that was it. Nothing on earth happens just when it’s not suppose to. Life isn’t that on target. Emily got angrier as she thought about it. That little witch! She won’t get Thomas! Not while Emily Radley is around.29

Three hours later the doctor came out to meet them.30

“Miss Kowan is in no danger,” the doctor replied. Thomas sighed with relief. ”There is no need to worry her mother. Just a sprained ankle, a slightly twisted back and a few bruises won’t kill her. Yuri has been transferred to a regular ward. You may visit her.”31

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Dawn slowly arised and Thomas was nodding off toward the wall. Yuri was still unconscious and he had been with her ever since. Emily and Mr. Spiel had left later during the night.33

Yuri began to stir, making Thomas wake with a start. Yuri’s eyes slowly fluttered open. She blinked and saw Thomas peering at her, concern written across every syllable of his handsome face. 34

“Oh, hi,” Yuri said stiffly, sitting up. Thomas awkwardly helped her. ”What are you doing here?”35

“I want to talk, Yuri.” Thomas said earnestly.36

They walked along the pretty hedges of the hospital garden.37

“So.” They said in unison, both with different attempts.38

“You first.” Yuri said.39

“No, you’re a girl.” Thomas replied politely.40

“Have you been with me the whole time?” Yuri asked. Thomas nodded and she sighed. ”You didn’t have to.”41

“Still think I wrecked your photos?” Thomas asked quietly. The girl didn’t reply for a long time. 42

“I guess not. I was so stunned the moment Emily told me it was your quill. And it hurt so much. I guess I blew up at you.” She said.43

“It’s still true, you can’t live in a shadow forever.” The boy began cautiously. 44

“And what would you know?” Yuri said coldly. 45

“I don’t, but it doesn’t seem right.” Thomas said defiantly.46

“And why do you even care?” Yuri snapped, flaring up.47

“Because I care about you!” Thomas blurted out, stunned at his own daring. And before he knew what he was doing, he threw his arms around Yuri. ”I—I love you.”48

Yuri stood still in Thomas’s embrace, stunned. Thomas, love her? Of all the girls who liked him, he loved her? He was just like Simon. So sincere. So serious. Tears stung her eyes. Not tears of anger or sadness, but somehow tears of surprise and joy. Her arms lingered uncertainly around his waist. She thought she would never love again, but now she realized she was in love with Thomas. And just until now, did she realize that. Yuri tightened her arms around Thomas, and so did he, more confidently. They hugged for long, each admiring the other’s daring and happiness, and yet each just as proud and relieved of themselves.49

Finally they broke apart. 50

Yuri confessed she was tired, and her twisted back was beginning to hurt, so they returned to the ward. Thomas sat by Yuri, with her in his arms.51

“Thomas, do you know which is my favorite poem?” Yuri whispered, her voice tired but happy. 52

“Tell me.” Thomas said soothingly.53

“My mother read it to me when I was little. My father had died, so she chanted this poem often it’s called ”Love”: 54

"Love is a legend, love is a story.55

Love is a feeling, an experience, and a memory.56

It’s something I can’t see,57

It’s something just for two.58

Yet I feel so special,59

When I’m with you.60

Through storm and fire,61

I feel the strong desire.62

Down cliffs and rivers,63

So we can be together,64

Up mountains and hills,65

Just me and you forever.” 66

Yuri stopped and leaned on Thomas’s shoulder. 67

“That’s lovely.” Thomas said. ”I feel the same way toward you.” He smiled.68

Minutes passed and Yuri slowly fell asleep. Thomas laid her down and gently kissed her on the forehead, then left. 69