For My Best Friend

"Sarah? Sarah!"1

I look over to William who is holding poor Sarah tenderly in his arms. They would have looked adorable and sent waves of jealousy through me if it wasn't for the fact that I can feel that Sarah is dying, and for the look of her mangled body. She has lost consciousness by now and the future looks grim for all of us. Her legs and lower half of her body are completely crushed; the landslide had come down too fast.2

I look away, the memory of what had happened mere minutes ago is too much for me. Sarah had pushed me out of the way so I wouldn't get hurt, and then she had gotten hurt herself. She had done just the kind of thing you'd want your best friend to do. But not in this situation. With this, we can't have her die. She is the one we really needed. We can't finish this mission without her. But we can... without me.3

I shake my head violently. No, that won't work, it can't work. It's just a rumor that I can do that, that I can bring back the dead. Just because my powers lie in that area does not mean that I can defy the laws of nature. There are strict and unbreakable laws on those of us with powers. And replacing my life with Sarah's would be definitely breaking a few. Which, may I add, is impossible.4

"William..." I say softly, my voice ragged from the sobs I am keeping at bay, "It doesn't look good for her."5

"But we need her," William replies, not taking his eyes off of Sarah, "We can't finish this without her."6

I close my eyes as a wave of familiar pain courses through me. A pain that comes from approaching death, the portal is opening for her, the light shining and welcoming her soul. "I can feel the portal. She's leaving soon."
"Then do something!" William says, turning to me. His face, a mixture of anguish and love. Love that will never be for me.7

I look over to both of them; attempting to ignore the pangs of jealousy that still spring up. You see, the only real fight Sarah and I ever got into was over a guy. William was that guy. And as we attempted to stay friends through this struggle I learned that William loved Sarah, and the only thing holding him back from doing anything about it, was me. So out of my love for both of them I put aside my heart and let them be together.  They're happy; I try to convince myself that this is all that matters.8

"What do you want me to do?" I ask, feeling myself tear up. I could try, try and bring her back. But if I did, Sarah would hate me forever and we both knew it.9

"You know," he says gravely, "It's why you were assigned to go with us."10

"I was assigned to go on this mission for the same reason you were!" I shout back at him, appalled that he would even say that, "Because Sarah trusts me to protect her! And apparently, neither of us have done so well at that."11

"You still can."12

"She wouldn’t want me to."13

"But we need you to."14

"Who is 'we' ?" I spit out, turning away from them, "You and your penis?"15

I know I am being a bit vengeful and over the top but I don't care. The man I used to, and maybe still do, love is telling me to kill myself because my best friend, who is also his girl friend, is dying and I am the only one who can save her, but only by taking my own life. I think I have reason to be all that and more.16

"That was uncalled for," he replies softly.17

"I often am uncalled for," I say with my all too common sarcastic bite.18

William remains silent, I can see in the corner of my eye he is still holding Sarah, leaning over her, wishing her to live again. I hold back an awaiting outburst of anger. Sarah is my best friend, I have known her long before William came along and nearly destroyed our relationship. If it wasn't for him we probably wouldn't even be here. Well, maybe not to that extreme...19

I remember the day when Sarah and I first met. We didn't get along well at first, but eventually we realized how similar we really were. She doesn't have the sarcastic humor that I have, but she enjoys the same things I do. We watch the same TV, have the same games, have similar family members, and as already made obvious, have the same taste in men. 20

She's the best friend I've ever had and now she is about to die. She'd hate me for it. If I brought her back. She'd say she sacrificed herself for nothing. But this mission is pointless without her, and it must be finished. We wouldn't be in this god damn cave where landslides randomly happen and try and kill you without her and her powers.21

In different circumstances we'd be laughing at the fact that she got injured by something natural. Not by some sort of mage fight or faltering experiment. The Society would probable find it humorous too, Sarah of all people to get injured by nature. But now, that she is on the cusp of death, there is no humor to be found in it.22

I double over suddenly, gasping for air. The portal is opening more; her soul is readying itself for the plunge. I have never been with someone throughout their whole death before. It is both fascinating and painful. I had always come right before someone dies, or, unable to stand the pain, left before the portal got large enough. I grit my teeth as another wave of pain courses through my brain. I feel a pair of eyes resting sharply on the back of my head.23

"You know you could burn a hole through someone with a gaze like that," I manage to say to William, who is watching me struggle with the pain.24

"I'm sorry," he says, shocking me and causing me to go into a fit of painful coughs. "I didn’t think about what I was asking you. To possible take your own life. I don't know if I could do it," he continues when I am finished coughing and have flipped over, facing him.25

"Don't try to guilt trip me Will," I reply, "That's my job. Plus, I've already decided what I'm doing."26

"I'm not—" he starts, then he stops and looks strangely at me, "You've decided what?"27

"Sarah deserves to be alive more than I do," I say, sitting up, despite the pain, "She is more useful, she's nicer, more people like her, et cetera. So I've decided to at least give it a try. I'd die for her, she's my best friend."28

"Wow Amanda," William says, after an extremely long, prolonged and almost awkward silence, "Really?"29

I roll my eyes at him and sigh, "Yes, didn't I just say that? Now stop talking to me before I change my mind."30

I scan the area in which we are in. A deep dark cave with only the light of the magicked bobble, courtesy of Sarah, keeping us from the pure darkness. Though, I wouldn't have minded pure darkness, since I would still be able to see. Come to think of it, so would Sarah. So the bobble was made purely for William. See! He is a nuisance!31

"Go take your bobble and sit over there," I say to him sharply, as though he is a child and not a grown man, "And keep quiet. No, I'm not saying good-bye to you, or anyone else for that matter."32

"Wait? What? You're not going to do it?" he anxiously chimes in, ignoring my orders.33

"Of course I am! I said I was, didn't I? I just very much dislike good-byes, now go away."34

Finally he does as he is told. I don't know what I ever saw in him... well. Sarah, focus on Sarah. I turn to her failing body, abandoned by William on the floor of this wretched enclosure. I bite down on my lip hard, trying to handle the pain of being so close to a soul that is so close to leaving.35

Taking a deep breath, most likely my last, I place my hands over her heart. I have no idea what I am doing; I am just following my instinct. I probe with my mind for her soul, it is there, I can feel it. Then, with a thrust of will power I throw myself at her soul and into her body.36

For a moment we both occupy her mangled body, the vision of the bright beckoning light shines in both of her eyes. I smile and wave at her. But as soon as she sees me her mouth drops and her face twists with concern.37

"No Mandy," she says, as I mentally start to rip her soul away from the light, "You didn't. You couldn't have."38

"I did Sarah," I reply solemnly, but with a small crooked smile, "I'd do anything for my best friend."39

Then with one last burst of energy I throw her away and out of the portal just as I, myself, am sucked in. Our bodies are switched with the impact, mine now the mangled stone crushed one. And her face is now gracing the whole and healthy body that stood where mine once stood. As I am slowly being sucked away I watch, with tears in my soul, as Sarah comes back to the living world. 40

"Amanda!" she cries, tackling my body with hers, "No! How could you do this?"41

"Sarah?" William asks tentatively, after a moment, "Is that you?"42

"Yes William," she sobs, still hanging over my body, "But Amanda is gone. She took my place."43

"I know," he replies, walking over he puts a hand on her shoulder, "And we'll never be able to repay her."44