One Last Night

Laying flat on his back and staring at the celing, he wondered how she was doing right now. Although they had been friends for years, he felt like he hardly knew her and what she was going through. He lay there thinking about her when his phone rang, violently rousing him from his thoughts. Groping for his phone, he answered it.1

"Hello?"2

"Hi Matt." 3

"Katie?"4

"Yeah, it's me. I just wanted to say sorry for the way I acted earlier. I was a total bitch. I guess I was just a mix of anger and shock."5

"Its ok Katie, I understand. You didn't need to find out about me and Melanie that way." He remembered back, how earlier he had forgotten that Katie was coming over, and she had walked in on him and Melanie. 6

"I just wanted to tell you Matt, that the reason I called was to say..." she trailed off. He could tell that she was nervous, and scared.7

"What is it Katie?" he asked softly.8

"I love you, Matt." and with that she hung up the phone.9

He was speechless. They had been friends for years, and he had always felt very strongly for her, but he never thought in a million years that she had the same feelings for him. He looked at his phone and hit the speed-dial button. It rang a few times then a wavering voice answered.10

"Hello?" there was a sniff as she waited for an answer.11

"Katie? Why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked her.12

"I never thought you shared the same feelings for me Matt. That and you always had a girlfriend."13

" I love you too Katie...I have since I first met you." He could hear her crying over the phone. "I'm sorry."14

"Matt. Meet me at the oak tree, ok? In thirty minutes." she had calmed down some.15

"Alright, see you there."16

"Bye." 17

With a huge smile on his face he put his coat on and grabbed his keys. He drove to the tree, and waited for Katie to arrive.18

When he got back to his house in the morning, he walked in with his head down, his hair covering his face, and instead of a huge smile that should have been plastered there, it covered his tearstained and bloodshot eyes. 19

She never showed up. He waited all night, but she had stood him up. Grabbing his phone, he dialed Katies number and waited for her to answer. She never did. Instead it was her mom who picked up and in an instant Matt knew something was wrong. 20

"Mrs. Underwood, whats wrong?" he asked urgently.21

"Its Katie." she said in a choked voice.22

"I'm on my way." he said and hung up.23

Not even bothering to change clothes, he ran right back out to his car and took off to Katie's house. He made the usually twenty minute drive in ten. He pulled in her driveway and ran to the front door. Her mother answered, her eyes red and puffy from crying.24

"Where is she?" Matt asked.25

"Upstairs, in her room" was the answer he recieved.26

He raced upstairs and stopped infront of her door, catching his breath, afraid of what he would find. Finally he opened her door, and slowly walked in. 27

If he had not known something was wrong, he would have just thought she was sleeping. But upon closer inspection, he realized she was a pale white, and the bedsheets around her were stained a dark red. Letting out a strangled cry he rushed over to her, and collapsed beside the bed. Tears running down his face, he looked at her, at how beautiful she was, even in death. He stroked her hair, his tears getting lost in its black depths.28

"Why Katie? Why..." he choked out. 29

Unable to look at her any longer, he scanned her room, almost as if looking for something, someone to blame. His eyes fell on a folded sheet of paper sitting on her dresser. Ontop of it lay a razor, still crusted with her blood. He wiped his eyes and stood up, walking to the note. He picked up the razor, caressing it in his fingers for a moment, then he picked up the note. On the outside his name and the words "I'm sorry" were written.30

He opened it and read,31

"Matt, 32

I'm sorry things had to end this way. If I had a chance to change what I have done, I would in a heartbeat. But the truth is, the damage was already done when I told you that I loved you. I was sitting there, on the phone with you, slowly bleeding to death. I am also sorry about telling you to meet me at the tree. I knew I wasn't going to meet you when I asked, but I did take comfort in those last minutes knowing that you were a little bit closer to me. The reason I did this, was I knew I could never live without your love, and after walking in on you and Melanie I just didn't want to try anymore. Just know this. I will love you forever and I am so sorry.33

Love, 34

Katie"35

His tears had started to fall again as he read this, they fell onto the paper, smearing the ink, making some words illegible. He crumpled the note into a little ball which he held tightly, as if it would take away all his anger and pain. As he balled both his fists he realized he was still holding the razor. He opened his hand and looked at the fine line of blood that had been drawn there by his squezing. Then he made up his mind.36

He held the razor resolutely, and walking to her bed he sat down next to her.37

"Katie, I can't live without you either. And I'm not willing to try. I love you and always will." he said to himself, taking the razor and drawing it from his wrist to his elbow, then repeating the same move on his other arm, wincing from the pain.38

"For you, Katie." he whispered, laying down beside her. He closed his eyes and relaxed, taking deep breaths, feeling all the blood in his body draining, mixing with hers on the bedspread. 39

Feeling weaker and weaker every moment that passed he finally whispered, "I love you." Then, taking his last breath, he joined Katie forever.40