Best Tear Jerker
Best Suspense/Thriller
The young man sat in his car staring at the house that now stood in ashes and remembered the first time he’d ever stepped into the house. He had been ten years old and had just met the girl who would become his best friend. She was a shy girl, the exact opposite of him, with long, brown hair and the most amazing blue eyes.
***********
"Hi, my name is Alex and I live next door."
"Hi," she said shyly. "I’m Courtney."
"Can you come out? I’ll show you around the neighborhood."
Courtney looked over her shoulder towards a room at the back of the house then back at Alex. "I can’t. My dad is asleep."
"Come on! He’ll never know if he’s asleep. I promise, we’ll be back before he wakes up."
He was very persuasive with those big brown eyes and to help his argument, the ice cream truck bell sounded in the distance. Courtney’s eyes lit up and Alex saw his chance.
"I’ll buy you whatever you want."
"Okay, but we have to be back before Daddy wakes up."
The two young children left the house quietly and headed down the street.
************
He got out of his car and walked up to what once was the front porch. The steps were still there so he sat down and thought about the times he’s spent with her in this very spot.
************
"COURTNEY!" bellowed her father from deep inside the house.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at Alex, fear in her eyes.
Alex hugged her close. "Don’t go in, Courtney."
"I have to, Alex. It’ll just be worse if I don’t."
Alex looked down at his best friend, at the bruises that marred her beautiful eyes. "Promise me you’ll meet me at our place."
"I’ll try."
Alex kissed her on the forehead and watched as she headed into the house. He heard a glass shatter and Courtney’s father yell, "Where the hell have you been?". He couldn’t hear Courtney’s answer but he could see her clearly, cowering in front of her father. He wondered when his father would hurt her so bad that she wouldn’t be able to meet him at their place.
Over the last four months, Courtney had grown to trust Alex and he had seen ALL the bruises; Courtney’s father beat her at least once a day. After the first month, Alex had been able to convince Courtney to sneak out when it was safe so that he could put ice on her bruises for her and clean up the cuts. He had even bought her a pair of really cool sunglasses to help cover the black eyes she frequently had and to keep her from being teased at school, he had started wearing sunglasses all the time too.
************
A car pulled up in the driveway beside his and a lady got out. She walked up to the porch and sat down with him. She put her arm around him and he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I just talked to the hospital. She’s still unconscious."
"It’s been four days, Mom."
"I know, son."
"Will she ever wake up?"
"I don’t know."
"How could he hurt her like this?"
"You and I both know that he’s a sick man. When she does wake up and you have to have faith that she will, she’s going to need you."
"I’m going to be there, Mom. I’ve always been there in the past and I wish like hell I’d been here this time."
*************
Alex made it to their place a little after midnight to find Courtney huddled in the corner crying uncontrollably. Her whole little body shook every time she took a breathe. Setting his lantern down next to her, Alex saw her face clearly. He dropped to his knees and reached over to touch her gently.
"I’ve got some ice. Does it hurt much?"
"A little," she sobbed. "Alex, you’re always here for me. Why?"
"Because your my best friend."
"Will you hold me?"
Alex sat next to Courtney and put his arms around her. She melted into his embrace and he held her close. He wondered how anyone could hurt her. She was so quiet and sweet and she always wanted to make whoever she was with happy.
****************
Another car pulled into the driveway behind his mother’s car and three men emerged; a short, dark haired one, one tall and blonde, and the other shorter and blonde. They sauntered up to where the young man and his mother sat.
The short, dark one spoke. "We thought we’d find you here."
"Who’s with Courtney?"
"Kev’s with her," said the short, blonde one.
"She’s been calling for you, bro," said the tall, blonde one.
"Is she awake?"
"Not really."
The young man looked at his mother and she said, "Go to her and be careful."
He got up and moved quickly to his car. His three friends and mother watched as he sped away. The whole way to the hospital, he thought about his best friend.
*****************
"Courtney, you need to see a doctor."
Courtney panicked, "NO! They’ll just call the police."
"And that would be a bad thing how? Courtney, he beats you. No one should have to go through this kind of hell."
"I deserve it though. I make him mad."
"You DO NOT deserve it! Please, at least come to the house and let Mama
look at you this time. This is the worst I’ve ever seen you."
Courtney looked up at Alex. "She won’t call anyone?"
"No, she won’t call unless you want her to."
Courtney agreed. The one thing she had learned quickly about Alex was that he stuck to his promises no matter what. They made their way to Alex’s house where Denise was still up watching television.
She wasn’t surprised when Alex walked into the den from the kitchen even though she thought he’d been in bed for a couple hours already. When she saw Courtney, she shook her head. "What set him off this time, honey?"
"I didn’t clean the kitchen properly."
Denise laughed sadly, "You keep that house spotless. Here, sit down. Alex, go get the ice packs.
************
At the hospital, he made his way to her room where he found his friend sitting beside the bed holding Courtney’s hand.
His friend, a tall, good-looking young man with incredible green eyes looked up. "Hey, bro!" he said quietly.
Softly, he asked, "How is she?"
"Little change but she’ been calling for you."
Green-eyes moved and he took his place by Courtney. He took her hand in his and kissed it lightly. "Oh, Princess! What in the hell did he do this time to you? I should have been there for you."
Green-eyes placed his hand on his shoulder, "You’re here now. That’s what counts."
He looked up at his friend, "Thanks."
Green-eyes looked down as Courtney’s eyes began to flutter. "She’s waking up."
He turned back to Courtney to see her open her eyes. He smiled and said softly, "Hey, Princess!"
"Hey yourself," said Courtney weakly, almost in a whisper. "How long have you been here?"
"Off and on ever since they brought you in."
"Where are the other guys?"
Green eyes moved over to the other side of her bed and took her other hand. "I’m right here, Courtney."
"The others will be by later," he said. "Princess, what happened?"
Tears welled up in her eyes and she shook her head, "Not now. Please?"
"Okay. When you’re ready, we’re here for you."
"I’m tired," said Courtney as she closed her eyes again.
"Go back to sleep then, Princess. We’ll be here when you wake up."
