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“Riggy, don’t leave me here!”
His voice still haunts my head. I’ve recounted the events more times than I can count.
“Riggy! Riggy! Riggy!”
His sharp screams penetrated my chest. Every time I hear his voice in my head, I get stabbed again and again.
If only I hadn’t dragged him into that mess. If only I hadn’t talked to that fox. If only I hadn’t moved to Toonville. If only I hadn’t been born… he’d still be alive.
It all happened so fast. I thought he’d made it out alongside me. Leaping from the window. My heart was pounding. I was scared, yes. But also so excited. The thrill of it all. Man, my heart dropped when I heard his shrieking, agonizing scream.
“Riggy! Help me!”
Between the ash from the fire and the shock of seeing him like that, I couldn’t breathe. Despite the raging heat of the fire, my body had been engulfed in ice. Ice cubes stuck in my throat, the sharp corners piercing. My body refused to move except for my hands which trembled vigorously.
“Riggy!”
I muttered out the first words I could.
“I-I’ll go find some water.”
Finally the adrenaline would kick in. His screams grew quieter as I rushed to the lake. Then the question occurred to me. How would I get the water to him? There were no buckets. My eyes darted around, then darted to my slightly charred red jacket. I ripped it off of my body as quickly as I could. As the sound of the jacket hitting the water made a splash, the sound of his voice stopped. I looked back, my eyes widening. His stiff, charcoal form still burning.
“I’m so sorry…”
The tears filled my eyes, burning as much as the flames. As much as I wanted to curl up into a ball and cry, I knew the police were right around the corner. What a coward I am. I should’ve taken the blame for it all. Instead, I ran away. But the guilt followed me. His voice haunts me every day. The warmth of a fire is comforting to most, but I just hear the screams.