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It was dark.
Too dark.
Had she even opened her eyes?
Trying to move her arms only caused fatigue like no other. Was she paralyzed? Why couldn’t she move!?
It happened too quickly, her mum was demanding her other mum to stop the car. Betsy's heart raced, she asked Lisa what was wrong but didn't get a response; her mother was adamant on Becky stopping the car.
The car did stop.
But not by anyone’s choice.
One of the last things Betsy could register were the blinding lights on the same side of the road they were driving on, heading toward them at an accelerating pace. She let out a scream before the deafening bang came as the two cars collided on the freeway…
“He-help…” She mumbled, her voice wavering. Trying to look around proved futile when darkness was all that surrounded her. Not a sound could be heard aside from Betsy's voice. The beating of her heart was slow, her breathing was only just barely there…
…
“Betsy!?” A familiar voice called out, one that Betsy realized almost instantly.
One that she thought would never be heard again.
“M-Mason?” She asked.
A hand on her shoulder broke her free from the paralysis and Betsy properly opened her eyes, the darkness remained but now she could clearly see the form of the lad who was murdered a year ago. He looked down at her, a soft look in his dark eyes paired with confusion on the rest of his face.
“Bets… What are you doing here?”
“Mason, I—”
“You shouldn't be here.” He shook his head, concern in his eyes. His appearance was that of what he looked like the morning of the incident but lacking the injuries he’d received.
“Am I…?” Betsy couldn't bring herself to ask the question.
Did she really die…?
Mason understood her question, a sorrowful smile on his face as he moved closer to Betsy and wrapped an arm around her.
“Nah. But you really shouldn't be here.”
“So I'm not… dead, yeah?”
He didn't answer. Like he didn't have the words to do so. If Betsy wasn't dead, how could Mason be with her? There was so much she wanted to say but shock kept her silent. Eventually, starting words slipped out.
“I'm sorry that we… we had that stupid argument,” she said, wrapping her own arms around him. “I never properly apologized but I… I love you, Mason.”
“Don’t worry about it, I forgive you and… I love you too.”
“I promise that the flowers were beautiful.” She chuckled.
Betsy's mind was cast back to when Mason had entered the factory, a makeshift bouquet of heather in hand. She was furious at him for leaving. How could they have been so vulnerable with each other so shortly before Mason was to flee the country? Why hadn’t he told her sooner!? She thought he was only using her before making his escape, getting intimate and then abandoning her. Playing with her feelings like they meant nothing to him.
And although she knew the truth about her other mum now, Betsy believed Mason was just like his brothers who had been involved in Becky's “death.” That he knew more than he’d admit. She pointed so many accusations at the lad before he left. That he had bad blood like the rest of his family.
Yet, if Betsy had known that was his last day on earth, if she had just listened to him and understood, she would have treated him differently. But she was left with the guilt; the guilt of never properly apologizing when he wasn't teetering on the verge of unconsciousness. When he wasn't in pain. When his mind wasn’t casting alternate scenarios to cope with the reality of being on the brink of death.
The last words he ever said were ones relatable to her at the time; “I want my mum.”
They hurt.
Beneath the tough guy personality, she knew who he truly was. In the moment of distress and pain, he was just like any other kid. And that kid was one that she treated so horribly before he met his fate being brutally stabbed.
But now she had the chance to say sorry. Betsy had the chance to tell him her true feelings. Regardless of what condition she was in. Regardless of whether he was real or not real. She could finally make her peace with him…
…
“Betsy.”
“What?”
“Betsy!” Carla screamed, her voice pulling Betsy out of the dark void with Mason. Her surroundings changed to the interior of a darkened car with fiery chaos all around. Carla pounded on the window, tugging at the door handle. An unbearable ache spread through Betsy's head. Her sluggish eyes briefly looked to the front of the car where her mothers were quiet and unmoving before looking back at Carla.
But only one thing was on Betsy’s mind as she slowly came to.
“Where… where’s Mason?”