KIEFER POV I opened the door and the person standing next to me was Hanni She is rose sister Who is rose ?
A girl who is no more But in my every memory In the rain against a window.
In the smell of vanilla coffee.
In old songs I hadn’t listened to in years.
In the way the sunset turned the sky orange.
Sometimes, when I laughed, I remembered the way she used to laugh at me.
And sometimes…
Sometimes I remembered the hospital.
I hated those memories.
But they never hated me back.
FLASHBACK 6 years ago I had been in London for less than a week when I started my new school.
I am standing in the middle of the hallway with a piece of paper in my hand, staring at the room numbers.
I frowned.
“Where the hell is 104?” i asked to myself “Behind you.” I turned around.
A girl was standing a few feet away from me, holding a notebook against her chest.
she had a smile smile on her face , i looked behind me and there it was the room , i stared at the door for a moment before looking back to her “That’s embarrassing.” i said quietly She laughed.
“This is 104,” she said, pointing toward the classroom door.
“I can see that now.” i said “You’ve been standing here for five minutes.” she said “I was looking for it.” i said “Clearly.” she said I rolled my eyes.
she smile and extended her handed i shake it and she somehow made me remember jay .
its been 4 year since i left her and i miss her everyday “I’m Rose.” she said “Kiefer.” i said “You’re new, right?” she asked “Yeah” i said “I knew it” she said “How?” i asked confused “You have the lost look.” she said I looked down at myself.
“The lost look?” i said “Yes” she said “What does that even mean?” i asked She shrugged.
“I don’t know.
You just have it.” she said I shook my head.
“You’re weird.” She laughed.
“You’re going to fit in perfectly.” Then she opened the classroom door.
“Come on.” I followed her inside.
In just one month rose and i became friend surprisily quick but a part of my heart still miss jay so much She was the complete opposite of me.
She could talk to anyone.
She was loud.
She loved being around people.
Same like jay She started sitting next to me during lunch.
at first i didnt understand why she sit with me when there are 50 other seats too “You know there are other seats, right?” I asked one day.
“I know.” she said “So why are you sitting here?” i asked “Because you’re here.” she said I stared at her.
She took a bite of her sandwich.
“What?” she asked “Nothing” i said “You were staring” she said “I wasn’t” i said “You were” she said I looked away.
she laughed “You’re funny when you’re annoyed.” she said “I’m not annoyed.” i said “You’re doing it again.” she said “Doing what?” i said “Being annoyed.” she said I sighed.
“You talk too much.” i said “And you don’t talk enough.” she said She smiled.
“Perfect balance.” she said I couldn’t help smiling.
That was the first time I realized that maybe London wasn’t going to be as terrible as I thought.
2 YEARS LATER Rose became my best friend without me even noticing.
She knew everything about me.
Or at least, everything I was willing to tell her.
She knew what music I liked.
She knew I hated crowded places.
She knew I didn’t like coffee.
She knew I always stayed awake too late.
And she knew exactly how to make me laugh.
She also had an annoying habit of stealing my things.
My pen.
My notebook.
My hoodie.
One afternoon, I watched her walk away wearing my black hoodie.
“Rose.” i called her She turned around.
“What?” she asked “Give me my hoodie.” i said She looked down at it.
“This?” she said “Yes.” i said She smiled.
“I don’t think it’s yours anymore.” she said “It literally is.” i said “Not anymore.” she said “You stole it.” i said “I borrowed it.” she said “You’ve had it for three days.” i said “That’s a long-term borrow.” she said I shook my head.
“You’re impossible.” i said She smiled.
“And you still like me.” she said I froze for half a second.
She didn’t seem to notice or maybe she did and just smiled and keep waking away , i followed her , at the time i dont know why my heart had started beating faster and maybe i know cause i had been falling for her for month or maybe longer , i just had not admittied it and maybe i was going to confess ONE WEEK LATER We were sitting outside school.
Rose was drawing random shapes on the ground with her shoe.
“You’ve been quiet today,” she said.
“I’m always quiet.” i said “Not like this” she said and i looked at her She was watching me.
“What’s wrong?” she asked “Nothing.” i said “You always say that when something’s wrong” she said and i smiled slightly “You know me too well.” i said “Obviously” she said She leaned back against the bench.
“So tell me.” she said I stared at the ground , i did not know how to say it Finally, I took a breath.
“Rose?” i said “Hmm?” she said “I like you.” i said She stopped moving.
“What?” “I like you.” She stared at me , i immediately looked away “Forget it” i said “No.” she said She smiled.
“Say it again.” she said I looked at her.
“I like you.” i said Her smile grew.
“I like you too.” she said I blinked.
“You do?” i asked She laughed.
“Yes.” she said “Since when?” i asked “Maybe for a while.” she said I couldn’t stop smiling.
“So…
what does that mean?” i said She held out her hand.
“It means you should probably take my hand.” she said I looked at her hand , then i took it , her finger wrapped around me and i kissed her , she smile “I guess we’re dating now.” she said I laughed.
“Just like that?” i said “Just like that ” she said And somehow, that was enough.
The next two years were the happiest years of my life.
Rose made everything feel different.
Better.
We were teenagers.
We didn’t have everything figured out.
We didn’t know what the future would look like.
But we had each other.
We went on simple dates.
We walked around London for hours.
We shared food.
We watched movies.
We studied together.
She complained whenever I didn’t text her back.
There were days when we fought over the stupidest things.
One time, she got angry because I ate the last piece of pizza.
“You knew I wanted that.” she said “You didn’t say anything.” i said “I shouldn’t have to!” she said “How was I supposed to know?” i said She crossed her arms.
“You’re supposed to know everything about me.” she said I laughed.
“That’s not how relationships work.” i said She tried not to smile.
“You’re annoying.” she said “You love me.” i said She looked away.
“Unfortunately.” she said I laughed.
AFTER 2 YEAR I woke up.
Two year since me and rose are dating and i ma finally 18 year old , i went to school and saw rose , she smiled at me “You look tired,” she said.
“I am.” i said “You stayed up late again.” she said “Maybe.” i said She shook her head.
“You never listen.” she said “You sound like my mother.” i said She laughed.
“Someone has to take care of you.” she said I smiled , she hugged me before leaving “I’ll see you later.” she said “See you.” i said Then she walked away.
i watched her go but there was a strange feeling in my heart like something bad is gonna happened That evening, I was sitting in my room when my phone rang.
I didn’t recognize the number.
I almost ignored it.
For some reason, I answered.
“Hello?” i said “Is this Kiefer?” the perosn said “Yes.” i said “This is the hospital.” My heart immediately started beating faster.
“Why?” i asked “There has been an accident.” he said I stood up.
“What?” i said “Your girlfriend has been brought to the hospital , you were in emergency contact so thats why we called you ” he said Everything inside me went cold.
“Rose?” i asked “Yes.” he said “What happened?” i asked “She was involved in a car accident.” he said I grabbed my jacket.
“Is she okay?” i said “We’re treating her.” he said “Is she awake?” i asked “I’m afraid I can’t give you much information over the phone.” he said “Please.” i said My voice shook.
“Just tell me if she’s okay.” i begged “We need you to come to the hospital.” he said “I’m coming.” i said I didn’t even remember leaving the house , i just remember running When I reached the hospital, I rushed toward the reception desk.
“Rose.” i said The woman behind the desk looked at me.
“Rose what?” I gave her the information.
She typed something into the computer.
“She’s in surgery.” I felt like the floor had disappeared beneath me.
“Surgery?” i said “Yes.” she said “How bad is it?” i asked She didn’t answer immediately.
“Please.” i said A nurse came over.
“She’s being treated right now.” “Will she be okay?” i asked The nurse looked at me.
“We’re doing everything we can.” I hated those words ,everything we can , i sat down , my hands were shaking , i kept staring at door One hour passed.
Then another.
Then another.
I called her phone.
It went to voicemail.
I called again.
Nothing.
I opened our messages.
The last message she’d sent me was from earlier that day.
Don’t forget you promised me ice cream.
I stared at the screen.
A small smile appeared on my face.
“I won’t,” I whispered.
Then the smile disappeared.
Because I suddenly realized I didn’t know if I would ever get the chance.
Hours later, a doctor finally walked toward me.
“Are you Kiefer?” he asked “Yes.” i said “I’m Dr.
Anderson.” I stared at him.
“How is she?” i asked He didn’t answer.
My heart started pounding.
“How is Rose?” i asked agin The doctor took a breath.
“We tried everything we could.” “No.” He hadn’t even finished.
But I already knew.
“No.” “Kiefer…” “No.” He looked at me sadly.
“Rose didn’t survive her injuries.” he said For a moment, I didn’t understand.
I just stared at him.
“What?” i said “I’m very sorry.” he said “No.” “Kiefer—” “No.” I shook my head.
“You’re wrong.” i said “I’m sorry.” he said “You’re wrong.” i said I looked toward the operating room.
The doctor stayed silent.
“She’s too young.” i said Nothing.
“She has plans.” i said My voice started shaking.
“She wants to travel.” i said I swallowed.
“She wants to see Paris.” The doctor looked down.
“We did everything we could.” I laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.” The doctor didn’t answer.
“No.” i said My eyes filled with tears.
“She told me she’d see me tomorrow.” i said I looked at him.
“She told me.” My voice became smaller.
“She said she’d see me tomorrow.” The doctor put a hand on my shoulder.
I stepped away.
I couldn’t breathe.
“No, no, no…” My knees gave out , i sat down and then her mother and sister came when they hear what happened they started crying , her mother came and hugged me And then I broke.
after a while i looked up “Can I see her?” i said The doctor nodded.
“If you’re ready.” I wasn’t.
i knew that i would never ready but i stood up anyway The room was quiet.
too quiet Rose was lying there.
i stood in the doorway for a moment i could not move she looked peaceful like she was sleeping , i walked to her slowly , i sat beside her and then i took her hand it was cold “Hey.” My voice barely came out.
“It’s me.” Nothing.
“I came.” I stared at her.
“You said you’d see me tomorrow.” My fingers tightened around hers.
“So…” I swallowed.
“I’m here.” Nothing.
“Rose?” Nothing.
“Come on.” I tried to smile.
“This isn’t funny.” Nothing.
“You always do this.” “You always scare me.” Tears rolled down my face.
“Please wake up.” I waited.
Nothing.
“Please.” I lowered my head.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do without you.” My shoulders shook.
“You were supposed to stay.” I looked at her.
“We were supposed to grow up together.” I remembered all our plans.
Paris.
University.
Traveling.
The future.
Everything we’d talked about.
Everything we’d imagined.
Gone.
“I was going to take you to Paris.” I laughed through my tears.
“You remember?” My voice broke.
“You always said I’d forget.” I shook my head.
“I didn’t forget.” I held her hand tighter.
“I never forgot.” I closed my eyes.
“I’m sorry.” The words came out quietly.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.” I knew it wasn’t my fault.
The doctors would tell me that.
My parents would tell me that.
Everyone would.
But grief doesn’t care about logic.
It only asks questions.
What if I’d called her?
What if she’d stayed home?
What if I’d gone with her?
What if I had somehow stopped it?
What if?
What if?
What if?
I leaned closer.
“I love you.” “I love you so much.” I wiped my tears.
“I wasn’t finished loving you.” That was the worst part.
I wasn’t finished.
We weren’t finished.
Our story wasn’t supposed to end there.
She was eighteen.
I was eighteen.
We were supposed to have years.
Decades.
A lifetime.
But we didn’t.
I stayed beside her for hours.
I talked to her even though I knew she couldn’t hear me.
I told her about school.
I told her about the stupid things we’d argued about.
I told her I was sorry.
I told her I loved her.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Eventually, I whispered, “I’ll never forget you.” I looked at her one last time.
“I promise.” That was the only promise I could still keep.
After Rose died, I wasn’t the same.
I stopped talking as much.
I stopped going out.
I stopped answering messages.
I didn’t want people around me.
Everyone tried to help.
They told me time would make it easier.
Maybe they were right.
But time didn’t make me forget.
It only taught me how to live with the pain.
Eventually, I left London.
I transferred schools.
I started over.
But Rose came with me.
Not physically.
In my memories.
In old photographs.
In songs.
In rainy evenings.
In the places we’d visited together.
She was everywhere.
And nowhere.
I was eighteen when she died.
I’m twenty now.
Two years have passed.
Sometimes people think two years should be enough.
Enough to forget.
Enough to move on.
Enough to stop hurting.
But that’s not how it works.
You don’t stop loving someone just because they aren’t alive anymore.
You just learn how to carry the love differently.
FLASHBACK ENDED