Flashbacks

Adrian still remembered the time when she was happy, when her every movement radiated life and love and joy. That was before the accident. No one knew what she had seen, and likely no one ever would. After the accident, Alicia was like a shell of her former self. She still smiled, but the smile never reached her eyes. And she still laughed, but it was a hollow, echoing sound. It was like her light was on, but there was no one home.

Now, her eyes were just empty holes in her face. She looked like she was dead. But she kept on living and breathing. Her life had a mundane rhythm, and it required no thinking at all. Alicia was broken inside. Nothing she did had any emotion or vigour. She was like a doll, a puppet, played by someone else's hand. The voice was not her own, and neither were the thoughts or personality. Adrian missed the old Alica. Would she ever come back?

Perhaps it's time for a proper introduction, Alicia's family is the richest for miles around and up until the accident, which occurred when she was just 14, Alicia's life was just perfect, she was rich, pretty, smart, and happy. Her life was a perfect picture until the accident shattered it. Adrian was Alicia's closet friend and confidant, and he cared for her deeply. In fact, he loved her.

Adrian recalled the day they met. They were at an art gallery, viewing the same piece. He had noticed her expression while looking at it. Like the stars themselves were burning in her eyes, they sparked with joy. He asked if she was an artist, and she replied that she wanted to be, but she wasn't sure if she was up to the standard yet. Then he asked if she would sketch him, and she said she would.

They went to a small cafe in the gallery and had lunch. Afterwards, she drew his portrait. Adrian smiled, remembering how life-like it looked. He still had that picture to remind him of better times. He kept it in his wallet next to the picture of her smiling in the day she first went to the art school. These memories were precious, the only thing Adrian had left from the old Alica.

Adrian felt the emotions welling up inside him, but he wouldn't cry. Someone had to be strong. He closed his eyes and wished away the tears. It didn't work. A single tear drop squeezed from Adrian's eye, sliding down the side of his face and landing with a quiet plop on the book he was pretending to read. Adrian gave in and let the tears come pouring down. After all, what was the point of being brave if there was no one to see him cry? So he cried. Adrian cried long into the night, finally letting out all of the pent-up emotion he had kept inside for the three months since the accident.

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