THE PERSON BESIDE HER

The clock struck 12 at night when Eleanor came and sat on a bench somewhere in a park. The chilling winds blew passed her as the temperature decreased. Maybe that wasn’t bothering her even though she wore nothing warm but a coat and a cap. There was a pin-drop silence. What could only be heard was the rhythm of leaves moving, the sounds of firebugs, and the sound of water flowing in the fountain in front of her. By observing the silence around her, she assumed that no one was present in the park except her. But, that wasn't a matter of concern for her.

It had become her addiction to come to the same place every day at midnight. She felt an unbreakable connection with the place. The reminiscences of her early days with him could not do anything but stay restlessly on her mind. Every time she gazed at the place in front of her, her past memories flashed in her mind. She could do nothing but get more drowned in the retention of the bittersweet times with him.

Flashback:

“Mom, Dad…., come back…. Don’t leave your little Eleanor here. Ma, Pa, come back...." cried ten-year-old Eleanor at her parents' funeral.

Eleanor lost her parents in a car accident when she was just ten. Maybe, that was just too much for the little one to bear. She lost all her hope. The little kid's life became miserable. She was neither going to school nor taking care of her health. This made Adrien (her best friend from elementary school) very anxious. Eleanor was never absent in school for such a long. He told his parents about Eleanor. His parents visited her house and met her relatives. After having a long conversation with them, Adrien's parents decided to adopt her.

"Eleanor, hey, look, you are gonna live with me. I have new toys; we'll play with them," said Adrien trying to cheer her up. But Eleanor wasn't even listening to him. She just peeked outside the window trying to understand what was happening to her.

Initially, it was difficult for her to adjust with Adrien's family. But, her heart melted when she realized that his parents were making all their efforts to provide her their love and make her happy. She accepted Adrien's family and started to become a cheerful girl again. That was what happened in her childhood. After the great tragedy, Adrien and his family became everything for him; even thinking of losing one of them was worse than a nightmare for her.

Things were going smoothly. Both of them grew up and became 18. But, it is truly said by someone that one's happiness doesn't last for long. Her world was shaken when she heard about the demise of the most important person in her life. She could not believe that her best friend suicided due the college pressure. After the death of Adrien, her life became unstable and she lost track once again. She stayed quiet in college, hardly attended any lectures and if she did, she never aid attention there. She could not focus on her studies, and hence could not clear the exam. Winter vacations were about to be finished, but her addiction to visit the park every midnight did not.

Back to the present:

"Hey girl, you cheered me, I will cheer you. Tell me what happened."

Next part:

https://versatilewritings.wixsite.com/acrosstheworld/post/the-person-beside-her-part-2