Heads Above the Clouds

Everything went black, and the world around me disappeared. A sharp ringing echoed in my ears, like a bell trapped inside my skull. My head felt heavy, and I couldn't breathe. My body was frozen, and I felt like I was drifting, caught between consciousness and oblivion. Slowly, through the haze of my senses, I felt something—a hand, warm and strong, gripping my arm.

I blinked, fighting to clear my blurry vision. My mom's face appeared in front of me, her features distorted with panic, her mouth moving but no sound reaching me. Then, with a burst of determination, she yanked me out of the car, pulling me into her arms with all the strength she had left. Around us, the sounds of sirens and frantic voices filled the air, police officers and firefighters moving swiftly, their faces tense with urgency.

The cold, sterile air of the ambulance enveloped us as we were rushed toward safety. My vision swam again, and I let my eyes flutter shut, succumbing to the dark.

When I woke, the sterile smell of a hospital room greeted me. The sharp scent of antiseptic made my stomach churn. I could hear my mom shouting for a doctor, her voice shaky, like a thread about to snap. I blinked, trying to gather my thoughts, my head pounding with confusion.

"Mom… what happened?" I whispered, my voice hoarse.

She turned, her face pale, eyes red from crying. "Our car crashed," she said, her voice trembling. "Mr. Jocab... the driver... he's dead, Cirus." Her words hit me like a heavy weight, but my mind was too scrambled to grasp the full meaning. The only thing I could focus on was her—was she okay?

I looked up at her, eyes searching. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, but her tears spoke otherwise. She leaned over, pulling me into a tight hug, her body shaking as she whispered, "I'm alright, you don't have to worry about me." Her voice cracked, and more tears fell, staining my hospital gown.

I held her, the weight of everything heavy in my chest. I didn't know how to feel. My body ached, but all I wanted was for my mom to be okay.

The doctor arrived then, his face calm and efficient. He asked me questions, his fingers gentle as he prodded my ribs, checking for pain. "Are you hurting anywhere? Does it hurt when I touch this?" He poked my stomach lightly, and I winced.

"Nothing serious," he said after a thorough check. "You'll be fine, just some bruising. You'll be able to go home tomorrow."

My mom breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, doctor," she said, her voice still strained. The doctor nodded and left, and she followed him out to speak with him.

"Rest, Cirus," she told me before leaving. "I'll be back soon."

I nodded, watching her go, feeling a strange sense of isolation as the door clicked shut. Alone in the sterile room, I let my gaze drift to the window. Outside, the sky was painted in hues of pink and gold, and I saw a cloud shaped like a horse's tail, trailing gracefully across the sky. It made me think of Neal. His favorite cloud.

"It's really pretty," I whispered, half to myself. I wondered what kind of cloud I liked now. Did I even have a favorite? I couldn't decide; all the clouds were beautiful, each one unique in its own way.

A week passed in a blur of routine. The familiar sounds of my tutor's voice, the endless hours in the fields, and the comforting sight of the clouds became my world again. But something was missing. I hadn't seen Neal in so long, and the emptiness in my chest reminded me of that every day.

One evening, as I sat at the dinner table, my mind wandered back to him. I asked Mom quietly, "When can I visit Neal? I want to see him again."

She paused, her fingers stilling on her glass of water. Her eyes darkened for a moment, and she sighed. "Neal and his family... they're going abroad for a while. His dad has work in America, and they're moving there for it."

My heart sank. I hadn't seen Neal in five years, and now I wouldn't even get the chance to say goodbye? Anger surged inside me, but I swallowed it down. It wasn't her fault.

But then, she handed me an envelope. "Here," she said softly. "It's a letter from Neal."

I opened it with trembling hands, my eyes skimming the familiar handwriting.

Dear Cirus,

I'm so sad that you weren't able to come and play with me. Your mom said you had to study. My mom, dad, and I are going to America to accompany my dad. He has a branch of his company opening there, and he wants to be there if anything goes wrong. I hope we return soon so we can play together.

Sincerely,

Neal

P.S. Don't forget me!!!

The words hit me harder than I expected. I felt a tightness in my chest, a sharp ache that I couldn't explain. My only friend, the person I had shared so many quiet moments with, was leaving without even a proper goodbye. Tears blurred my vision as I clutched the letter to my chest, feeling as if something precious had been ripped away from me.

Five years passed. I had grown, as had the world around me. Today, I was celebrating my 18th birthday with friends and family. The house was filled with laughter, but I felt distant, almost disconnected. I stepped outside, seeking a quiet moment to breathe, and found myself on the swing in the backyard.

"Sorry I'm late."

I froze, the familiar voice ringing in my ears. I turned slowly, and there he was—Neal. He stood in the doorway, his tall frame framed by the fading light of dusk. I couldn't make out his face at first, but as he walked toward me, I felt my heart race. His features had matured, becoming more defined and striking. His dark hair, once unruly, now framed his face perfectly. And his eyes—the same lovely evergreen color, now even more intense.

"Neal?" I whispered, almost unsure if I was dreaming.

A smirk tugged at his lips, and he nodded. "I'm happy you still remember me."

"Of course I do," I said, my voice catching. "How could I forget those eyes of yours?"

"If anyone has lovely eyes, it's you," he said with a soft laugh.

He sat next to me on the swing, and for a moment, we both just stared at the horizon, the air between us filled with the comfortable silence of old friends. But soon, Neal broke it.

"So, do you have a favorite cloud now?" he asked, his voice teasing.

I chuckled softly. "I don't. All the clouds are beautiful to me," I said, looking up at the sky. "How about you? Got a new favorite cloud?" I asked, meeting his gaze.

"Still cirrus," he said, looking up at the sky. "That's always been my favorite."

The silence between us stretched, but this time, it felt different—not awkward, but full of unspoken things. I glanced over at him, noticing how much he had changed. His broad shoulders and strong build made it clear that the boy I once knew had grown into a young man.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me, sensing my gaze.

"No, nothing's wrong. I just realized… you're taller than me now," I said, a teasing smile tugging at my lips.

"I guess I had a growth spurt," he said, smirking.

"Cirus, time to see your guests off!" Mom's voice echoed from the house, and I realized how late it had gotten.

I stood up, gesturing for Neal to follow me as I led him inside. After saying goodbye to everyone, I turned to Neal, and he handed me a small box wrapped in red ribbon.

"Before I forget, this is for you," he said, his eyes locking onto mine.

"Open it later," he added, with a wink.

His mom called for him to get ready to leave. Neal pulled me into a big hug, whispering, "Nice seeing you. Let's go out sometime."

I smiled, nodding, feeling warmth spread through me.

Later that night, I opened the box. Inside, I found a necklace with a golden cloud pendant, my name engraved on it. A note fluttered out:

"Contact me if you need me."

I couldn't help but smile as I entered his phone number, then immediately called him.

"Hello?" Neal's voice was a bit raspy, but it made me smile.

"It's me, Cirus."

His voice softened. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. I was just testing it out," I said with a soft laugh.

"Oh, okay," he said, sounding relieved.

"Okay, I'll hang up now."

"Wait," he interrupted. "Would you like to go to town tomorrow if you're free?"

I felt my heart flutter. "I'm free. What time?"

"9:30?"

"That's fine. Where do you want to meet?"

"I'll pick you up."

"Okay. Text me when you're here," I said, excitement building.

"I will," he replied, his voice full of energy.

"See you tomorrow," I said softly, a smile spreading across my face.

"Bye-bye," he said, and the call ended.

Now, I had to figure out what to wear tomorrow. This wasn't my first time going out with a friend, but it was the first time I was going out with Neal. I wanted to look my best.