Chapter 3 -- A Subtle Whisper

As Dawson raced towards Maya he felt Ali pulling him back. "No Dawson" she said in a trembling, anger-filled voice. Dawson fought against her, he finally got free as sirens pierced the air around them.

"Dawson, please. You don't want to see her like this." Ali screamed. But it was too late as Dawson was already kneeling over Maya, calling her name. Praying for a response. The paramedics jumped out of the ambulance and raced over to Maya. She was lying still and pale, the now heavy rain landing on her face, covering her, almost protecting her. She breathed. A long, slow and shallow breath. As she quietly spoke her last words, she half-opened her closed eyes. "I had to. I love you". She tilted her head as her body went limp, and she slipped away.

Ali ran and held Dawson as he screamed her name, frantic to get her back. Not believing she could be gone, they were softly pushed back as the police and paramedics tried to resuscitate her. They allowed them to come back as the main paramedic spoke with a heavy, saddened voice. "Mr Moore and Miss Crawford we are sorry to tell you Miss Maya Taylor has passed away due to the complications the hit and run caused".

Mayas body was gently loaded into the ambulance as Dawson was left in Ali's arms sobbing Mayas name repeatably and grasping into thin air hoping he could feel her hand and pull her through, back to them. Unbeknown to Ali and Dawson, Maya was standing at the edge of the road, watching them, with one sentence she was gone "We will all be together one day".

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The next couple of days Ali stayed with Dawson as the families came to give their condolences. The same people who two weeks prior were in the same place wishing both Maya and Dawson luck for their future.

Dawson still staring at the picture of him and Maya on the night of their engagement, couldn't stop the tears from escaping his already damp eyes. "Ali" he cried. As Ali came into the room he asked her "Do you think she is still here?". Ali nodded as they both collapsed into each others arms and cried, reminiscing the good times all three of them shared.

"Yes, and I'm not going anywhere" Maya spoke in the silence as she watched them with silent, empty tears flowing down her pale face.

Ali got up about half an hour later and went through to the kitchen about to make a cup of tea for herself and Dawson. This had become a common occurrence after crying. Dawson was still sitting on the bed, the tears slowly disappearing, hearing the kettle turn on as he yelled through the slightly ajar door "Thanks Ali".

Ali standing in the silent kitchen waiting for what felt like hours on the kettle coming to the boil, looked around, searching for an answer as to how much sugar to put in, not wanting to disturb Dawson. "2 spoons" was whispered into her left ear, in what sounded like Mayas voice. She jumped as she heard it. Ali it was just a memory, just a thought, you are upset. Calm down. She thought to herself. As she put 2 spoons of sugar into the cup, the kettle boiled. The silence began again as she went to pick the kettle up.

Dawsons phone suddenly rang as Ali jumped, thankful that she wasn't holding the kettle. She picked it up, the room was quiet again as she listened to the voice on the other end.

She dropped the phone on the floor as she let out a wail and fell to the ground.