13.- The farewell

My legs began to tremble, but somehow I stood up and listened as Elian asked for a phone, and Briana, who still couldn't stop crying, was on my arm.

The sounds became external and I stopped hearing what was going on around me when I stood next to Annah before I had already seen her sleeping and for me, she was asleep I just smiled while I put my hand on her cheek and the tears started to fall one after another and without realizing it I was already on the floor again holding Annah's hand that before was warm. I was crying and it didn't stop me Briana hugged me and then Elian joined her on the other side the policemen slowly came out giving us space to say goodbye.

The time we were crying maybe it was too much because Enzo arrived with my parents and Annah's parents, Enzo took Elian by the shoulder and he got up taking Briana hugging her. My mom came closer to me, but I could not see her for me Annah was asleep and just needed to rest the exams and projects had surely left her exhausted.

-Son, let's go- said my mother, taking my hand, trying to lift me up.

-I can't leave Annah gets upset if I'm not with her when she wakes up - I said refusing to stand up out of the corner of my eye I saw Annah's dad saying something to my mom, but I didn't know that my mom still moved aside and the man squatted next to me.

-Julen, I know it hurts you, it hurts me too, but she's not going to wake up - he said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

-No, she promised Mark that we would go today to see his little sister and she promised me that when we graduated from college we would live together, she never breaks a promise- I said crying again.

-I know Annah didn't want to break those promises, but she is not here anymore son- when I turned to see him he started to cry at the same time Annah's mom came to my side and hugged me and crying she said to me

-Julen, we have to let her go- I understood everything and came out of my shock Annah was not coming back and like me, there were many who were suffering so I let go of her hand and covered my face to cry harder.

My mom and Annah's mom tried to console me, my dad picked me up and Enzo took me to his car, I saw many people looking at me, or at least that's how I felt when I got to Enzo's car, Briana and Elian and then I got in. My brother started the car to start moving forward, out of the corner of my eye I saw my brother turn a couple of times to look at me, but I only saw the window and the things moving when I turned my eyes to the front and we were already in my house and Gina was at the door I got out of the car and walked slowly when I got in front of her she hugged me and I hugged her back.

-Gina took Julen to take a bath and then change his clothes- said Enzo Gina nodded -Come on you also need new clothes Gina lend something to Briana- she nodded again and pulled me inside the house we went to my room and I sat on the bed I could not move or just did not want to do it anymore I saw her take out a set of black dress shirt and pants and then put her next to me and look at me

-Big brother, come on, you have to take a bath- he said with a sad look on his face.

-I tried Gina I tried everything, but why didn't it work? - I said looking at my little sister

-I don't know brother, but that should be a consolation for you, the life that Annah led these last two years was very happy thanks to you and you tried to change something that was beyond you-

-But she is gone- I said looking at my hands -I'm going to take a bath- I said leaving my room to go to the bathroom I went into the shower and waited until I was completely wet, but when I closed my eyes the image of Annah on the stretcher appeared I got scared so I just turned off the faucet I put on my towel and went straight to my room I closed the door and started to get dressed once I finished I dropped on my bed and put my arm over my eyes to try to sleep but somehow I felt that someone was looking at me it was Alice and Beck.

-I don't know if it's right to ask you if you're okay- said Alice.

-Where did I fail Alice? - I asked sitting on my bed

-You didn't, even for us it was impossible to change it- she said sitting next to me.

-Not long ago I had contact with that man again, only now he said he sent you and that he had talked to Annah- I said looking at them, but their expression changed when I said that he had looked for Annah.

-He looked for Annah?- said Alice scared.

-That's what he told me- I said a bit confused -Why? what's wrong? -

-If he saw her, it makes sense why he sent us to see you- said Beck in a calm tone -Did you see anything else in your dream? -

-Yes, Mark's sister, now I think she's in the hospital, but in my dream, she woke up and he said it was close by - they both looked at each other with some concern and then turned to look at me.

-Look he made some kind of deal so Annah could be reincarnated more or less that her soul would stay here is what he sent us to tell you- that had almost made my back go out. Then the door to my room opened and Gina was standing in the doorway with her back turned.

-Brother, something strange is happening, nothing is moving and Enzo doesn't... listen to me- she said and then she turned to see me and obviously she saw Alice and Beck -I think I'm interrupting something-

-He was right, he told his sister, it's better that way he forgets something, for sure she won't- said, Beck.

-Yes you are right- said Alice pulling my sister to come in and sit next to her -Now listen carefully girl Annah will be reborn again maybe in your friend's sister which is most likely they are giving you a second chance to be with her- both Gina and I were very surprised, but I still didn't recover after seeing Annah.

-Stop, but it's not the same thing, I saw my girlfriend dead no less than two hours ago, you can't just come and tell me that I have a second chance- I said a little upset.

-No brother, think about it, it will be Annah again, I don't know if it is true but reincarnations can remember her past life, maybe in the future she will remember everything- said my sister trying to calm me down, -I know it won't be the same, but if everything is repeated maybe Annah will be in danger again-

-She is right about everything- said Beck I thought about it for a moment and maybe they were right, it wasn't fair for her to fight alone again.

-This time please don't go too far away- I said looking at Alice and Beck came closer to me and Alice hugged me.

-This time we will be here when you need us- she said -And I am so sorry for your loss- I turned to see her and she just smiled at me and then they turned around and left my room leaving Gina and me there alone and then everything became colorful again Enzo came into my room.

-Come on, Gina, give Briana some clothes, and as soon as she finishes dressing we will go to Annah's house-

Briana came out after he left and I got up and went down to the living room to wait for them to come down, despite all the information I had received it still hurt that I would never see her again, but then someone knocked on the door, but the knocks were loud and desperate, I got up and opened the door and there was Mark and as soon as he saw me he hugged me.

-Dude, I am so sorry I went to the university to look for you to tell you that my little sister had finally gone home and that she was fine but there was Mr. Callen and he told me everything and... I honestly don't know what to do, she is gone she was my best friend and now she is gone- he said crying, I invited him in and he sat on the couch next to me totally still without doing or saying anything just like me we just didn't assimilate that she wasn't there anymore, about 30 minutes went by when everybody came down Briana hugged Mark when they let go we all went outside we got in my dad's truck Gina sat next to me trying to comfort me from there everything started to get I didn't pay attention to what was going on around me I saw that we arrived at Annah's house the valet who had welcomed me the first time and every time I came to see Annah he gave me his condolences as soon as he saw me at the door there was Eleine and Jan seeing us of course as the years went by we became close but I became especially close to Eleine since we both planned our whole anniversary Annah's and everyone's birthdays.

I went up to Eleine and hugged her I had lost my girlfriend, but she had lost her sister she cried and I threatened to do it again Jan who was next to us was already crying I could only put my hand on her shoulder as we let go and went in all the service was lined up all dressed in black

-Nana, go to rest, Annah is not here yet -Jan said, approaching an older woman who had her eyes down, but she denied so we all stayed there with them.

About two hours passed when Annah's parents arrived along with mine followed by a coffin covered with flowers and a line of people dressed in mourning clothes. As soon as the coffin arrived, the servants bowed and some sobs rang out and the house was suddenly filled with them.

Hours and hours and I was still sitting in front of the coffin where Annah was now and when I finally took all the courage I could I walked to it and I saw Annah asleep for me I saw that my parents and Annah's parents and her siblings were looking at me I approached her and I whispered to her

-I swear that what you did will not be in vain I will protect her I swear- I said remembering what Alice and Beck said -I love you now and always- I said to pull away and cry.

She was gone, but my war with whoever did this was not over yet.