It is the middle of summer, and you are relaxing at home after an abnormally hot day. You have opened the windows to let in the warm gentle breeze rather than turning on the air conditioning like so many other households. Your parents have gone to pick up dinner and have informed you they won't be back for a while due to traffic congestion.
You turn on the television for the evening news and as you do so, the lights flicker. Seems like the power grid can't cope with the electricity demand. Heh.
Suddenly, a knock at the door startles you from your nap. You must have dozed off without any effort. You go to answer the door. Your parents must have taken a shortcut.
It's your friend, one who you haven't seen in a long time, five years or thereabouts. Your best friend from childhood. As you look upon your friend in mild surprise and exclaim your happiness, both in greeting and by giving your friend a hug, your friend smiles a sad little smile. Your friend asks to be invited in.
You politely inquire about whether or not your friend is hungry, your friend denotes a negative. Unable to contain yourself, you take your friend by the hand and race upstairs like old times, to chat away like you did all those years ago, all those times before. Seconds trickle by into minutes and those minutes turn into an hour.
The power goes out, not unexpectedly and you prepared a candle just in case.
Suddenly, your phone rings. Your mobile, you must have left it downstairs. With the power outrage, it must be running on a separate power grid and reception line. You go downstairs to answer. It could be your parents.
Your friend implores you to stay, you promise to return quickly.
When you answer, a stranger is at the other end of the line. A professional voice tinged with sadness and fatigue. "Hello," he says
"I'm Doctor O'Brien."
You are somewhat confused and hesitantly give a reply, "Hi, doctor, how can I help you?"
The doctor continues "I found your contact details within your friend's possessions. His/her parents are with him/her and have asked to contact you."
He pauses, "I'm sorry to say that your friend passed away recently. S/he was in a car accident and sustained massive injuries. There was nothing we could do. I'm so sorry...hello, hello? Are you still there?..."
*Click* Your mobile is out of battery.
You clutch the mobile as if it were a lifeline and cannot say anything. You turn your head to look up at the darkened staircase that leads up to the second storey. You promised your friend that you will return quickly. Yet...
What will you do?
I'd go back upstairs praying that my friend is still there and if they are I'd carry on with them until outr time came to an end. I would not second guess a blessing to say goodbye proper.