I Died When She Saved Me

Oh, f**k.

Io Atkinson

I almost jump out of the bed in fear and nervousness. I’m sweating all over my body. My heart was beating so fast and so loud. I look and feel like I participated in a marathon.

“What the hell was that?”

I raised my shirt and search for any wound, blood, or anything that will convince me that I died last night but can’t find any. I grope my womanhood.

Nothing hurts. Is this mean I'm still pure? But how come? How come I’m still alive? I can still remember how much they make that night a living hell for me. I’m sure I was stabbed like 40 times. But why the hell I'm now on my bed?

What- what the hell was that? Is it a dream? A nightmare? I don’t understand. Everything felt real. That was too much to be a dream. Well, I can’t test if I’m still pure but I don’t feel any pain in that area so I can assume, I am still. But how come, right?

My phone suddenly rings and I reached out for it on the bedside table.

It was Savy.

“Hello?”

[Io, let’s hang out later after our exams.]

I frown in confusion. 

“What the hell are you saying Savy? How come we’ll meet? You’re too far from me and there’s no way I’ll waste some money to go where you are. And what are you saying about the exam? You’re already working and yet you’re acting like you’re still a student.”

[What the hell you spouting out? Are you on drugs? I’m still in 4th Year College, how come I’m already working? And what are you saying we’re living too far from each other? Your apartment was only one block away from my house.]

“What?”

I look at the calendar displayed on the wall. 

September 29, 2039

2039? No, it’s the year 2042 already. I’m sure of that. 

[Yeah, what too.]

“I’ll call you later Savy.”

[Hold up I’m-]

I ended the call and confusingly look at the calendar. I double-checked the date on my smartphone's calendar.

Today is really September 29, 2039. 

Is that mean that’s only a dream? Yes, of course, I would love for it to be a dream only because if it’s not, I should be dead already. But that’s really too much for it to be a dream only. I just can't convince myself that everything that happens in that dream was never actually happening. 

If it’s the year today was really 2039, then that means,

I grab my bag and immediately found what I’m looking for. My ID card.

I’m still a 4th year BS Biology student. But I thought-

I froze when I remember what Savy mention earlier.

I have an exam today.

I’m sure it will start at 7:30 and now it’s already 7:00.

Oh, f*****g life.

--

I heaved a sigh while waiting for Savy at the gate. I almost miss the chance of taking exams because I forget where is my room. 

That’s strange. Really strange. Not only because of that dream. But also because I can’t remember if I studied for my exams, but I think I did great. 

I felt a slight tap on my shoulder and when I look back I saw Savy smiling at me.

“Why did you took so long?”

“2 minutes is not really long.”

“For me, it is.”

“What the hell is wrong with you? You look like you’re in a hellish mood. Yeah, you’re always in that mood but I feel like its kind of different today.”

I heaved a sigh again and lean my body away from the gate to stand beside her. 

“I’ll tell you later. But first, treat me because you make me wait for 2 minutes and I haven't eaten anything yet since I wake up and now I'm starving.”

Savy frown first but soon agreed.

We settled into the nearest fast food. I let her order for me since she already knows what I want and she's the one who will pay for it.

After a few minutes, Savy was back with a frown on her face and a tray of food.

My stomach suddenly growls looking at what she ordered for me. 

“Now start this story of yours.”

Savy mumbled as soon as she takes her seat across mine.

“Aren’t we going to eat first?”

“Oh come on Io. I believe you can do both.”

I just rolled my eyes at her but first take a bite of my burger. 

"I had a dream. But I prefer to call it a nightmare."

"Oh? About what?"

Savy twirled her spaghetti while still keeping her eyes on me. 

“I died in that dream.”

“What? Are you serious?” Savy asked slightly coughing because she slightly chokes on her spaghetti because of what I said.

“Yes. When did I ever joke around? I really don’t want to recall anything that happened in that dream. But it's loud and clear, I really died just like how my mother did.”

“You mean?”

“I was r***d by three guys, I barely remember their faces. I can only remember the sound of their laugh and the feeling that they make me feel. Also, they stabbed me like 40 times I think.”

“Whoa. What the hell is that? That’s not a dream. A nightmare!”

I just nod at her, "That's what I told earlier."

Savy reached out for my hand and lightly caressed it.

“Hey, what happened in that dream of yours is exactly the opposite of what will happen in the real world, right? Don’t be bothered by it.”

“Yeah, but actually. That’s not only what I dream.”

I tell everything I remember before I died on that dream but I forgot about the brand name of the energy drink. I just told her about the crimes I witness and how I died and such.

“Wow, that dream was pure hell.”

I didn’t reply to what she said and just take a sip of my soda.

“What will you do if that’s actually true? That it will really happen 3 years from now?”

“What the hell do you mean? Isn't that impossible?”

"No, I think it's possible to happen. What if, God actually send you here to warn people?”

“What the hell are you saying? What am I? A fallen angel?”

“That’s impossible. You’ll never fit in heaven.”

“Wow, coming from you.”

My day ended in me and Savy was arguing over that dream. She keeps saying that it was maybe a prophecy and I am like an angel. And I will just roll her eyes at her. Arguing with her is nonsense. 

--

“Did you really need to go there to study? It’s too far from here.”

Savy frown and sadly look at me.

“What the hell is with that look Savy? You look stupid and I didn't know you can be uglier until today.”

I laughed at her face. She’s trying so hard not to cry.

Savy didn’t reply and I get guilty because of that.

“Savy, you know the reason why I will study there, right?”

“Yes, but there are plenty of schools here that offer Doctor of Medicine Program. I think it would be better if you just stay here.”

“Yes, I know. But you know why I want to go there. I want to study there because that's where my Mom studies. You know how much I envy my mom.”

Savy pouts.

Sometimes she’s really childish but I’ll miss this girl. I'll miss my only friend.

“Fine. Fine. Just don’t forget about me when you’re already there.”

“Of course I will forget about you. That’s the real reason why I want to study there. To stay away from you and have a quiet life.”

Savy just laughed at my statement, knowing that I don’t mean what I said.

I admit I’m really not a good person but I’m a good friend.

“Whatever. And also please make some friends there.”

“Oh come on. I will go there to study not to make friends.”

"Yeah whatever loner."

"I prefer it."

After a few minutes of her, reminding me about prioritizing my studies I bid my goodbye to her. She really doesn't need to remind me that, even if she didn't remind me, that will be my top and only priority. She also reminds me of taking care of myself, reminding me to eat vegetables and to sleep 8 hours a day. She's more than a mom to me than a friend.

--

I put down my bags on the sofa and walked inside the apartment, showing myself around.

The apartment was okay. One bedroom, restroom, kitchen, and living room. Small for a family to live here but for me who will live here alone, it’s more than enough.

I bring out my clothes from my bag and arrange them neatly in the closet provided.

It’s still one week before the class starts and I’m now already enrolled. Then maybe I’ll just go and find a part-time job.

I don’t really have many things that I brought with me. Just clothes, some important documents, and pictures with my mom. I don’t have a house. When my mom died, I sold our house and now I used to live in apartments alone. I wonder how my life would be if mom was still alive.

--

Two years passed so fast. And I’m now in my 2nd year taking the Doctor of Medicine Program. Even though Savy and I never met again, we still find time to video chat or call each other. Even if I don’t want to admit, I’m missing that friend of mine. She’s the only one I have.

It’s only 6:43 am but I need to get out of the bed now to clean the apartment, do the laundry, and such.

September 29, 2042

Today is Monday.  I hate this day, actually, I hate every day.

I make sure that I plugged my earphones on my ears before I step outside my apartment. I don’t want to hear any noise, traffic noises, people's complaints and such. I don’t really love listening to heavy metal rock music, but it is the only thing that deafening me from the world. It’s the only thing that leads me to a peaceful life.

I propped my elbows and look sleepily at our professor.

I’m sick and tired of listening to our professors. All they do is discuss things that I already know. I want to learn something that I can’t learn from books and they can’t give me that.

I sighed silently and start doodling on my notebook.

I don’t know why I get this feeling. The feeling that everything is déjà vu.

“Io.”

Ethan stop me from walking on my way to the fast-food restaurant I'm working by reaching out for my arm.

I closed my eyes to control my emotions.

“What the f**k do you need again, Ethan?”

“Io, just give me one chance. One chance only. Just one date and if you still don't like me I'll leave you alone.”

I sighed out of frustration. I can’t remember how many times I turn this guy down.

Ethan is actually the dream guy of almost every girl here. He is handsome, smart, rich, and gentleman. But I belong in those populations of girls that find him attractive. It’s just that I really don’t have any interest in him or anyone. I don’t plan to have friends, most especially lovers here. I don’t see the point of having them. Yeah, I never fall in love and never had a plan to fall in love. I just want to live, peacefully live.

“What the f**k you can’t understand about the words I don’t have any single interest to you. There’s no way I would date a kind of guy like you. You’re just f*****g wasting your f*****g time and my f*****g time. So just f*****g get lost and never approach me again. Never ever again.”

I didn’t even wait for him to reply nor I look back.

I just really hope that what I said to him will finally wake him up. That he will finally stop approaching me and just look for someone else that will date him because it’s really never, never that I will give him chance.

--

September 30, 2042

The door made a clicking sound as I locked it then started walking going to school, again making sure that I’m wearing my earphones.

Earphones are indeed a lifesaver. I don’t know how will my life continues if I don’t have this thing.

I was busy slightly humming to the song playing when a strong impact bumps my shoulders. The intensity of that bump makes me lose my balance. I was about to fall on the ground and be hit by a car when someone tightly grips me by my waist and pulled me closer to her.

My earphones lost contact on my ears, making me hear the world’s noise and the woman who save my life’s voice.

Horns of cars.

People’s complaints.

“Are you okay?”

“This energy drink is nothing like any other energy drink. This energy drink will instantly make your strength tripled and will last for the whole day. So what are you waiting for? Buy ‘Neurons’ to be a better person for today and in the future!”

I shifted my eyes from the girl to the advertisement playing on a big screen.

What I thought was a dream came back to my mind.

Oh, f**k me.