Jack: Raven, I need to talk to you.

Me: What is it, Jack?

Jack: Look, I don’t know what happened between you two, but I can GUARENTEE that Jillian wasn’t the one who killed your dog. She wasn’t the one who ran over Jake.

Me: Jack, I didn’t leave the door open. I wasn’t the one who let Jake out. Why would I do that to my own dog!?

Jack: Maybe it was an honest accident….

Me: No, I closed the door. If there is one thing I am sure of, it’s that I DID close the door. The fact that I had to TURN a lock, should make it pretty clear that I DID closet the door and LOCK it.

Jack: Chill out, Raven! Look, why would Jillian ever want to hurt Jake?

Me: I would name you reasons, but I would run out of room to text and my signal would be shut off.

Jack: Could you at least try to be a little nice? This is not the old Raven….

Me: The old Raven had a best friend that didn’t date a dog murderer. The old Raven had two arms and didn’t have to worry 24/7 about her prosthetic bugging out again. The old Raven didn’t freak out and feel like she had to hide every moment she was in Jay’s presence. So yeah, I guess you could say that I’m not the “old Raven”…

Jack: Woah, chill out, dude. 1. Her name is Jillian, not Jay. 2. She’s not some psychopath. 3. I didn’t mean to hit a nerve right there. Could you at least give her a chance?

Me: I’m sorry Jack, but Of Mice and Men doesn’t support bullies and doesn’t support girls who intentionally let the keyboardist’s dog out so that the blind dog COULD GET HIT BY A TRUCK!

Jack: WTH!? What’s wrong with you and what do you have against Jillian!? Why are you acting like this!!??!?!??!?! Jillian hasn’t done anything to you and now you’re the jerk.

Me: Jack, I really don’t want to fight with you. You do your thing, I’ll do mine. Let’s just not talk about this, please.

Jack: Look, I can’t bring back Jake, but I’ll tell you that if you’re mourning over him, don’t be too sad.

Me: What. Did. You. Just. Say.

Jack: Hey, he’s just your dog. Jillian didn’t let him out, and it’s not like we can track down the driver and make him bring back your pug. Plus, this happened two weeks ago….

Me: Jack, I don’t think you understand what he means to me…

Jack: Isn’t he your dog?

Me: NO. HE WAS THE LAST PART OF MY FAMILY. HE WAS ALL I HAD LEFT OF MY MOM AND MY DAD!!! HE IS ALL I HAD LEFT OF MY OLD HOME, OF MY FAMILY AND NOW IT’S ALL DEAD. HE WAS PART OF THE FAMILY.

Jack: Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.

Me: I got to go.

Jack: Hey, I’m sorry!

Jack: Raven? I know you’re there.

Jack: Hey, come back! I’m really sorry. I honestly had no clue.

Jack: Are you there? Come on, Raven, please talk to me….

Jack: I said I’m sorry…..What else did I do?

I had thrown my phones down hopelessly on the sheets. Jake had been dead two weeks, but it still stung like it was that moment I had found out. Was I upset at Jack? Oh hell yes! He and Jillian were still dating and I mean, I couldn’t blame him for falling under her spell. It ensnared everyone. But honestly, I thought it would’ve worn off by now!

“Hey, we’re almost here!” Austin called, knocking on the frame of my bunk. I grumbled from under my worn Ampersand blanket. I had tweeted Bells, the girl who had given it to me, a personal thank you. I hadn’t gone one cold night on the bus without it.

Heaving my body out of the small cubby, I swung my legs over the edge and pushed myself up. Redemption, the arm that had failed once but never again, was attached today.

It was the last day with Redemption.

That’s right. I was getting my new-and final-arm. The prosthetic was to be gone and out of my life. This new arm would look almost exactly like the old one, abet a bit slimmer, and wouldn’t have any more bugs. It would be the final part of me to be put in place. The broken puzzle would be whole yet again.

Redemption turned into Eternal. It was time for this to be the end of shocked nerves and fights to make sure Redemption was in place.

Eternal….I like that name. I concluded to myself. It would be the name of my new arm, for sure.

As I hoped out of bed, the bus rolled to a smooth halt. Aaron handed me my Project Motion case as Austin helped me out the door. It was time to face the music. It was time to burn the ashes. Everything I knew collides the past and spat back out the person that you see.

The morning sun shone down on our little procession as our group marched into the hospital. We had all taken to ignoring the fact that Jack was clueless and we had just lost a VIP: A Very Important Pug.

“You’ll be fine?” Austin asked me worriedly, I nodded silently and kept on my pace. One by one, they dropped off until I was left facing Aus in when I stepped into the threshold of the elevator.

“Thank you, Aussie. I’ll be back down in a few minutes.” I smiled.

When the door closed on his sad smile, I shut my eyes, wishing away all this pain. I wished Jack was still without Jay, I wished Jake was at my side, and I wished I had this arm that had been ripped away from me.

But wishing can’t bring back the things you need the most.

As the elevator dinged, I stepped onto the third floor. It was Christmas Eve, it was time for my early Christmas present.

Notes

SONG REFERENCE ALERT!!! Who can spot it? Comment if you see it :)

So what do you guys think will happen next? We still haven't seen the end of Jay, so keep an eye out and grab your pitchforks for an upcoming riot! Feels about to happen, yo!

Ha, sorry I'm in a weird mood....Anyways, Love you all and stay beautiful!!