Intermediate Short Story - Second Place

Thunder.
That was the only thing in existence for a moment. It was extremely dark outside, and 17 year old Ella had no desire to go out for lunch. It had been more stormy than usual there in St. John's - which was saying something. She could feel a big storm coming and it made her stomach turn - or was it the fact that she forgot to eat breakfast that morning? Either way, Ella didn't want to leave the safety of her English class.

The bell rang. The cheers of her friend (and long term crush) Eli, behind her, were audible. Finally, it was time to go home.

When she got home it was quiet. Was her mom working late? She normally got home before three. Something was off. Something she couldn't place.

Ella glanced at her phone. Horror crept through her veins when she saw the warning. The warning that made her blood run cold, a tornado warning. This time, when her stomach turned into an acrobat, she knew she wasn't hungry, because she had eaten just an hour earlier. Ella knew she had to contact her mom. And fast.

Ella: Hey Mom! Just checking in cuz I saw there was a tornado warning. Be safe. XOXO.

She waited for a response. Her mom was the type of person to reply immediately. Someone who
always had an excited-but put together look on her face.

Ella collapsed onto the nearest chair. She couldn't stop the tears from coming. Was her mom safe? She certainly hoped so.

She wished Eli was here. He always knew what to do. When she was sad, he was there with a joke or gift.

She wiped her tears just in time to see it. Then it hit. The walls caved in. The roof collapsed. Ella sprinted to the basement, barely dodging a chair on her way.

When she got there, dust was everywhere, suffocating her. She heard one loud boom before everything went dark.

Ella awoke to the bright sky, through the caved in roof of what used to be her home. The ground was hard beneath her. She was surrounded by pieces of her house - and heart.

She struggled to rise, but when she did, she could see a broad figure running in her direction. Could it be? Was that?
Eli.

Ella ran towards the figure. As she got closer, she just make out who it was. Now she was sure.

"Eli!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face.

"Ella!" He ran faster.

When they met, he hugged her so tight, she could barely breathe. For a while, no one said anything. They didn't need to. Everything was being said through their silent sobs.

Wait a minute - was he - crying? For the first time in their 15 year friendship, Eli cried in front of her.

Well this was new. But it wasn't bad. It made her feel like he trusted her. She trusted him, too. Ella felt safe, there in his embrace. She could stay here, and hide from the world.

But of course - that's not how it works. Eli pulled away, his face red from crying.
"Ella," he sighed. Oh no. He had that look on his face. The one that said that something was very wrong.

"Where is my mom?" she sobbed. This wasn't right. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Her mom was supposed to watch her graduate, she was supposed to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, she was supposed to be there when she had kids.

"Hey, it's ok. It's gonna be ok." He stroked her hair.

Ella wasn't so sure about that. Was she going to have to live with her grandparents down in Pennsylvania? Her dad died when she was two, so that was the only option other than foster care.

She looked up into his brown eyes. Then, he bent down and kissed her. For one perfect moment. Then it was over. Ella opened her eyes, but saw only the ruins of her home, in front of her. Where did Eli go?

She looked up into the sky - which was now slightly cloudy. Most clouds were huge blobs, but one stood out - a small one shaped like a turtle , Eli's favorite animal. Realization hit her like a wave.

He was gone.

He had never been there. Had he?

It was ok. Things would get better. She could feel it. Ella knew Eli was watching out for her. Things will get better.