It was a cold, dark night. The storm had gotten stronger. I
wrapped my fuzzy, warm blanket around me as I snuggled down into
bed. The flashing of lightening blinked through my eyes, as the
thunder roared and rattled the house. My body felt the vibrations
all throughout. The rain drops were pelting the window. They
sounded like golf balls, bombarding my window in such a soothing
and hypnotizing beat. The fork lightning struck down to the
ground, which lit up the sky like fireworks at a carnival. Then
boomed the thunder, shocking my heart in which I cringed
involuntarily. A cold gust of wind hovered over me as my door
slammed shut. I immediately sat up, grasping my pillow against my
chest, like it was all I had. Cold liquid shivers ran down my
spine. It was nights like these where all I could do was lay
there and think; think about how much regret and guilt I carried
around with me. It had been years since the incident with my best
friend. Why couldn’t I let it go?
January 2010
‘Jessica, what are you doing?’ I asked as she stood there
hands entwined with Ace. Ace was eighteen and was about 5’10,
with short, spikey brown hair, and dark, mysterious green eyes.
His lips were perfectly shaped, and he had a perfectly white
smile. I could see why she liked him. But looks aren’t
everything. His personality was outrageous. He was known as a
shady character, and everyone was afraid of him. Rumor has it
that he beat people. Not just people he disliked, but his
girlfriends too.
‘Oh hey Mikayla.’ Her voice faint, as if she didn’t want me
to find out about her relationship. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m fine thanks, can I talk to you..’ I paused,
‘Alone?’
She looked at Ace then looked back at me and nodded her head.
‘Don’t take forever.’ Ace scoffed, pulling out a cigaret to
light.
He had been drinking. His breath smelt like rubbing alcohol. As
she got closer, I realized her crystal blue eyes were bloodshot
and puffy.
‘Jessica, you know he’s a ruthless guy, why are you dating
him?’ I ask, almost shouting.
‘Have you ever taken into consideration my true feelings?’
She asked.
What she said shocked me. I felt as though I was about to cry,
but I tried not to. ‘Of course I have. If I didn’t I would
say be with him, let him beat you. But I have.’
‘Mikayla, you’re such a snob. Stay out of my relationships
you b.tch’ She raised her arm and slapped me right across the
face. She had never hit me before, ever. Then, she hit me again,
this time it was harder. She suddenly converted into a ferocious
wild beast, beating me to a pulp. Then, Ace walked over, his
cigarette in his hand. ‘Jessica get up!’ he yelled, pulling
her arm with a mighty force.
‘I hope you die, Mikayla. You’re worthless to me.’
Those words stung, like an angry wasp attacking an innocent
human. The world went blurry as my eyes filled with tears. How
could she be so oblivious? I yelled back, ‘I hope you do too. I
don’t need you and I wouldn’t care.’
What did I just say? Why did I say that? Sometimes we say things
we know we shouldn’t, but we say them anyways. I regretted it
in an instant, but I couldn’t take those cruel words back. How
could such stupid words seem so smart at some point in life?
‘Jess, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that!’ I yelled, but she
already had vanished around the corner as a fog overcame
March 2010
It has been just a little over 2 months since we've spoken. Ace
dumped her last week and I found out he took advantage of her. A
few weeks ago she was walking in the hallway and I saw her. She
had a swollen, black eye with a bruise the size of Jupiter on her
arm. I overheard her say she 'fell down the stairs,' but I knew
she got the bruises from him; I could tell. Not one word has been
said between us since our little fight, and that scared me. I was
afraid I really had lost my best friend.
After school, I decide to send her a message, asking if we could
talk. 'Hey Jess, I'm really sorry but can we maybe meet up and
talk about this?' I sent it, my heart pounding with fury, afraid
of the reply.
'Fine. I'll meet you in the back ally in ten minutes.' She
replied.
I was going to make things right. Even though she may never
forgive me, I cannot live with the guilty burden I feel after
saying what I said.
----
We arrived in the mucky, dust alley; fences running along each
side. Jessica started walking towards me, the dust kicking up
from her shoes.
'Just forget it Mik, I do not care anymore. We will never be
friends again okay. I'll always remember what you said, always.'
She seemed more angry than sad.
I opened my mouth to say something, but she cut me off. 'I hate
you.' A tear streamed down her face, as she looked deep into my
eyes.
She turned to walk away, but before I could say anything, I heard
slamming of brakes and screeching tires. I heard a scream come
from Jessica's mouth. The car’s bumper hit her lower left leg.
She catapulted into the air, cartwheeling before slamming into
the roof and windshield of the car that hit her, then bouncing
onto the concrete.
I rushed over to her as the driver sped off.
Bright light filled my senses and I couldn't hear anything but a
loud beep. There was a thud, and I felt something deep down
inside me snap, but I felt no pain. Just numbness. The feeling
spread across my whole body as the light slowly faded to
blackness.