Dearly Departed

Her phone rang. Well to be more accurate, her phone vibrated. She was in her history class, second to last class of the day. The teacher was done lecturing and most of the students were now just talking. She was one of the few that was working on that nights homework so she could do other things at home instead. Her name is Nicole and until today she was pretty happy with her life.1

She glanced at her phone and saw that it was her mom. Nicole slowly lifted the phone to her ear and pressed the ‘accept’ button.2

“Hey mom, what’s up?” Nicole asked while taking a look at the teacher. He had is head down in a book and wasn’t paying any attention to the class.3

“Honey, there’s been an accident…” Those words, those four little words sent Nicole’s life crashing around her. She already knew what was coming. Call it a sixth sense if you will but Nicole knew before her mom said anything else that he was dead.4

He, Nicole’s older brother Tom, was on his way back to school for the fall semester. He went to college in California and would come stay with the family over the summers in Texas. He had left this morning around the same time Nicole had left for school.5

“Honey are you ok? I can send your father to come pick you up if you want.” Nicole tuned back into the conversation in time to know that she had to reply.6

“No mom but can you call the school and check me out please. I can’t be in a classroom right now.” Nicole hadn’t realize how shaky her voice had gotten.7

“Ok. Be careful on your way home.” Her mom said and then hung up.8

Nicole sat there staring at her desk for a moment before packing up all her stuff and standing up. By this time the teacher had noticed Nicole as she was packing up.9

“Ms. Johnson, what are you doing and where do you think you’re going?” He asked as Nicole got up and walked to the door.10

“I’m sorry Mr. Hamilton but I can’t be in class right now. My mother is calling the office right now to check me out. I’ll explain everything later but right now I just have to get out.” Nicole felt something warm run down her cheek and was sure that it was a tear. She had never been the kind to let anyone see her cry and every one knew that so when the students, who’s full attention was now on Nicole and Mr. Hamilton, saw that tear they all knew something was terribly wrong.11

“I’ll have to write you up if you leave before you are checked out.” Mr. Hamilton’s voice was stern though he, like the students, knew that something was indeed wrong with Nicole.12

“Fine, write me up but I’m leaving.” She turned on her heal and headed out the door, slamming it behind her. 13

She started running down the halls. She knew she had to get out of the school building at whatever cost. She finally reached the door, the cold fall air felt good on her bare skin. She found herself collapsing at the foot of her favorite tree.14

Now some may find it a little bizarre to have a favorite tree but this tree saved Nicole’s life, or at the very least, her sanity. It was here that she met her now best friends, one of which was in her history class and saw her little outbreak.15

But as she stared up at the tree, it’s branches bare because all the leaves had fallen off for winter, she couldn’t help but remember the memories with her friends. They almost made her smile and forget why she had run away from class. Then the full meaning of what had happened set in and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling. She felt like she was being ripped apart into tine little pieces. There was a hole in her chest that was threatening to swallow her whole. She drew her legs to her chest wrapped her arms around them then placed her forehead on her knees.16

She didn’t know how long she had stayed there, in her little ball crying her eyes out but she did realize when he sat beside her. He, other wise known as Alec, was one of her closest friends and had been the one in her history class to see her outbreak.17

“I don’t want to talk.” she said, not even looking up at him. Though her speech was a little muffled and hard to hear he understood.18

“Ok but I just came out here to tell you that Mr. Hamilton isn’t going to write you up for leaving class early. You were right, your mom called a few minutes after you left and apparently explained whatever happened. Whatever it was really shook Hamilton up.” It was amazing how he could ask a question without ever putting it into words. From the tone of his voice and the words he used he was asking to know what happened.19

“He’s gone.” she says, barely above a whisper.20

“Who’s gone?” He asks as he places his arm around her shoulder.21

“My… my… my bother. He’s… de-” she broke out into sobs now. She just kept repeating in her mind that he’s gone. She felt Alec stiffen for a moment and she knew he had nothing to say. “I don’t know what to do…” she managed through sobs.22

He tightened his grip on her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. “It’s ok. Let it out. I’m here.” And that’s all it took. The protective ball she made for herself broke and she buried her face in his chest. Alec held her closer to him and started to stroke her hair gently.23

The next thing Nicole realized was that the final bell had rang and everyone was leaving their classes to head home. She could feel their presences all around her and decided that she could cry more at a later time.24

She slowly pushed herself away from Alec and wiped her eyes. She stood up and looked back at Alec. “Thank you for coming but wont you get in trouble for ditching band?”25

Alec smirked slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes, the look that Nicole had fallen in love with so long ago. “Nope. Told the directors that I needed to go to another class to make up a test and they let me go.”26

A ghost of a smile slid across Nicole’s face then it turned back into a frown. “Thank you.” Then she left him sitting there under the tree she where she first met him.27