Turner

I was sitting in 1st period, my junior year. Mr.Green's math class, one of my least favorite teachers. I was just hanging out, not really paying to much attention. A couple kids in front of me were talking. " Did you hear Etta Turner died?" Turner,( I'd called her that since I met her though I don't know why) was a really good friend of mine that was in Bolivia for the year on the Foriegn exchange student program. I had talked to her like a week before so I piped up, "no she didnt I just talked to her. Who'd you hear that from?" "Some kids were talking about it in the hall." One of the kids replied. I figured it was just some stupid rumor, you know how kids like to make stuff up. It wasn't even something I was willing to think about, it couldnt be true. Etta was one of the good ones. Beautifull, rediculously smart, part of every club possible in school. I had never heard her say a bad word about anyone, she wasnt one to gossip. Shes the type of girl every girl wants to be. Good at everything she trys and trys at everything she does. I just kinda brushed it off and went back to daydreaming. Ten minutes later, a TA walked in and handed Mr.Green a note. "Melissa, they need you down at the office." I wasnt the greatest student so I figured I was probably in trouble for something. I grabbed the note from Mr.Green and left the class room. I took my time getting to the office, stopping to chat a couple times. When I got there, about seven other people were waiting there too, most of them my friends. "Whats going on?" I asked my friend Cody. "We have no idea," she replied. We stood there debating what it could be for about five minutes before our school counsoler, Mr.Duffy, walked up to us. "Could I have you guys take a seat in the conference room please?" He said to us. He looked sad and I started to get worried. What could be going on? We all sat down and Mr.Duffy closed the door behind us. "I'm afraid I have some bad news," he started. "We've been informed that yesterday morning, one of our students, and one of you friends, was killed in a tragic accident." My mind started racing,"NO! NO no no no no!" I heard Robin ask, "who?" "Turner" I choked out, my voice barely audible. "Who?" she repeated. "Etta Turner," Mr.Duffy replied, his voice breaking. When he said her name, my heart broke. Everything got fuzzy, I felt like I was going to throw up. I remember closing my eyes and thinking, "Wake up, God please wake up! This has to be a dream, she can't be dead. Please, please wake up damnit!" But I didn't wake up. I couldn't react, I felt numb. "How did it happen," i vaugley heard someone ask. "She was taking a bus up to the Bolivian mountains to go horse back riding. It was early and the bus driver fell asleep. He drove the bus off the side of the mountain. No one survived," Mr.Duffy told us quietly. It was like there was a giant weight on my chest and I couldn't breath. I got up and walked outside. As soon as I close the door, I started hyperventilating. I leaned on the wall to try to catch my breath. Then the lump came up in my throat, choking me, demanding me to cry. I could hear everyone in the conference room crying. Once I heard that, I couldnt hold it back. I slid down the wall to the floor, and I balled like baby. 1

That was six years ago. I still think about her all the time. A few weeks ago, I thought about her and I was trying to remember her voice. I tried so hard but I just couldnt hear it. I started to freak out, I couldnt be forgetting her. I couldn't help it... I started to cry. Then as if she was right next to me, I heard her. Clear as day. I smiled to myself and whispered,"There you are." 2

It takes only a minute to meet someone special. An hour to respect them, a day to love them, and an entire lifetime to forget them. RIP Turner. I love you.