The End of Olivia

She’s coming to see me right now. She’s starting up the tiny, old station wagon and backing out of the driveway, driving down the street.1


She was wearing a dark blue dress and her turquoise eyes looked bright and joyful; her blonde hair cascaded down her back in perfect ringlets. She smiled at me as I placed the corsage around her dainty wrist; she was so focused as she pinned on my boutonniere, relaxed as she leaned against me while her parents snapped photos with Holga cameras.2


She’s turning off her street and onto a main boulevard, stopping at a stoplight, then continuing three blocks. Her fingertips drum against the steering wheel along with whatever music is playing on the radio.3


Her hand was cool and soft against mine as she pulled me down the dark stairwell. Her voice was as smooth as silk as she reassured me that she wasn't not going to trip me or lead me into some clichéd horror movie. Her laughter rang like wind chimes against the dark, empty space, and she opened the door to her favorite place in the world: the place she’d only shared with me.4


She’s driving the winding path down to the freeway, reaching down to turn up the radio. My favorite song is playing.5


She was smiling at me from across the bonfire; the dancing light made her eyes glow. Made her look like an angel.6


She’s pulling into an inner lane, waving ‘thank you’ to the driver of a Jeep Cherokee behind her, humming along to the song with a hopeful smile on her beautiful face.7


She glared up at me after a screaming match, but I knew her fury was fading. Her eyes are filled up with tears, and she fell into my arms, buried her face in the folds of my jacket and apologized for jumping to conclusions. Her hair smelled of lavender.8


She’s driving under an overpass, the music momentarily fuzzing out. She smiles at the sign that marks that there are five miles left to reach reconciliation, and she loves the thought of that.9


She reached for my hand for the first time in the high school hallway, causing heads to turn and my heart to swell with joy.10


She’s getting into the right lane, ready to escape the freeway.11


Her hand was in my hair, her fingertips curling and stroking my scalp as we watch television, smiling lovingly as I relax so much I almost fall asleep.12


She's spotting the headlights of a car coming straight at her.13


Her eyes were closing as I pressed my lips to hers and the world around us disappeared.14


She’s panicking, but there’s nothing she can do. She presses her hand against the horn, but the Explorer can’t stop.15


She whispered that she loved me.16


Her hands are squeezing the wheel, her body tensing up, preparing for impact.17


She loves me.18


She’s crashing.