16 September 2012
The trees were dead. Brown and ugly, but I still thought they were beautiful. I'm waiting for James, he's been my best friend since we were little...three years old I think. Birds chirp despite the chilly air. I see James coming up the path, he joins me on the bench.
"You didn't have to wait you know". his breath comes out in frosty puffs like little clouds....."Delilah, did you hear me?" "Yeah, sorry I was just" he laughs. Such a comforting, familiar sound. "I know, I know you were daydreaming again. Sometimes you seem so distant, independent like you can do anything. I wonder if I could ever be like that"
Lovely words. Like Always. How does he do it? "James, I don't see that in me so it doesn't matter. C'mon we don't have all day." "Yeah you're right, my mom will kill me if I'm not back by four."
We're at the lake, skates on ready to go. She's already on the ice, turning and twirling like a ballerina. I can't believe she has no clue, well I guess she wouldn't. She's a star shining brightly but she only knows the day, unaware of the light she gives off at night."James join me before you freeze to death" A smile breaks out as I step on the ice.
We skate for hours, side by side only occasionally showing off. "You ready for school?" I say slowing down. "No winter break is always too short" he replies. We're off the pond. "Yeah, well I better get going" "Me too" his voice is muffled in our hug my body warm against his, then we split going separate ways and the cold creeps back in.
~~~~~~~~A week later~~~~~~~~~
It was a Sunday morning. I was laying in bed watching T.V. when mom told me the news. "Delilah, turn that off. " so I did. The room was silent for a moment. "James has, passed away sweetie." My heart stopped my mind spinning. No. No,no,no "What? When! How?" tears started running down my face. "Why" I croaked. "I'm so sorry hunny, things happen, but if it makes you feel any better he was on his way to see you." her voice got quiet. "and the roads were icy and it was dark so when his car swerved he didn't see the fence until it was to late."
The next week went by in a blur. School was dull, almost painful. I still had memories of us in those halls,those classes, those teachers.
Now I'm at his funeral. Surrounded by his family, his friends. Some are crying others still in shock. But I am at peace, like the snow that falls gently on his grave. His mother Charlotte approaches me her eyes distant. "That night, he wanted to give you something." she hands me a gift box and walks away.
I open it. Inside is a scarf. A blue one, my favorite color. I put it on. Although James is gone, just like the trees they always return come spring.
The Blue Scarf • Opuss № I