the sound of your serenade from the open window.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
"It was the 16th of June. As I looked at the picture of her smiling face on the marble enclove, a tear rolled down my cheek, splashing onto the white daisies I held in my hand.
It was summer break. Suzie and I decided to go on a hiking trip in the nearby forest. We had been there many times before, the paths ingraved into our minds. I guess it was complacency that led us to thinking nothing could go wrong. We were to set off the following weekend.
On the dreadful day, though grey clouds lingered on from the nights' previous storm, the sun hung high, painting a beautiful mirage. "Oh what a wonderful day!" exclaimed Suzie, not knowing what was soon to befall. How wrong we were... The events that followed will haunt me forever.
We set off. Teasing and joking as we went along, leaving all care and worry behind. We were halfway through the hiking trail when it hit us. First the strong winds and booming thunder, then the heavy rain. We ran. We had to hurry, the nearest shelter was still a few kilometres away.
So we ran and ran. I reached the shelter first. I looked back, waiting and willing Suzie to appear. Fifteen minutes passed, then half an hour, an hour...
"Suzie! Where are you?!" I yelled into the heavy rain. It drowned out my screams.
"Now I have to remain calm. I have to remain calm! I'll wait for the rain to lighten up alittle then I'll go look. It won't do anyone any good if we're both stuck in the rain right? RIGHT!" I said, reassuring myself. Five gruelling minutes later, anxiety gripped me, I could no longer wait. The wind lashed against my face as I ran.
"Suzie! Suzie! Suzie!" I cried. I could hear no response. I ran back along the trail. Then I saw.
A red scarf, hanging on a branch a little way below the trail. A red scarf, identical to the one Suzie had wore around her neck. Without much thought, I jumped. As I half rolled half ran down the slope, I felt fear. Fear not for myself, but for Suzie.
I found her limp body at the bottom of the hill. i could feel neither her warmth nor hear her heartbeat. Never in my life had I felt fear that great. I feared for my friend, for what had happened and what this meant. My cries echoed with the howling winds.
According to hearsay, they found us two days after. They thought I would not make it either. But I did, sadly. Suzie, oh Suzie! It was my fault, all my fault! If I only had checked the weather report, or heard her cries of help, or not wait at the shelter even though I felt something was wrong... I should have been more careful, more alert! Now Suzie was gone. Smiling Suzie, always laughing and joking, bringing joy to all those around her.
Now my happy bunny was gone and all that was left of me was an empty shell. The joy in me died as Suzie did.
I put the daisies onto the ledge and walked away. Sadness swelling me up as the dark night did all over again.
Suzie."
words spilled @ 9:02 PM /
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