It was a dreary day in late October. The sky overhead was mottled grey in colour, and the clouds threatened to bring a downpour of rain, but it would never come. A cold wind blew the multicoloured leaves off the trees, and a mop of red hair around a young girl’s face.

She stood in a graveyard that was littered with tombstones and lined with large oaks, and majestic pines, and enclosed by a black iron fence that kept the souls of the dead in, and the joy of life out. She sank to the ground, her jean-covered legs sat stiff against the cold hard ground while her upper body was covered in a leather jacket and her hands by gloves, both which were a midnight black.

A tear leaked out of her hazel eyes, and rolled down her lightly freckled face as her voice was carried by the wind.

“I miss you.” Three simple words uttered by her heartbroken voice sent the girl into tears once more. Yet, she continued to speak through the tears. “I miss you so much. I wish, I wish I could have, that I hadn’t-” Her voice broke, and she collapsed into tears. Her body racked with sobs and the warm tears stung her eyes and her face. Slowly she sat up straight, traced the name on the tombstone and remembered.

The day she was remembering was similar to the moment she was in. The sky was that same mottled grey, only this time it let down a downpour of rain soaking the earth and pounding against the windows of the local high school. Two best friends walked through the bland and boring hallways of the high school to their lockers. It was the end of Period 5 and school was out for the Thanksgiving holidays. Mandy and Danny, otherwise known as Amanda Lyons and Daniel Barns approached their lockers in a fit of giggles, which caused both of them to be in serious danger of spilling their books on the floor.

“Did you see her face?” Amanda asked, giggling away, pushing a strand of her red hair out of her hazel eyes.

“Yeah, Marah never did know when too much was too much.” Daniel replied laughing. They reached their lockers that were side by side, and each turned the familiar code to open the lock.

“Mr. Krooger was impressed though.” Amanda stated, calming herself. “He seemed to like her monologue, gave her a ninety two on it.”

“Yes, well I still maintain my opinion that your monologue was better than hers.” Daniel replied, bringing out a blush from Amanda.

“Thank you.” Amanda said with a small smile, as she opened her locker. “So, What are you and your family doing on this fine Thanksgiving weekend?” Amanda asked, changing the subject and placing the books that she needed into her backpack.

“My parents are taking a flight out to Ottawa from their conference in D.C. I’m meeting them there and driving Marah to her Dad’s in Kingston on the way.” Daniel answered smiling himself.

“Uck. Tough day for driving.” Amanda stated, indicating to the weather outside, and the thunderclap that sounded above their heads. “Are you sure that you want to drive in this weather?”

“Yes.” Daniel answered, placing the books that he would need into his backpack. “I kinda need to.”

“Can you drive in this weather?” Amanda asked, a little scared.

“Yeah, I’ve driven in worse.” Daniel assured, as another thunderclap sounded while he was closing his locker, causing him to jump slightly. “Besides, I don’t have a choice.”

“Are you sure?” Amanda asked, closing her own locker.

“Yes, Amanda, I’m sure.” Daniel insisted, swinging his backpack around his shoulder. “What am I supposed to say- sorry Marah, I can’t take you to your Dad’s because I’m scared to drive in this weather?”

“Well- no” Amanda admitted pushing another piece of her red hair out of her hazel eyes, when Marah came bounding up beside them.

“Ready to go Danny?” Marah asked her blue eyes shining with excitement, and her streaked blonde hair done up in a stylish bun.

“Yes, are you ready?” Daniel inquired.

“All packed.” Marah answered patting a duffel bag on her hip.

“Well, you two have a pleasant trip.” Amanda said to her friends. “And I’ll see you both on Tuesday.”

“Yeah, see you too Mandy,” Daniel echoed smiling, before turning down the hallway with Marah following.

“Don’t forget to call me when you get to Kingston!” Amanda called out.

“I won’t!” Daniel called back, and Amanda watched as her two best friends exited down the hallway when she was hit with a sudden sense of dread.

“DANIEL!” She called out causing him and Marah to turn around. “DANIEL!” Amanda ran through the remaining people to catch her friends. Steps away from them she dropped her backpack and threw her arms around a confused Daniel.

“Amanda?” Daniel questioned, but he let his backpack fall to the floor and hugged Amanda back. “Amanda what-” He began, pulling away.

“Be careful.” Amanda whispered fearfully, holding onto him tightly.

“You know I’m-”

“Yes, I know. But promise me,” Amanda stated, making Daniel look her in the eyes. “promise me that you’ll be very careful.”

“What about me?” Marah asked, slightly ticked off. “Aren’t you going to tell me to be careful?”

“You’re not driving.” Amanda stated, with a harsh tone to her voice.

“But I’m-” Marah began again.

“You’re not driving.” Amanda snapped, causing tears to come to Marah’s eyes and even though she understood the statement, it still hurt her deeply. Amanda turned her attention back on her other friend. “Daniel, please.”

“I promise.” Daniel promised, slightly confused when Amanda hugged him again. For Amanda, it was fear that was making her hold on so tight. But there were also words that were dying to be released, but the words were hard to say.

“I-“ Amanda began, taking a breath, but the words stopped on the tip of her tongue. She lost most of the fear, and she lost the words, though the feeling of dread still remained. “I want you to be careful.” Amanda smiled and looked at Marah with an apologetic face. “Both of you.” She smiled and looked at her two friends. “ I wish that I was going with you.”

“You don’t, honest.” Marah stated laughing her hurt away. “Three hours alone with this turd? It’s going to be torture.”

“Oh, that’s real nice.” Daniel replied, with mock hurt in his voice. Amanda laughed, as did Marah and within a moment, so was Daniel.

“Have a good time.” Amanda stated with a smile.

“We will.” Daniel assured.

“Bye!” Marah stated, before turning around.

“Bye!” Amanda echoed.

“Bye Mandy.” Daniel answered, looking at Amanda, and she could not help but notice the strange look in his eyes.

“Bye Danny.” She echoed softly. “See you Tuesday.”

“See you Tuesday.” Daniel assured softly, and with that he turned and Amanda watched as her two best friends disappeared down the stairs.

That fear still clutched her heart, but Amanda turned the other way. She picked up her own backpack and headed towards the other end of the school all the while resisting the urge to turn around and finish what she had wanted to say.

Amanda felt a sense of urgency to run after Daniel and tell him what was in her heart, the thing that she had been keeping since they first met. The thing that she had ignored for eleven years.

Her mind told her that telling him now would be stupid, that she shouldn’t take the chance of rejection, but her heart got the better of her. Amanda turned and ran down the stairs that her friends had exited down. She followed the path that they would have taken and entered the parking lot in time to see Daniel’s car exit it.

With a tear falling down her face, and a horrible sense of loss, Amanda walked down though the parking lot, and took the path, that would take her home one thought coursing though her head.

‘Why do I feel like I’ve lost my best friend?’

With no answers she returned home and went straight to bed, much to the worry of her mother and father but she was both exhausted and emotionally drained. She began to dream about the moment that she didn’t take and how it might have played out had she said what she had wanted to say.

“I promise.” Daniel promised, slightly confused when Amanda hugged him again. For Amanda, it was fear that was making her hold on so tight. But there were also words that were dying to be released, but the words were hard to say.

“I-“ Amanda began, taking a breath, and unlike the last time, she let those words fall from her lips. “I, I care for you Daniel Barns. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I care for you too Mandy-“ Daniel began.

“No, I-“ Amanda took a breath and said the three words that she had kept in her heart for the longest time. “I love you.” The words hung in the air, resonating though her mind and Daniel’s and Marah’s- who just watched in utter surprise.

“I love you too.” Daniel echoed Amanda’s words and they leaned into a kiss, when suddenly Daniel was jerked away, and Amanda’s world fell apart.

Amanda woke up with a start, and looked at the digital clock on her bedside table. The time read five thirty two in harsh red lines. Amanda, with her stomach rumbling walked down stairs, to join her family for dinner.

“Hello sweetheart.” Her mom cooed as she entered the dining room “How are you feeling?”

“Alright, has Daniel called?” She asked, hoping that he had.

“No, but its not six yet. He and Marah could have hit traffic.” Her mom explained.

“I hope that’s all he hit.” Amanda muttered under her breath, sitting down. “I’ll wait till he calls.” Amanda sat down at the table, and picked at her food, her ears trained to the silence, waiting for a telephone ring to break it.

Six o’clock turned to seven and seven turned to eight, and eight turned to nine. Amanda had the horrible feeling that something had happened and while she could not tell what had happened, she knew in her heart that it was bad. So she sat by the phone the grandfather clock ticking away the hours. Ten turned to eleven, and eleven turned to twelve, twelve turned to one, and finally one turned to two. But Amanda still waited.

By two thirty Amanda had fallen asleep out of pure exhaustion and she slept so deeply that she did not hear the phone ring, but her mother did. She picked up the upstairs extension to answer the late night caller and then with a heavy heart she came downstairs to wake her daughter.

“Amanda-“ She began softly, placing a hand on Amanda’s shoulder. Amanda woke with a start.

“What? What did he call? Did I miss it?” Amanda asked frantically, hoping that Daniel had called and that everything was all right.

“No, he didn’t call,” Amanda’s mom stated, stepping around her question. “And I think that you should go to bed now.”

“No.” Amanda stated, sitting up. “I’m waiting till he calls.”

“He won’t.” Amanda’s mom stated, with tears in her eyes.

“How, how do you know that?” Amanda asked, fear gripping her stomach, tears coming to his eyes. Amanda’s mom fell silent, and Amanda herself began to shake with fear. “Mom? Mom? How do you know that?”

“We just got a call, you slept though it. It was Mrs Barns, she’s at Kingston Memorial, Daniel and Marah were in an accident and-“ Amanda didn’t hear the rest, she just sat there in absolute shock, her mothers words no longer registering in her head. She just stared blankly into space, shock coursing though her mind.

Amanda came out of the memory, tears in her eyes. She traced the name again, and was startled when a voice spoke behind her.

“I’m sorry Amanda.” The voice spoke full of regret. Amanda’s heart leapt and she stood up, turned around and embraced the person.

“Daniel,” Amanda cried into Daniel’s shoulder, “I miss her.” Daniel placed his arms around her and just held her. Moments passed, and Daniel spoke.

“I won’t blame you, if you blame me.” Daniel whispered. Amanda shook her head and looked Daniel in the eyes.

“I could never blame you, never.” She whispered back. “I blame that drunk driver.”

“How can you not blame me? I was driving the car and-“ Daniel began, before he was cut off.

“ It doesn’t matter that you were driving the car, it wasn’t your fault, that driver went though the red light and T-boned your car.” Amanda soothed. “You didn’t see him, it wasn’t your fault.”

“How can you say that? I should have seen him, if I had, Marah would still-“ Daniel began again, but he was cut off again.

“Daniel, I don’t blame you.” Amanda insisted.

“Why?” Daniel asked, wanting to know why she did not blame him. “Why don’t you blame me?”

“I-”Amanda paused, two words stuck in the back of her throat. Daniel just looked at her with confusion, and regret, and Amanda knew that it was now or never to tell Daniel how she felt. “I could never blame someone I, love.” Her words hung in the air; Daniel stood in silence, and Amanda, with a shaking voice spoke again.

“I love you Daniel Barnes. I’ve loved you for a long time and I could never blame you for anything, ever.” Amanda smiled, and Daniel just looked at her, full of fear Amanda

spoke again. “Well? Daniel?” Daniel just stood there and stared into Amanda’s eyes.

“You love me?” Daniel asked in shock. “Why?”

“I just do.” Amanda replied, scared that he didn’t feel the same way. “I just do, I can’t explain it.”

“Well, neither can I.” Daniel replied smiling himself, changing Amanda’s look of fear to one of pure joy.

“You mean-?” Amanda asked in shock with a smile on her face.

“Yeah, I mean.” Daniel smiled pulling Amanda close to him. “I love you too.”

“Oh, I love you too!” Amanda cried happily as she hugged him with all her heart.

The sun hung in the grey November sky, and shone it’s light down upon the world. The wind blew the leaves off the trees, and stirred the ones on the ground. Daniel and Amanda walked down the winding path of the graveyard, hand in hand. Their hearts were filled with remembrance for the loss of their friend, and the feelings that they shared, for each other. Both aware of the past, but looking to the future, and the life they would make ahead.

END