I Will Be Strong

Rose Barnett

Nicole ‘Nikki’ Brian smiled as her best friend of nearly thirteen years and boyfriend of four was given his diploma. She had already received hers and had turned scarlet when her oh-so-wonderful boyfriend decided to stand on his chair and yell, “I love you, Nikki!” Most everyone was expecting him to do something like this, including Nikki.

A water fall of memories washed over Nikki suddenly. She remembered first meeting Nicholas ‘Nick’ Johnson. It was the first day of kindergarten and the two had instantly bonded over the similarities in their names. Ever since, people came to know and refer to the pair as Nick and Nikki.

They had remained friends all through elementary and middle school. Something that aided their bond was their attendance at the same church. At first the two would goof off in the children church as most children did, but as they matured they developed an equal love for God and their faith.

Then they started high school.

Nick had been acting strangely all summer, and it didn’t stop with the beginning of the school year. Finally, Nikki confronted him about his strangeness and he kissed her right there. She had been shocked, to put it lightly, but found she liked the feeling of Nick’s lips against hers.

As they say, the rest is history. Thy had been boyfriend and girlfriend ever since. Secretly, Nikki always worried that if they ever broke up they would never have the same friendship as before. But the worrying was for nothing, and not only was their relationship stronger than ever, but so was their friendship.

Nikki was pulled from her memories s\when the principal, Mr. Truman, closed the gradation ceremony by announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the graduating class of 2007!” The students around Nikki stood and threw their hats in the air, as the parents in the audience clapped and franticly took pictures.

Nikki was able to find Nick in the crowd a few minutes later; he had a hug grin on his face as he swept her into his arms and they meet in a kiss. Nick separated from Nikki, still smiling. “Nikki,” he said softly.

“Yes?” asked Nikki.

Without another word, Nick knelt on one knee in front of her and reached into his black graduation robes to reveal a black velvet box. Nikki’s breath caught in her throat as did the students around them.

“Nikki Brian, will you marry me?” Nick asked, still smiling, though nervousness shown through.

To Nikki, the whole world stopped and there was completely silence. In reality, something very similar happened. The crowd around them did become silent, waiting for her to answer.

“Yes!” exclaimed Nikki.

The crowd burst in noise then, as Nick got to his feet and slipped a simple diamond ring on Nikki’s finger, as huge smile plastered on their faces.

Nick and Nikki filed through the thong of people to find their parents. At the sight of their entwined hands and the ring on Nikki’s finger, they gave and whoop of joy. As it turned out, Nick had asked Nikki’s parents for permission to marry her, and his parents had know he was planning this for quite some time.

After many hugs from each set of parents and from many of Nick and Nikki’s friends, the pair set off to the senior party that was being held in the auditorium.

It was many hours later that they began to drive home. Nick and Nikki were in the back seat, Nick’s arm comfortably slung around her shoulders, and their best friend Andy was driving. They were all silent, the soft music from the radio the only sound they heard.

Nicked sighed contently as he looked at Nikki. “Nikki, I love you so much,” he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

“I love you, too,” she replied.

Then Nikki’s eyes fluttered to the window next to Nick. Bright head lights shown into her eyes and the squealing of breaks reached her ears, then the crunching of glass and metal as it slammed into Nick’s side of the car.

Nikki’s eyes opened what seemed like moments later. She was still in the car and something heavy was on top of her . . .

“No,” choked Nikki. It was Nick. His arm was still around her and his head rested on her shoulder. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep. “Nick, wake up, please,” Nikki sobbed. The door was bent in completely against him and shards of glass were covering him. Nikki could see the car that him them, still embedded into Nick’s car door.

“Nick please, wake up,” Nikki sobbed again. “Please . . .”

Nikki continued to sob his name even after they cut her out of the car, away from his embrace.

‘Teen Dies in Car Crash

Nicholas Johnson, 18, died in a car crash early this morning. The teen along with Andrew Edwards and Johnson’s new fiancée, Nichole Brian, were with him in the car when another slammed into Johnson’s door, killing him instantly.

Edwards and Brian suffer from minor injuries, and emergency workers on the scene say that Johnson’s body shielded his fiancée from death and dub it a miracle.

The drivers and occupants of the other car, who’s names are not released to the press yet, also suffer from minor injuries. Police say that they had high levels of alcohol in their systems. After they are released from the hospital, they will be charged with DUI and second degree manslaughter.

Nikki stared straight ahead during the church service. It was Sunday and she was sitting in the very back, something she never did. Nikki looked at the empty seat next to her a few times, where Nick was suppose to be.

It had been a week since the accident, and Nikki barely slept since. Scratches covered her face and her eyes where constantly red and puffy. Today, the pastor was honoring Nick, in compliment to the sermon’s topic: ‘Life and Death.’

Nikki fell in and out of listening, her eyes unfocused at times. For days Nick’s face had haunted her, his calm, serene, and death face. That’s why she couldn’t sleep.

Church was released, but Nikki stayed where she was. As people passed her, they placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. Finally, the room was empty.

Nikki stood and slowly walked to the front of the small church. Her feet echoed loudly in the empty space and in her numb mind. Nikki stopped in front of the wooden cross and collapsed in front of it, leaning her head against the round wood. She looked at the ceiling.

“Why?” she whispered, rubbing her diamond ring. The ring that hours before the accident had been a reminder of her bright future with her husband, but now was a reminder of who she lost. “Why did you take him from me?”

There was a ringing silence until a soft voice above her answered. “To make you strong.” Nikki looked up to the cross and perched on each side of it was a man - one younger and one older. Both were wearing simple white robes and staring down at her. The younger, Nikki noticed, had small, round scars on his feet and hands.

Nikki’s mouth became dry as she stared on and she almost didn’t notice when the man that spoke before, spoke again. Nikki had no doubt who it was now. God. “You must be strong,” he said. “This will help you, always remember this. Usually it is our most heart breaking moments and experiences in life shape what kind of person we are. Remember this, and be strong.”

“He’s right, Nikki,” said a voice beside her. Nick sat by her wearing a white robe as well, in totally contrast that the graduation robe he wore hours before his death. Nick smiled at her, then kissed her softly. “I love you, Nikki. I’ll always miss you, but please, be strong for me.”

“I-I will,” said Nikki, her voice trembling and tears falling down her face. “I love you, Nick.” He nodded and smiled softly, then without another word, disappeared just as God and Jesus did above her.

It was another week later at the funeral that Nikki stood to give a speech.

“I loved Nick,” she started. “He loved me. We were friends for thirteen years. We were boyfriend and girlfriend for four years. And we were engaged for six hours.” Nikki paused and took a deep breath. “I’m devastated at what happened to him, and for the first week afterwards I questioned why I lived and he didn’t, and I questioned my faith. But standing here today I can say that I understand why he had to leave me. He left to make me strong. He’s in a better place now, and someday I’ll join him again, but not for a long time.

“He’s my first love and always will be, but I know he still with me.” Nikki wiped the tears from her face. “He’s always watching me. He was my guardian angel that night, and he always will be. I’ll always be strong for him.”

Nikki stopped and looked beside her. Nick had his arm around her. He smiled and kissed her softly on the cheek before disappearing, but not for the last time.