Ellie


I stared out across the fields. I can't believe that this has happened. No, this couldn't have happened. It couldn't have happened. No, no, no! She's been my best, and closest's friend ever since I moved here seven years ago. Sure, she was also friends with the preps. The perfect rich kids. But, she's always been the kindest, and sweetest person in the universe. She was even able to befriend my sister, Eve, the Medusa of sisters. She never deserved this.
 
I whipped my eyes of the crocodile tears forming there, as a sob broke from my throat. A strong breeze blew my hair in a swirl around my face. I refused to look at what sat in front of me. I refused to believe that I was wearing a floor length black dress. I turned and looked at the crows perched upon the polished stones, engraved with names, dates and the meanings of people's lives.
 
I forced myself to look at what sat before me. My eyes glazed over with tears again, blocking the steel casket from my sight. I allowed my tears to overwhelm me, for I couldn't believe my sight. I wouldn't believe my sight. The pasture finished his departing words, as the casket was lowered into the ground. Everyone faded into oblivion except for me, but I felt the presence of others. I pulled my eyes from where the casket formally sat, to the people standing around me. Eve, Hazel, and Anya stood staring down at the ground. They met my gazes, and then turned and walked away, fading with the wind.
 
"This is all your fault.", I heard her perfectly even voice echo across the field scattered with tombstones. I saw her perched upon her tombstone, just as elegant as she was in life.

I was paralyzed with fear, joy, and disbelief. "Janelle?",I whispered, still paralyzed. 

She turned and looked at me, she was angry now. "You let me die! You could have saved me!",she yelled. She let out an earsplitting scream as she stepped down off of her tombstone, and disappeared into the wind.

My legs failed me, and I fell backwards. I felt a strong breeze whip my hair up into my face again.

Janelle was right in front of me, sitting in the fetal position leaning against a tombstone. She was crying now. She lifted her face to look at me, and when she spoke again, her voice was pleading. "How could you let me die Ellie?"
 
 
"And then what happens?",Jenna asked me for the millionth time.
 
"And then I wake up, just like I always did.", I said.
 
"Well like I told you before, the nightmare is an associate form of reliving the real experience, in some form, it's to be expected."
 
"I know, it's jus-st...",I paused,"They went away for such a long time. I can't believe their back."
 
"Ellie, it's gonna take more than three years. Your doing amazingly well.",she paused,"Think of her as your shadow. She will always be there with you every step of the way. Even in the darkest of places and times, she will still be at your side, helping you and guiding you through it all. You two were the best of friends. She's watching over you, Ellie. The only place that she can make you feel guilt, is in your dreams. Because it was no one's fault. Fate decided that it was time for her to move on, and so she did."
 
"I just thought they stopped.",I whispered, out of breath.
 
"Physiological trauma often heightens in times of transition. And you don't need me to tell you that your life is in transition. Your starting your final year of high school, and college next year. The uncertainty that comes with being an adult."
 
I smiled slightly, and let out a deep, shaky breath.
 
Jenna leaned forwards slightly,"The memories of that time in your life will come and go, and fade with time, but you will never forget it, just like you'll never forget Janelle. You two were friends for seven years, friendships like that don't fade with death, they survive millenniums of lifetimes."
 
That made me truly smile. Janelle and I had always been like sisters. No. We were always like we were two heads on the same body. Jenna is right, I'll always be friends with Janelle, not even the distance of Heaven and Earth can weaken that friendship.
 
"Now, are there any cute guys going to your school this year"
 
We both started cracking up! I started blushing. "Well...",my thoughts immediately shot to Jacob Kaleb, who is hot! But everyone thinks he's hot, so I doubt that I would have even a minute chance with him. I sighed. "I think I should head home, I have a lot of homework to do."
 
"How bout' some Chinese food? We could discuss the cute guys at your school.",she raised on eyebrow.
 
I rolled my eyes. Jenna has been such a friend to me for the past three years. "You know I can never pass up Chinese food."

We gathered up our things, and headed for Panda Express.