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Danni's Secret
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Danni's Secret |
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Maverick Wolf Member
since 1999-11-13
Posts 94Scandia, MN |
I don’t know what I was expecting to see. I really don’t know why I came back at all. You know, I had the best reason in the world not to come back. I was half way across the country. But I had a better reason to return. You see, she was my best friend. Before you go ahead making assumptions about this relationship, I’ll clear a few things up for you. We were best friends, but nothing more. I’d wanted to date her before, but we never did, though we really had something special. Ok, so I had to come back. The call that I had received on that gloomy Friday night was one that I never wanted to receive. Her name was Danielle Miller, I always called her Danni. Her parents called me to tell me that she was dead. I had imagined this moment as so many of us have, but I never believed I’d have to experience. Let me tell you, no amount of imagining can prepare you for something that changes your life in such a grand way. Danni was the one who I would call on lonely nights when I was down. She could always cheer me up. She was what kept me going on the many occasions that I felt that there was nothing else to hold on to. She was my life. The flight home was torture. I couldn’t figure out what to say, how to act, or what to do. The seat next to me was empty, and that helped me hide from the rest of the plane. Staring out the window ad the lights below, tears streaming down my cheeks, my world was lost in a blur of disbelief. When the flight attendant tapped my shoulder as the plane was preparing to land, I screamed so loud that the rows behind and in front of me all jumped up to see what was wrong. I apologized, fastened my seat belt, and buried my head in my hands and lap. Looking back, I’m sure the other passengers believed I thought I was going to die, but I don’t see the harm in that. At the funeral, I was asked to say a few words about Danni. Once again, I had imagined what I’d say if I were called to do so, but it was still the hardest thing I ever had to do. I don’t remember what I said. I’m thinking of writing a friend of mine who attended the funeral to tell me, but I don’t know that I want to find out. I remember breaking up more than a few times; the people attending the service turning to blurs of black, white and green. After the service, I asked my friend exactly how she died. I was told before that she died when her car went off the road, but I broke up before more could be explained. He told me that she fell asleep at the wheel and her car went off the road on County Road 73 last Thursday night. When I turned to leave, he asked me where I was going. I didn’t have to respond. If it weren’t for the small white cross in front of the tree, any passerby wouldn’t even notice the scars in the tree or the ruts leading up to it. The crews had done a good job of cleaning up the broken glass, but a few shards glinted in the sunlight like lost diamonds. I walked from my car across the road to the tree. I remember every single footstep that I took across that road. It all happened in slow motion. As I reached the tree, I put one hand on it as I leaned up against it and began to cry. I don’t remember how long I cried. The first thing I remember after that is seeing the candles that had blown out. I fished in my pocket for a book of matches. “Best Kitchen” was emblazoned on the front of the cover. I lit the half dozen or so candles that still had wicks to be lit. I said a prayer to keep her soul safe. As I stood up, my eyes traced the ruts that the car had dug. I traced the ruts from either side of the tree to the road, where all traces of any car disappeared. It didn’t strike me as odd until I was back in my car. As I reached for the ignition, my hand stopped halfway along its course as if it ran into an invisible wall. I turned my head and looked out the window and I saw exactly what I was thinking. No skid marks. My friend’s words echoed in my head. “She fell asleep at the wheel.” Danni, I know you’re reading this. Does it bother you at all that I know? I know it would bother me. |
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| © Copyright 2002 Jason Botterill - All Rights Reserved | |||
Krishankins
since 2002-06-23
Posts 972Texas |
Very sad. I lost a very special friend in the same manner a few years back. There were five people in the car and she was the only one who died. The others weren't even scratched. it's so unfair. I really liked this. Thanks for letting me remember my friend. your 100grit love is smoothing my soul |
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Secret Whisper Member
since 2001-01-25
Posts 298Through the Looking Glass |
Hmm... Life-- "Although most elements are taken from reality, some have been exagerated for dramatic clarity." |
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