• Freshman year of high school

    The first day

    She sat down next to me in advanced language arts, her dark red hair bouncing around her shoulders. She was wearing a white shirt with a sweetheart neckline that showed off her ample chest, black skinny jeans that made her long legs look even longer, and pink flats. She smiled at me, showing her straight, even white teeth. Her brown eyes sparkled at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

    Second month

    We sat together in the coffee shop, talking and laughing. She was wearing a purple shirt with a square neckline over a high-waisted gray skirt, and her long hair was pulled into a ponytail. She had a great sense of humor, and we were becoming good friends. She agreed to come watch the marching band play at the football game on Friday, and I couldn’t wait.

    Sophomore year

    One month before the end of the school year

    I asked her if she was excited about being a senior. She shrugged. “I don’t know. It seems like a lot of responsibility. You know I’m not good with responsibility, Lucas.” I laughed and nodded.
    “Yeah, it’ll be hard, but at least we’ll be going through it together, right?”
    “Right.” She hugged me. “I bet you’ll be drum major next year, and section leader again.” She smiled. That day, she was wearing an orange camisole top, with jean Bermuda shorts.
    “I hope so. And I’ll bet you’re head of the photographers on the school newspaper.” She blushed.
    “Oh, I don’t know…”
    “Come on, Tara! You’re the best photographer there!”
    “Well… Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

    Night of senior prom

    There was a knock on the door, just as I was sitting down to watch a movie with my brother. I got up and opened it, to find Tara standing there, tears in her eyes.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked, as she stepped inside.
    “You know that guy John?”
    “The one who asked you to prom? Yeah.”
    “Well, he just called and said he’s going with Collette. He didn’t even say sorry,” she said, and started to cry. I put my arms around her and let her cry on my shoulder. After a few minutes, I said:
    “Do you want to go to a movie?” She looked up at me, her mascara a little streaky.
    “Sure...should I change?” she asked. I shook my head.
    “Just fix up your mascara and you’ll look great.” She smiled. She really did look nice in her teal strapless shirt and black layered skirt with white wedge sandals. We went out to my car, and she re-did her mascara. Then we went to the movies, where we had a much better time than she would have had if she had gone to the prom with that dirtbag of a guy. We grew a lot closer that night, and I won’t forget that.

    Graduation

    “Presenting-the graduating class of 20XX!” The auditorium erupted with cheers and applause as the now-graduates stood on the stage, diplomas in hand. I stood beside Tara, both of us smiling. Parents took picture after picture, but we were finally allowed to leave. My parents were ecstatic, my mother in tears.
    “You’re all grown up now, Luke!” she cried, throwing her arms around me. I hugged her back, and looked over at Tara. Her parents were hugging her tightly, tears leaking from their eyes.
    “This calls for celebration! A great, big celebration! Let’s all go to Magic Mountain!” my dad said, waving Tara and her parents over. “Tara and Lucas can leave their graduation stuff in the van.” Tara grinned and hugged me.
    “Let’s go!” her mother said, wiping tears out of her eyes. “After a few photos, of course.” She held up her camera.

    Two years after graduation

    My cell phone rang, and I looked at the caller I.D. It was Tara.
    “I am so glad that your dad suggested going to Magic Mountain after graduation!” she said joyfully, after I had answered.
    “Well, yeah. You met Alex there,” I said, laughing. “Don’t tell me...he proposed?”
    “You’re using your psychic powers again, Luke. He did!” she cried.
    “That’s great!” I told her. “When’s the wedding?”
    “In mid-December.
    Tara grinned and hugged me.
    “Let’s go!” her mother said, wiping tears out of her eyes. “After a few photos, of course.” She held up her camera.

    Two years after graduation

    My cell phone rang, and I looked at the caller I.D. It was Tara.
    “I am so glad that your dad suggested going to Magic Mountain after graduation!” she said joyfully, after I had answered.
    “Well, yeah. You met Alex there,” I said, laughing. “Don’t tell me...he proposed?”
    “You’re using your psychic powers again, Luke. He did!” she cried.
    “That’s great!” I told her. “When’s the wedding?”
    “In mid-December. You’ll come, right?”
    “Of course I will! I could never miss my best friend’s wedding.”
    “Thanks, Luke. I’ll call you later, okay?”
    “Okay. Bye,” I said, and hung up. I picked up a book and opened it, but I wasn’t absorbing the words. I closed it and put it down, trying to ignore the tiny drop of jealousy bubbling in my stomach.

    December 21, 20XX

    The wedding of Tara Thames and Alex Green

    I waited until the two of them had broken apart before I got up to leave. I wove through the guests and was almost to the door of the chapel before Tara caught me.
    “I’m glad I caught you, Luke! I want you to give the first speech,” she said, her cheeks flushed with joy. She looked so beautiful in her long white dress, gold necklace and diamond earrings. Her long hair framed her face wonderfully, and her eyes sparkled. I looked away from her.
    “I’m sorry, Tara,” I muttered, turned, and hurried away. I didn’t look back, although I could feel her hurt gaze. I closed my eyes. “So sorry.”

    Twenty years later

    I gaze down at the coffin, at the beautiful woman I had known for so long. She looks so peaceful. The cancer hasn’t disfigured her at all. Her dark red hair frames her face the way it always did, and a small pearl barrette sparkles in it. Her hands are clasped on her stomach, the diamond ring she had worn for twenty years shining. She wears a pale blue mermaid-style gown, her favorite. Red roses and white daisies are scattered around her. I reach into the coffin and touch her hand, which is cold. There is no trace of the warm, vibrant woman who had once clutched my hand, screaming, as the roller coaster went upside-down. Who had sobbed into my shoulder after her cousin died in a motorcycle crash. Who I had watched get married. This woman had been my best friend for over twenty years. And I hadn’t even been there to give the first speech at her wedding reception. As the tears drip down my face, there is only one thought in my mind. Why didn’t I ever tell her...I love her?