Letters To Bri

Except For Brian

Riley's POV:

Two days later at around 9pm, Brian died at the Madison Care Hospital.

His parents chose not to keep him on life support for the rest of his life and let him go. I understand why they did what they did, but I don't understand why all of this had to happen.

The morning after he passed, the whole sixth grade went into one room, and our science teacher, Mr. Clark, talked to us about what happened. I cried the whole time, not really listening to him.

I hugged most of my friends, and even cried in their arms. It was a hard time for everyone.

We ate 'comfort food' which some people got carried away, not remembering that why this was all happening because of the loss of our friend.

That Friday, we went to one of those 'awake' things for Brian in the gym in the High School. I don't understand why they call it an awake if you know for sure the person is dead. When I walked up to Brian's casket, which was closed, I slid my fingers slowly across from it, crying all the way. I hugged his Mom and sister, and went off, just standing in the gym for a little while. His mother told me that she loved the picture I drew of Brian. I did draw a picture of Brian, it was, somewhat accurate. I supposed his Father and other brother were somewhere else, playing with friends or chatting with people.

My mom talked to his father for a little while, while I fooled around with Beth, who I agreed to meet.

Later that night, a preacher came, and everyone was in the gym, I mean it was packed. Everyone was there. lots of people sat on the bleachers, while others sat in chairs. I sat by Rachel, so we could cry with each other. When the preacher began talking, I listened. When he told us to bow our heads and pray, we did. I was getting real serious about church and all. I soon made sure that we went every Sunday, or Saturday night.

I cried. I knew I would. When the 'casket people' rolled Brian's casket out of the gym, that's when I realized I'd never see him again.

After it was all over, I exited the gym, and into the hallway, everyone was hugging and crying. I just followed along. I hugged a lot of people, most I knew, and some I didn't. I hugged Rachel, for a while. We cried, and told each other it was all going to be alright.

There was one person I hugged, though. It felt like a hug that kept me warm. And I thought he would never hug me. His name was Hart. He was a nice guy, but I didn't think he's hug me. He was one of Brian's best-guy friends. He was crying, too. I thought he would never cry. But everyone I thought wouldn't cry, did.

When I got into my mom's car, I sat there for a little while. I breathed in through my nose, and out through my mouth, until my mom hopped in. We sat there for a little while again, until she spoke up.

"So... do you need to talk about it?"

I turned to her, and gave her a big hug. I cried into her chest for about a minute, then finally held back. We drove off to our house, and I went straight to my room. I flopped on my bed, and just laid there for a moment. Thinking about all the times Brian and I spent together. All our memories. I then had a brilliant idea... well... maybe it wasn't so brilliant, but...

I shot up from my bed and got a pen and paper. I sat down on my chair and started writing ferociously. I started writing everything that came to mind.

I decided I'd write a letter to Brian, about how I miss him, and how I wish he were back. About all the fun times we had, how I'm living my life without him... EVERYTHING!

After I was done writing a page or two, I dozed off to sleep on my desk.

The next day, I put the letter in an envelope, sealed it, and wrote BRI right on the front. I then biked to the post office and dropped it off, hoping it would get to Heaven.