Degraded

Chapter 13-Sam

Pacing into my brother's room, I remember what Derek mentioned about a journal.

I come here almost every day, but I remember one specific day when I saw a glint of red, the color he said the journal was, somewhere. I never really thought much of it, thinking it was all in my head, so I just passed it by.

I decide to take a quick search for this mysterious journal he is talking about. I check his dresser drawers, I check under his desk, and I check under all his scattered random items. I can't find it anywhere.

Finally, giving up I lay down in frustration, looking at the mural I have come to memorized. The sea's waves crashing over the boats remind me of my life.

The ship crashes and I am left in the water. I am constantly trying to stay above the sea, but I can't tread the water forever. At some point I am just going to give up from exhaustion.

Unless...

A life boat comes for me from the abandoned ship, and there is a sliver of hope they are coming for me. So I hang on to the only thing there is left to do: hope.

~~~

Laying down, I decided to check one last place: under his bed. Since it was right next to me, I rolled and scooted over, and that's when I saw his journal.

It was exactly how Derek described it to look like. It was hot-pepper red and fairly tiny for a journal. I snatched it from its spot and ran to my room.

I want to see what this journal holds and why Derek was informed by my brother about it. I decided to open it and decide I would read one writing a day.

Opening the journal, adrenaline rushes through my veins, keeping me from passing out from eagerness to read it.

Slowly, I allow my eyes to land on the first writing, it titles:

Live in the moment not the past or future.

I read the rest:

Today, I was walking through the hallways of school, wondering what would happen to me when I grow up. What I would become when I grow up, who I would marry, and if I would have a family.

Then I realized that I shouldn't be constantly living in the past or future. I should live in the present; live in the moment.

If you are reading this, I have died in some way, grown old, or someone somehow got hold on this journal. I have never told anyone about this journal except the one person I trust, my best friend Derek.

I decided that when I die, I wanted to be remembered and share my lessons I have learned. I want whoever is reading this to have a part of my mind.

When I finish reading the journal I realized I am crying. Not sobbing, but crying in a way of mixed emotions; happiness because I have something, a part of him I can keep forever, and sadness because I won't ever see him again and share with him that I am here, reading this now.