LockDown

April 26, 1999 11:36

Tristan POV

I walked across the lawn of the school. 19 red roses in my hand and 1 white rose. I held them in a bunch, clutching them tightly. Across the yard of the school, where the lunch courtyard once was, was a garden. Flowers bloomed in the early Spring dew. I entered the fence and looked at the marble wall.

19 names.

I set a rose infront of each name.

Its been one year exactly since the deadliest school shootings ever.

21 dead.

11 wounded.

I placed a red rose infront of each students memorial, ignoring Bryce's. The red was stark in the brown dirt. It was among other flowers, candles, teddy bears, pictures, etc. Each memorial was carved in marble. It showed name, age, grade, birth year, and a quote from their parents or them.

Most of the parents quotes were gushy and lovey like "Always in our hearts"

But one guy, Samuel Matthew Ares had an amazing quote.

"Theres light in the darkness and hope in the blood"

I wrote it on my arm.

There were 20 names on the Memorial. The list of the wounded was in a plauque at the bottom. There were 20 names, 20 memorial, 20 clockbells at 11:36, when the massacre started. But everyone forgets, 21 died that day. 21 families mourned and layed sleepless in bed. 21 families had to bury a child. Everyone knows the name of the shooter during the investigation, But when it comes to memorials, no one cares about the shooter.

We had some white wooden crosses with names on the lawn for a while. But Cecils was always, broken, knocked down, scribbled on, and burned. In the end they tossed it in the trash. Just like Cecil's memory, tossed in the trash.

Everyone mourns Byrce and the jocks but they were the reason it happened. They tormented him. They made it happen.

I walked to the edge of the wall and opened my back pack. I duct taped a picture of cecil to the wall. With a sharpie i wrote

"Cecil Andy Saron"

"Junior"

"16"

"1982-1998"

"No one punishes the cause, only the effect"

I leaned the white rose against his picture and walked away.

White puffy clouds scattered across the blue sky.

Then i stopped in the middle of the memorial and reached into my pocket. I pulled out my uncle's .45 and loaded the clip. There was only one bullet, because that's all I'd need.

Slowly i cocked it.

I heard screaming as the classes marched across the field to veiw the memorial. Screams echoed in my ear.

I removed the safety and slipping it in my mouth. A smile spread across my smile. Isnt that sadistic? To smile with you lips wrapped around a gun.

I pulled the trigger.