"We were on the ride of our lifetime. I was driving, you were in the passenger seat. Both of us screaming at the top of our lungs to our favorite rock and roll songs. We finally visited California and it was a beautiful sunny, hot day. Windows rolled down, breeze flowing through our hair, on our way to the beach. It was the perfect summer day on a perfect summer vacation. Little did I know what was going to happen. I didn't know that you wouldn't live to see the Pacific Ocean that day. Within seconds, we were hit by a drunk driver, thrown off the road, and you were killed." I felt a tear develope in the very corner of my eye and the more I tried to hold it in, the bigger it grew. It fell down my cheek and rolled off my face. I swallowed, trying to get the lump in my throat to disappear so I could continue talking.
"Within seconds. It's a miracle that I am still alive, and it's absolutely devastating that you aren't. I couldn't even begin to describe how much I miss you. I would do absolutely anything to have you stand by my side again." I paused for a long time. I looked away from the picture of my best friend and towards the teary crowd in front of me.
"Sam was a great kid. The greatest I ever knew." My eyes skimmed from his mother and father holding hands, to his sister and her husband holding their newly born child that Sam had never seen. My eyes jumped to the back row where his cousin sat, the one of which was supposed to be the best man at Sam's upcoming wedding. And then I peered over at his fiancé, dressed in black, tears streaming down her face, Becuase the love of her life was taken from her.
"He was the greatest friend I could ever ask for. And now I stand up here, teary eyed with a hole in my heart and give this speech. And all I have to say is," I paused and looked at the picture of my best friend again. "Come back Sam. We all miss you. Why can't you just come back." I sunk to the floor and shoved my head in my hands and cried as hard as I could. Sams father ran up to the stages and lifted me onto my feet and shook me a little.
"Eric" he whispered. "Stop crying. Stop. You're making a big sceen. Come on Eric." He grabbed my arm and started back to our seats.
"Come back Sam!" I screamed. "Just come back!" I woke up suddenly and sat up in my bed. My heart was racing at a mile a minute and my tear stained cheeks were hot to the touch. I looked over at my wife who was reaching over to turn the light on
"Are you ok?" She said rubbing my back.
"Yeah, just a bad dream."
"What's wrong?"
"Just worried about how to write my speech for Sams funeral."
"Your speach will be just fine. Go back to sleep sweetie." She kissed my forehead, turned out the lights and we both layed back down and closed our eyes.
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"...So my friend, you are now hidden from the eye, but your still visible to the soul. We will never forget you and we will celebrate every day that you lived." I paused for a quick second and then stepped down off the stage and rejoined the crowd in the Church pews. My wife hugged me and everyone clapped at the speech I had given. A speech not about Sams death, but about his life. And for the rest of the afternoon, we all celebrated and rejoiced in the beautiful person that once was.
YOU ARE READING
Celebrating life
Short Story"It was the perfect summer day on a perfect summer vacation. Little did I know what was going to happen. "
