Regrettably Attached

The Day I Wanted to Die

I had never wanted to die more than I did at that moment. First things first, let's start from the beginning. My dad had just died leaving my mom Christine, my older brother Jeremiah, who had just turned 10, my younger brother Jackson, who is a year younger than me, and me; Greyson Andrews who was the ripe age of 8. My mom moved us all the way across the country the summer before third grade to Santa Ana, California, from New York City. She wanted a fresh start from the city that reminded her of the love of her life. It was tough for all of us at the beginning, but it was getting better. We arrived at our new home sometime in the hot morning of a June day. We started unpacking all of our stuff when I noticed this girl and a guy playing volleyball in the front yard next door. Next thing I know, Jackson's running over there, introducing himself. I overheard the girl say that her name is Evangeline Jones, and her brother's name is Samuel. She looked to be about Jackson's age, while Sam looked to be mine. Then she told Jackson that they were going to be best friends. Over the years, Eva and I never got along very well, but Sam and I ended up becoming best friends. I never told Sam or Jackson this, but I had a crush on Eva. I did since the day I met her. We just had this connection that was hard to ignore, but I knew for a fact that she hated me.

I ended up living in that same house every day until I graduated. And every day I had to live with the fact that I couldn't have Eva, no matter how much I loved her. Throughout middle school and high school, I became the stereotypical jock. I was the captain of the varsity football and baseball teams. Not only that, but I had a lot of flings throughout high school, all because I couldn't have the girl that would forever have my heart. My mom and the Jones were best friends growing up. My mom says that Eileen and Derek, Sam and Eva's parents, and she were like three peas in a pod and that Eileen and Derek were destined to be together from the beginning. Eileen and Derek helped my mom get through the death of my dad. They became second parents to me. So of course, that meant that I was constantly seeing Eva, and it killed me every time. Jeremiah ended up getting married to a sweet girl, Ava, fresh out of high school. They went to college together and even had a few kids, Emma, Anthony, and Andy. I got a full-ride football scholarship to Notre Dame, while Sam got a full-ride baseball scholarship to Vanderbilt. Jacky went to Duke for an academic scholarship. It's safe to say we Andrews are overachievers. I have no idea what ended up happening with Eva, I just heard that she got into some prestigious school and that's the last I heard about her.

Fast-forward 6 years later, in my Senior year of college, I was drafted to the NFL to play for the Baltimore Ravens. Sam ended up tearing his ACL Senior year and ended up not getting drafted. The summer before my third season as a rookie, I went back home. The coach said I needed some time to go and visit my family. I never got out of my playboy ways, because every day I still thought about her. She gave me the strength to push myself in football. She was all that was ever on my mind. Every girl I had been with had always reminded me of her, but none could ever compare.

I finally got home and was immediately greeted by my mother and her amazing food, my baby brother and his girlfriend, Jerry, Ava, and their kids, Eileen and Derek, and surprisingly Eva. She looked absolutely breathtaking. She had gotten taller and curvier since the last time I saw her. She looked like she had just gotten out of bed, but was nevertheless gorgeous. Her long hair sprawled down her back effortlessly. Her eyes still had the mischievous sparkle in them. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt that might've been a boyfriend's, which immediately had my blood boiling, she had on some old joggers as well. I knew that at that moment, I would remember how she looked that day for the rest of my life.