Struck By Memory

What's past is never passed

"We had just graduated. We decided to be the stupid teens that we were, and get a couple drinks. I was in love, you know, those butterflies that keep poking your stomache. I had those. I felt them whenever I'm near to her. It's like she would change me. She got on the passenger seat, and we rolled to her house where I was supposed to drop her. But we never got there. I can still remember it. Her screams still echo in my head, like nails on a chalkboard. They just won't stop. We had an awful accident, I almost died. Though I haven't, I wish I have and let her live, but I haven't. I still remember, my bloody hands touching her cold dead body in the middle of shattered glass. I was crying, not because the physical pain I was feeling, but because I know I'll live without her now. Because, I killed her." David said. The long silence after that long phrase was broken "Are you going to college ?" the psychologist asked, "Yes. Yes I am." David replied. "Is it out of Illinois ?" "Yes. I will go to California. I just wanna leave these haunting memories behind, you know? I wanna forget all of it. I wanna be free." David said with hope. "How were your grades last year ?" "Pretty good, for the most part. I am a B average student." "And when are you leaving Chicago ?" "Tomorrow, hopefully. I don't want to stay here any longer." It's not true, he never wanted to leave. Because although his biggest mistake has occured in this town, but his best memories all happened here. But he has to leave it all behind. Make a life of his own. He has to man up. "The session is over." Claimed the psychologist, "But before you leave, are you ready to start a new life ?" Hesitation ruled over David's mind, but he's still as determined as he's ever been to leave. "Yes, I am ready. Thank you Doctor."

It's a brand new day for David, and the most important. He's headed to the airport that holds from the city where a new chapter of his life is beginning. His mom, Theresa, has tears of she doesn't know what in her eyes. She says they're tears of pride that her little David is finally ready to be a man. I say that they're tears of sadness because she'll be alone. One thing I didn't say is that David grew up without a father. He left back when he was just a tiny boy. His mom took well care of him. She's raised a good man. Maybe too good of a man. As they said their goodbies, he was on the way to the plane to California.

8 AM, and he's finally at his new apartment in San Francisco, where he's going to meet with his new roommate, and also his comrade at the college he's going to. David saw a tall guy standing next to his new appartement's door, "Uhm, Jackson ?" "Oh hey Dave ! Nice to see you again." "Hey, how have you been ?" Jackson was one of David's closest friend in primary school, but he's moved out because of his father's work situations, and has never spoken to David ever since. "I've been fine, college starts next week, you know that right ?" Jackson said, "We must set you up, we have a lot of work to do, you know that right ?" "Yeah. Let's get to business." While unpackaging his stuff, david has found a picture of Sarah, his ex-girlfriend, in his suitcase. That tragic past just doesn't seem to leave him for a second. He sighs and whispers to himself "I'm so sorry Sarah." Jackson looks at him and asks "What was that ?" "Oh nothing," David quickly hides the picture in his suitcase "just an old picture. To remind me of home." "Yeah, keep that with you for as long as you can." Jackson advised "I kept a picture of us when I moved here, it helped me with everything." Those simple words had an immense impact on David. He realised how much he's dear to Jackson.

It's 5:30 AM, the alarm rings. "Ugh, it's Monday already huh?" David thought to himself "Better get ready for college, I don't wanna be late. Not on the first day." He got ready and calmly ate his breakfast, and started waiting for Jackson. David doesn't like to drive anymore. He prefers to have someone else on the steering wheel to drive him. When Jackson was ready, they hit the road to their school. The building looked really nice. It had "City College of San Francisco" written in metalic alphabets on its white walls. David was waiting by the principal's office to get his schedule. While waiting by the door, he was sinking into his endless memories, until a feminine voice brought him back to reality : "Hello, how may I help you?" It was his principal, she was a tall blond woman that looked really nice and young. "Uhm, hi my name's David O'Pry, and I'm looking for my schedule please." "Come on in."

The bell rang and everyone was headed to their classes. Students started to introduce themselves. And while David was busy reading a book, he's lifted his head up a little and to his surprise, was a girl that seemed oddly familiar. She was petite, brown hair and ice blue eyes. Her smile could light the universe, at least, it lit David's universe. She strongly reminded him of Sarah. It strongly reminded him of the past he's trying to move on from. "Hello, I'm Reena Summers, and I've moved here from Iowa, nice to meet you guys." His eyes followed her back to her seat, and while he was lost in her, the teacher was pointing at him."Sir you're up. Sir, Sir." She looked at him and started giggling, which brought him back to the real world. "Oh, uhm. Hi, I'm David O'Pry, and I'm from Chicago, Illinois." "GO BULLS, GO!" screamed a voice in the back.