Moments Never To Forget

Chapter Five

I'm walking, wondering how I reached this place. It's really dark, and I can't seem to find my way out. I stretch out my hands to grasp something — anything — just to get some clue about my surroundings. I feel something rough, textured and uneven beneath my hands.

'Where am I?' I think. The thought echoes through the place.

"Hello? Is anybody here?" I speak aloud, then hear my echo back.

Suddenly, there's lightning. I notice that I am engulfed in woods. 'How did I reach here?' My thought echoes through the forest again. I spot a bird in the air, trying to fly away from the forest.

The lightning strikes again. This forest, I notice in the brightness of the moment, seems to be endless. I keep on walking ahead, in pace with the bird, trying to follow it.

A third strike. Then a glow. Soon, the forest is blazing in flames. I'm running away as fast as I can, but my body is tired. I hear a voice.

"Ashley! Quick!" It's my mom. "Ash! Run!"

I see her. She's screaming, calling me out, telling me to run to her. And I run, I want to hug her, tell her to never leave me alone but the flames overcome me and I'm burning and —

"No! Mom!"

I woke up, tears drenching my blue tee. I missed my mom, I really did. There was the sound of footsteps, and I closed my eyes, hoping that when I opened them, Mom would hug me tight, promising to never let me go.

But I saw a sad Steph, sitting on the edge of my bed. She pulled me into a hug, stroking my hair. I pulled out from the high to face her.

"Why Steph, why would you not tell me?" I asked her.

"I ... I can't," she hung her head, as always.

"She was my mom too! I deserve to know what happened!" I wailed out.

"Not yet, Ash, not yet," she said, barely a whisper, getting up and walking out.

I walked out of my room and into the bathroom. I did not care to look up in the mirror because I knew that I looked terrible: mascara flowing down my face, my chocolate brown hair all messy, in short, I'd look like a zombie. I washed my face — scrubbing hard to clean it up; combed my hair with my hands, then went back into my room.

To distract myself, I picked up my iPad and logged on Facebook. The first picture I saw was of Mr. Harris, probably from today morning. It was captioned, ‘New teacher in town! #Hot🔥’.

The second post was also about him. ‘When your teacher is so sexy *heart eyes emoji* #KurtHarris’ and a gif of a girl fanning herself.

Then a third post. A fourth. Mr. Harris, I think you just became the Richmond High celebrity.

I got a message on the app.

Sarah Flores: Heya girl! What's goin' on?

Me: nm, just woke up from sleep, logged on...

Sarah: My timeline is filled with Kurt's pics *heart eyes emoji*

Me: Seriously? Are we on first name basis now?
My timelines overflowing too *laugh tears emoji*

Sarah: but no post by the sniffer *wink emoji*

Me: Hey! I'm not a sniffer! He was standing right next to me! What would I do?
Besides, I don't show off *wink emoji*

Sarah: Yeah yeah, whatever *rolling eyes emoji*
Any plans this weekend? I need to go on a shopping spree with you girl!

Me: Sorry, it's Al

I erased that line. I was about to tell Sarah about Alexa's date. But I don't kiss and tell. I had to think of an excuse.

Me: Sorry, not free this weekend... lagging behind in Biology
#StudyWknd *sad face emoji*

Sarah: Okay, guess I'll have to ogle at those beautiful necklaces at Kathy's all alone *sad face emoji*

Me: I'm sorry I can't help it...
I need to go study now, ttyl girl bye

Sarah: Bye

I logged out and lay down on my bed, thinking about how I had to lie to one of my friends to save the other. We used to be close once, not too long ago. There used to be no secrets, no lies between us. It felt so wrong, so wrong how an incident could change so much. That day... I wish it had never come in our lives. It ruined our friendship, destroyed us.

We had dinner, homemade pepperoni pizza made by Steph, in silence. I was still angry at her, and my sister knew how I blew up if someone tried to talk to me in my angry mode. I finished up as fast as I could, washed the utensils and went back to my room, without letting out a single word of my mouth. I lay down in bed, and sleep overcame me. The last person I saw in my head before I drifted off to dreamland ... was Mr. Harris.