Briar Preparatory Academy

Those Who Don't Remain

Lockharte POV

The solemn faces of my students all standing on the opposite side of the bonfire nearly takes my breath away as we circle around the south courtyard. All of them, from the timid first years to the graduating seniors still have the horror of the past days' events in their eyes. Still, they separate into their grades as they always do in Academy assemblies and stand with their faces looking down at their shoes. I only catch the eye of very few of them, and every single expression carries loss and fear.

It has been two days since Jasper's assault, and all the evidence of a massacre has been cleaned away, except for the students themselves. They still carry shock on their faces, like they never would've thought they would have to experience such terror. I almost felt guilty when I started to organize the memorial, thinking it was too quick and everything still needed to calm down. Joe and a few senior boys offered their help in assembling the bonfire that now burns high into the night sky. I catch a glimpse of Joe standing off to the side, circled by some familiar faces that I know through Jasper. Men who found the courage to walk away from what Jasper strived for, and they now look to his nephew. He grew up too quickly...

The few quiet voices passing around in the air fade away as I take a step forward and clear my throat. Suddenly, all eyes are on me. I am accustomed to this. "You know why you're here," I begin, "And you know who isn't. You have all seen things and maybe done things in the past days that the majority of people in the world never have to experience. You have fought against an unknown enemy who in your minds found nothing in his crimes but pleasure. But let me reassure you, every person has a purpose." I pause and scan my eyes over the students. My eyes land on my granddaughter, who stands next to Katherine, their hands intertwined. Celeste is looking straight at me, her face placid like stone.

"But I did not call you here to talk about purpose. Two days ago, we all lost someone dear to us. Young men and women who didn't see the end coming. Who had a full life ahead of them, a plan for the future. They all came to this school with curiosity and excitement in their eyes, and suddenly, it was snuffed out. Maybe they saved your lives somehow, by jumping in front of an unseen bullet, or picking up a gun to fight. Maybe they all realized that this was the moment when they would have to grow up a few years and receive their first real lesson."

"It is our duty to remember these boys and girls who are now lost. The faces that we will always remember in our minds, even until our dying days. They represent the strength and courage it takes in the duties that have been assigned to us. They are who we will remember when we were in our darkest moments and when we are afraid of the next minute. They are the people who stand by the phrase 'Courage is mandatory'. Think of them fondly as I say their names."

A list sits in my back pocket with every name that no longer exists. I pull it out and timidly unfold it, scanning down the two pages.

Sixty-three. Sixty-three children died.

"Emma Armstrong." Senior, beautiful smile and a kind heart.

"Taylor Hemmings." Sophomore, the future valedictorian of the 2019 class.

"Maxwell Yates." Junior, incredible martial arts ability and a light sense of humor.

I go through sixty-three of these names, remembering each of them and what I found incredible about each and every one. As a name is called, I see someone in the crowd shift uncomfortably or look away or something that tells me that they loved this person. I finish reading the names and put the list back in my pocket, the faces still passing each other in my mind.

"In honor of the students who gave their lives to protect our school, we have built this bonfire. But the board has also agreed that we need a more permanent memorial. The names of the sixty three students who are no longer with us will have their names engraved on a pillar in the courtyard. They paid the utmost price for their bravery, and it will be remembered. Courage is mandatory."