Cry Me a River

Cameron

I always wanted to be confident. I would give other people advice but I could never find my own advice.
"Why is that dude strutting around wearing a shirt that says 'I'm better than you'? People are so rude these days." My friend, Cameron, said to me.
"Self confidence is important in life, Cameron."
Click.
I snapped a photo on my camera as soon as he gave me an eye roll.
"Willow, I swear. If you don't delete that... We are supposed to be working on your project."
My photography class project wasn't due until next week, but I wanted it done now.
Cameron was different from my other friends. He wore Green Day shirts and liked helping me with photography. My other friends aren't into any bands and could care less about my photography.
"Willow? Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, anything."
     I kept focusing on this picture I was about to take.
  "Would you care if I left?" Cameron asked.
  "Left where?"
     I dropped the camera to my side and looked at him.
"I don't know. Just away from here."
     For some reason, I couldn't think about my life without Cameron. I wasn't sure why he was asking this. He knew we would always be friends.
                                      • • •
     "Honey, it's ok." My mom said while hugging me.
     I cry about random things all the time. Even though I've graduated I still have nightmares and dreams about high school.
     Me and Cameron were friends since 9th grade and he left without a word randomly sophomore year. I never heard what happened. My life was never the same. Cameron made my life brighter while the rest of my friends did nothing. It's sad to admit, but sometimes you have to look at reality.
     The worst thing was that I never found out what happened to him. His calls all went to voicemail and no one answered his door.
     My other friends teased me for hanging out with Cameron. They all assumed I was cheating on Mitchell with Cameron. It took them awhile to even notice he had disappeared. Not even teachers said anything about his absence. It was like he never existed.
     But now, mid June, crying in my hospital room, I couldn't miss him anymore than I already do.