Signed by, Andrew Oliver

Chapter Four

That night was rough. When we got home at about eight or nine, I forgot, I tore up the letter I had written Friday night. I guess I thought that I'd maybe give the world a chance again, and if it doesn't effect me, then I'll do it. I'm not sure, though.

I looked down towards the floor with the shredded paper laying on it. Some pieces remained folded, while others were laying open. Did I really want to? I thought to myself. I looked at my brown door, and then hurriedly scooped up the pieces of paper and opened my window. There was the bush there, so I dropped them behind it. Hopefully the rain would wear them away.

I laid back onto my bed and sighed. I took a pillow and pushed it against my chest, breathing heavily. The thoughts of them, the funeral, and the picture of the crash I saw a few days ago all crowded back into my head. I would do anything to see them again. Anything.

I closed my eyes to think. To be honest, I didn't know what I was going to do, how I was suppose to feel. Everybody tried their best to make me feel better, but do I really want to live? Oh, it was too late to think that. I should feel closure, right? Wrong. It isn't right. How am I suppose to know they're okay?

Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

—

I woke up the next day with Elizabeth shaking me. "Wake up!" She shook me again and then I jolted awake. The trip! Elizabeth backed away a bit. "It's nine, you've got to get ready?"

I sat up and rubbed my eyes and yawned. "Do I really got to go?"

Elizabeth went over to my suitcase and sat it next to me. She looked at me and nodded. "Yes. We already paid the fee." I grumbled and got up. "Mom's taking you to the airport at about 11:30, so get ready!"

Without hesitation, I hurried to the bathroom and took a speedy shower. Then I got dressed in a navy sweater and shorts. I gargled mouthwash, then quickly headed to the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of water and took some Tylenol. By this time, it was about ten o'clock.

Elizabeth found me in the kitchen. "So, did you think on taking one of us?" I shook my head. "A shame."

I sat the glass down in the sink and swallowed my last pill. "What?"

"I figured that you might've wanted one of us to go. You're not the social type."

"Who said?" I asked as I side-eyed her. She smacked her teeth.

I grabbed my things in my room, as well as the picture of my parents as a last minute pack, and headed towards the car. It was getting just a bit more sunny outside with a few clouds, but it was awfully humid. Just the time between walking out of the house to the car was enough to start getting super hot. When I got into the car, I instantly cooled down. My aunt had the air conditioning on.

"Are you excited?" Aunt Susie asked as she watched me sit down and buckle up.

I looked at her and nodded.

"Don't be nervous. Everything's going to be okay." She pushed the invitation and confirmation information towards me. "Here, I knew you would forget something."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." I put it in my suitcase and then turned back to her. "I'm just nervous about the plane. What if it crashes?"

Aunt Susie shook her head and started to drive off. "It won't, trust me."

The rest of the ride was quiet. As we passed the cityscape and into the countryside, the airport came more into view. The sky started clearing up a bit and the humidity sort of weakened. People came in and out of the airport, and as we pulled in, a flight took off. I felt some hope starting to build up if I'm honest.