The Diary of Mei

XXI

Stuff is hectic today's journal entry might be a bit erratic. As graduation day approaches and deadlines to fill out our college applications get closer lots of people are on edge. I have been up later and later studying and writing revisions for our paper. A few students have joined in from writing club to the school paler to help with editing and photography. We have had a few articles published to encourage people to join theater for the upcoming play. The school budget doesn't allow good costumes so we have had to improvise. Each student gets free passes for a family member if they purchase an appropriate outfit for a character in the play. All costumes have to be approved by Mrs. Jenkins so it keeps things on track.

Late last night, or rather this morning I had just settled down to sleep after studying, crying, studying more, and some tearful editing in my latest literature essay. When I was resting my eyes I suddenly heard loud engine revving and stereo, followed by a loud crash. My heart was racing as I slowly crept out of bed and parted the blinds for a look. My eyes strained as I tried to look through the bright light. My heart raced as I realized it was Uyu's car parked up against our mailbox with the high beams flooding the side of our house. I tried not to panic but something was very wrong. I pushed open my window and screen for a better look. Uyu shouted up to me asking if I wanted to go for a drive. He stumbled out of the car and onto our lawn right under my window. Music blared from the speakers and he shouted incoherent lyrics up to me. I didn't know what to do but he was in trouble and I needed to do something about it. Shaking, I hurriedly grabbed a coat and some sneakers that just happened to be by my door. Tiptoed down the hallway, but I tripped on a stack of toys. I stood there still as possible trying to listen for any noise coming from any of my family's bedrooms. All I could hear was the stereo. How was no one else waking up? I unbolted our side door and tried to open the screen door without it swinging too far to screech. As I'm trying to be as quiet as possible, lights flash the radio gets louder, and I hear rain starting to pour. I step through the door and lock it behind me so maybe no one will realize I left in the middle of the night. My shoes are immediately soaked through from the pouring rain. I run out to see Uyu standing in our yard hazards of his car flashing against his soaked shaking figure.

I didn't know what to do but just jump right into his arms, and hold him. Alcohol oozed out his pores. A few seconds go by, and I turn down the music. Then I switch off the car lights. My heart was racing. I didn't know what was wrong, I wanted to fix it. I want to fix him! I opened the passenger car door and pushed him to sit down. Then I walked around to the driver's side, turned the key, and slowly backed out the driveway. The mailbox fell forward barely still in the ground. Muddy tire marks dug into the front lawn. The is no way I can fix that. I'm going to have to think of an excuse for that in the morning. I turned the steering wheel and headed down the street. Uyu started to cry mirroring the heavy rain. His shoulders shook as he leaned over. I remember saying over and over "it's okay we are going to fix this". "It's okay we are going to get help."

I begged him, tell me what's wrong. How can I fix this? Tell me what to do. Uyu rambled on and on. You cried and cried. He kept crying. That's when things started to slip. I must have started crying because the street lights looked like they stretched all the way down the road. I just kept driving. I didn't know where I was going.

I took a deep breath. Blinking hard I looked over and we switched you were driving, and where was I? I was in the passenger seat. Nothing was making any sense. I closed my eyes again, hard. And I felt like everything stopped. Deep breath. Sunlight streamed in from behind my eyelids. Uyu turned the stereo back up. Music climbing louder and louder. Sun streaming through my eyes as I squint against it growing brighter and brighter.

Opening my eyes again. The sun was so bright. Uyu leaned on the horn. Sound getting louder and louder. I remember thinking to myself what is happening? None of this makes sense. Uyu is in trouble. We need to get help!

Then there was the impact. The car spun. Spun, and spun, and spun. But it wasn't fast like how I expected. I saw every angle. We must have spun a thousand times.  This spinning wasn't even dizzying anymore it was just a way of things now until it stopped. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Uyu. Eyes closed. Looking peaceful but not himself. All this time since I met him I always thought there was something about him. He was so familiar. As someone, I knew before. Someone I must have been close to.

He looked like me.