The Gifted

The Letter

It's been a year or so from my friend's passing, and since then, I have lost track of time. Even though I hope that she's happier now, I do miss her. A lot. She had been more than just a friend to me. Even her mom takes me in as her 'foster child'. Growing up together had always been something I cherished, even when I stood by her tombstone alongside her sister, Amanda every month.

My mam tried to comfort me of my sunken mood as I returned home that night, but to no avail, I retreated slowly like a tide to the sea into the solitary confinement of my room. Slamming my head onto the bed, I could feel the memory foam sinking, encompassing my tired body. I tried to keep myself busy, both physically and mentally, with summer jobs. Even Amanda tells me I rarely talk these days. Those words were true, as they spun trough my thoughts and numbed my heart. 

As my eyes begin to close, I heard a creak by the windowsill. I stood right up, anxious, grabbing a towel to scare whatever had caused the noise. It was just Cheri, Amanda's cat. A letter was slipped into its collar. He was purring contently in my arms when I read it. 

       Dear Jo,

Come meet me at Reese's tomb at 10.30 tommorow morning. There is an important matter we must discuss. Take your friends with you. Reese told me to give this to you after a year of her passing as your birthday gift. After that, we can grab lunch at Uncle Sam's. How does that sound to you? Please do bring some marshmallows for the campfire.

Amanda

Driven by curiosity, I can't help but lay awake on bed that night wide awake. Cheri stayed for the night, curling into a small puffball on my lap as he was sound asleep. Accompanying my thoughts, I heard the wind singing their nightly hymns, and saw the moonlight penetrating the curtains. It was calm, and beautiful. I wondered how I could forget that living in this town was not as miserable as it seemed. As the leaves from the vines outside my balcony danced with the wind, the stars serenaded them. The sky was a deep hue of purple with a hint of pink as sunrise came to interrupt. 

Daybreak has come.

I needed answers. Then I remembered about the campfire.

"MOM, where did you keep the marshmallows again?"

"Hun, check the kitchen drawer where I usually put in the snacks. Don't be late, you have classes at 8!"

Taking a quick cold shower apparently was not the best way to start the day. As I shivered, I went out, put on my clothes, combed my messy hair, shoved Cheri and my breakfast into my backpack, and bolted out the door.

"Love you mom!"

"Take Care!"

Arriving at school with eyebags was not a fresh start, but releasing Cheri from the imprisonment of my blue, large stuffed converse bag did. He knows his way home. The second I stepped in the school doors, I felt that I needed to get a grip, but it was slipping. That grip slipped even more when I realized that prom was in 2 days' time. 

Mandy and Sarah told me that I really need a glow up. I needed to step up my game if I wanted to get that boy to like me. 

"Seriously guys? They never fall for my looks, they fall for my piano skills," I blurted.

"Well, looks like the only boy can play Paganini in tune on the violin was not impressed with you." 

"Seriously Sarah? Among all times, why today?"

"Come on guys," I shoved,"boys later, classes now."

We all laughed. I still had hopes and dreams of getting a scholarship to Julliard's, the country's best music university. In this school, I had to prove myself to be the best in many, but music, of course, is my number one priority. Sarah and Mandy were the supportive people I need. In my lowest, they had always found ways to pick me up again.