Second Place - Form Four Writing Competition

                           

Titile: It Was Too Late

 

It was too late and Dave was not there anymore, waiting for me under the shady willow tree across the field like he usually did. He had gone forever leaving me wandering in this world. My whole world had turned dark and sullen. How I wanted to see his crooked smile that would sweep every girl off their feet including me. I had never thought he would become my inseparable friend, a friend who offered me a shoulder to cry on. I could write a eulogy of a thousand pages on why he was an utterly good friend.

                        Tears began to fill my eyes and would not stop even if I asked myself not to. I walked at one step at a time towards the small bench beneath the tree. I could feel the breeze blowing my hair. I ran my fingers through the leaves above my head. They were soft and smooth as silk. My mind was flooded by the nostalgia for the good all days we had spent together, from watching the sun set below the horizon to counting the sparkling stars in the serene night sky. I closed my eyes and every detail of the days came into my mind…

                        He went knocking on my bedroom door looking so strikingly handsome in a black suit. God must have been on drugs when he created him because I could not find a person who was close to perfection as he was. My heart could not help skipping a beat every time he was near me.     

  

                        I was still surprised he was in front of me till his face met my sleepy eyes.

                        “What made you come here, early in the morning? Are you out of your mind? I’m still wearing my Hello Kitty pyjamas. Nothing is more embarrassing than this. It’s not even attractive, gosh!” I explained.

                        “Haha… my apology.” He replied. I could see he was sizing me up from head to toe. He seemed to be on the verge of laughing but stifled it. I could not help smiling supposed he did not want me to throw stuffed animals at him. I had a lot of them at every corner of the room. Barney the Dinosaur was his favourite so it had its very own special spot on my bed.

                        “Seriously, what do you want to tell me that you cannot wait for tomorrow to come? I know you well that you will not come here for something that doesn’t involve your life and death, in this very morning, awaken me from my beauty sleep.” I paused for a second to breathe in some air. “Trust me, I just ‘had’ my beauty sleep. I was eating cheese fondue with Justin Bieber and that was not a joke. You need to make up to me for ruining my perfect date.” I looked at him frowning.

                        “Okay, what I am about to tell you will not be a pleasant news. Before that, I want you to know that I’m truthfully sorry,” he said, his face crestfallen. I knew something was not right when he started fidgeting with his fingers.
                        …………………………………………………………..

                        England. He was going to leave me. I could believe this. England was so far away. It felt like two separate worlds. One thing I was not satisfied about was he would not tell me why he was leaving. He told me that it was inexplicable and that he did not want to hurt my feelings. So much of an excuse. He obviously hurt me, tore my heart apart and left a scar. I started to avoid him because he had not been completely truthful.  To my surprise, he did the same thing to me and shut everybody out, all of his buddies. Every single day at school, if he ever showed up, he would look pale and cold. Thick sweater on a hot day? I mean, who did that? Absurd thoughts started to pop into my mind - from a vampire to a walking dead, the so-called zombie. When I realised that my thoughts had become too impractical, I snapped myself out of them. Silly me. He was lonely. I could not deny that I was not a good friend. Nonetheless, I was still mad at him but I still cared for him.

                        “If I want to look after him without him realising my presence, what should I do?” and again my genius mind thought of something utterly brilliant yet foolish.

                        The first day of stalking Dave Leon turned out fine and I continued doing it for several days. My “mission” was dangerous, haha, and it may sound like I was a creep. Well, I was not. I was trying to look after a friend who had desperately needed me by his side but I was the girl who would not let go of the grudge. Selfish I would say. My plan was simple. I would follow him if he was present at school or sometimes at the park where he would take a stroll at 5.00 p.m. If he sensed that he was being followed and turned his back, I would quickly run and hide myself or walk behind someone or cover my face with a book, taking every precaution not to get caught by Dave Leon.             ……………………………………………………………

                        He had not come to school for two weeks straight. I was worried. I finally sent him hundreds of messages but it was such a bummer he did not reply any of them. I had tried talking to his mom but it was not successful. She would change the subject. My mind could not get off him. 

                        One day, when I was tidying up my locker at school, I found a pink note which was addressed to me.

Dear June,

              I know you must be wondering why I was not here for
a couple of weeks. Well, don’t worry. I’m fine. I came here today and left this for you. I will leave on Monday. I’m sorry June. I wish I could meet you for the last time. Usual place? 9.00 a.m.? If you don’t want to come, I understand. =) Do take care of yourself. Well, see you on Monday, 9.00 a.m.

                                                                     Yours truly,

                                                                           Dave

                                I went back to my clear state of mind. I was here. Hopelessly waiting for him to show up but he did not. I could feel my eyes getting puffy, the effect of crying so hard. I turned back and was more inconsolable when I saw the carving of our names on the tree-trunk. I stood and walked towards it. Within the spill of sunlight, something shiny caught my eye. As I went closer, it was an envelope and a diamond. I remembered this. Dave had given it to me, a cheap prize he had won from a silly game he had played at the arcade. A diamond in the box, I had lost it one evening and when he had found it was beyond me. He had glued it to a mini peg and pegged it to the envelope. How cute. My name was written on the envelope. My hands would not spare a second and tore the end of the envelope.

Dear June,
              It’s me again, Dave. At some point, I’m afraid you will not show up but I know you will. By the time you get here, you will not see me around. I know I have lied and left you this letter. I’m sorry I just have to go, so soon that I don’t have the time in this world to tell you how much I love you. I wish the time could stay still but it always ticks away too fast. I’ll explain why I keep everything to myself. I’m sick June. I’m suffering from a thyroid cancer, this is only the beginning and my condition gets worse day by day. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I’m sorry. I do not want to see you sad. This is for the best. But my price for not telling you is that you won’t talk to me. I understand. I really wish that all of the days you’re not beside me were the days I could spend my last moment with you. It’s my fault. My fault to leave you when I once promised I would always be your guardian angel, your ally who would come knocking on your front door and say “I’m home!” and your best friend who would love you eternally. I’m sorry June and take good care of the diamond and be safe. I love you.

                                                                     Yours truly,

                                                                           Dave

 

                        That explained the pale face, hundreds of pills he had swallowed from the first to the last day I had followed him around and the reason why he had gone to England. He was dying and I was not there when he needed me most. I hate myself. I would not forgive myself for leaving him alone. I fell on my knees and even if my tears poured out blood, it would not bring him back. It would not turn back the time and gave me the chances to say, “I’m sorry”, “I love your jokes”, “I love your eyes”, “I hate it when you glance at other girls”, “I love you, Dave.”
                               

Written by, Jasstina Dee Anna Bt Jack (4A/2014)