Frozen in Time

A Story by Haley

A true story, written in first-person point of view, about the loss and grief of losing my best friend in a tragic accident, at age 15.

A best friend is the major key to surviving high school, the person to lean on while navigating the rough day to day life as a young adult. Without best friends, most teens would lost on their own to figure out real life. My best friend's name was, is, Lesley Dawn Bricker. Full of zest, charisma, and an all around vibrant human, she was the yin to my yang, absolutely completed me. The day we met was a fateful day during our pre-k years. I had the caterpillar book and she wanted it, but I hid it behind a bookshelf and got sent to timeout. Though, no hard feelings were held then. During elementary years, into junior high, it was "Haley and Lesley," we were the dynamic duo, out to cause trouble and have fun while doing it. Things began to get rocky beginning high school, she was more into the rough and tough crowd while I played sports and was a social butterfly. We started to argue, heated fights when reflecting back on it, we were not mad at each other but simply confused during a hectic part of life. On the day of July 25, 2017, Lesley Dawn messaged me to see if I wanted to go riding around, a common fun time in our small rural area. A few days prior an argument had occurred and I decided to decline, making some pathetic excuse up. Little did I know later this very day I would receive a phone call that would change my entire life.

Dread is an emotion that can be felt physically, deep in the pit of the stomach the hollow, emptiness of pure sadness and anger. As a seemingly normal day, a fellow classmate messaged me and asked, "Do you know if Lesley is okay?" With no clue as to what they meant, I did not answer this message. While I was gripped with anxiety more or less I decided to brush it off, thinking it must not be anything major. My mother was in the next room and her phone was ringing, and I instantly knew something was off kilter, not right. She spoke in a frantic tone, "Lesley Bricker??" She cried out into the phone, and ran to the couch. With tears in her eyes and her voice breaking her words that may never leave my memory, "Lesley is dead," Plain. Simple. Life-shattering words. However no tears were shed for me, not the first week, during her funeral or burial. Anger was brewing inside me, just below the surface. Hatred toward the world and myself, and also at my dear Lesley for leaving me. Lashing out for no reason became common, and my grieving process has been a rocky path of tears and yelling. Gone but never forgotten has never made more sense to me, I love you Lesley Dawn. May 16, 2001-July 25, 2017