Fall

not really sure where this came from

It was the worst kind of rain. Not just plain old raining, not pouring, not down pouring, but drizzling. The kind of rain that's just enough to make you feel damp, and you only feel a few tiny drops, but the air is so thick with it, you feel wet anyway. Your clothes cling to you slightly and everything is grey. It's that kind of rain that brings back so many memories for me.

It had poured the night before, but now it was only drizzling, and I was waiting for my school bus at the bus stop. A new boy had moved in to the neighborhood, so the bus stop wasn't as lonely as usual. Though we didn't talk, it was just nice to have another person's presence. Then the bus drove straight through a puddle while passing us, splattering dirty water and mud all over us.

“Aw, c'mon! It's picture day!” I groan, getting the muck out of my eyes.

“But think of how great a story it'll be to tell to people when they ask, 'Hey, why is your hair muddy in your junior picture?'” He says, laughing, while wiping his splattered hands on his jeans.

“How in the world are you so optimistic?” I ask, wiping under my eyes and huffing when I see smudged eyeliner and mascara.

“I don't know, I just like laughing. And I guess if something bad happens, someone will laugh about it later, and that makes it okay.”

From that day on, that was my motto. When something bad happened, I just remembered that later, maybe not me, but someone would laugh, and it'd be okay.

But that day, me and the boy, Chase, walked to school together, and we found out we had the exact same schedule for the trimester. We became friends pretty quickly, and I denied it to my friends constantly, but I wanted more. One of my friends must have told him, because one day a while later, it was drizzling again, and he didn't say hi when I sat down at the bench.

After two uncomfortable minutes, I open my mouth to say something at the same that he cups my face in his hands and kisses me.

Then, he was getting on the plane. It was drizzling again. We had just graduated last week, and he was joining the army. I was sad to see him go, but this wasn't something I could laugh about. He's leaving. Of course neither of us could feel the rain, but in my mind I could, and I imagined the day we met as he boarded the plane.

Then, a few weeks later, it was drizzling again, and the phone rang. I answered it, an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Hey babe, it's me.” Chase said.

“Chase!” I yelled happily, before remembering the news I have to tell him.

“How've you been?” He asked.

“That's what I want to tell you... I'm pregnant.”

“You're pregnant?!” He asks, incredulous.

“I'm not sure what to do, I'm only eighteen... but I have a solid job at my dad's furniture store and... I don't know... Should I get an abo-”

“No! No! Keep it, I've always wanted to have a family with you.”

I smiled into the phone, “I love you.”

“I love you too. Now I have to go, I only had a few minutes. I'll see you soon!”

He lied.

Now it's drizzling again and I get another phone call ten months after the first one, I'm feeding Brianne, and I answer the phone. I sit down as the man on the other line starts to talk, so I won't drop her. My heart pounds, my hearing fades, I get tunnel vision, and only one phrase resounds in my thoughts: Chase Fredrickson passed away, he was shot in the chest.

Passed away.

What does that mean exactly? Passed away, it sounds like it should mean they went on a journey. It's much too nice of a way to say it.

“He's dead.” I say into the phone, interrupting the man on his speech about honor and Chase's love for his country.

“Yes.”

“It wasn't a question, I was correcting you on your term for it.” I say. “Thank you.” I hang up. I put Brianne in her crib and sit down on my bed, staring at nothing. And before I know it, I'm collapsed in sobs, animalistic sounds ripping their way out of my body, just adding to the pain.

I have left Brianne on my mother's doorstep with a note.

It's drizzling as I stand on the edge of the bridge.

“I'm sorry Chase. Something bad happened, but I just can't laugh about it. I need to be with you, Brianne will be better off with Mom anyway, I'm too young. I just- I just love you so much and I can't- I can't stay in this world while you're not!” I cry. I spread my arms out, and all the memories rush back to me as I tip forward and fall.

Author's Note

reviews please!

Reviews

[Odayin]

Noice idea, and a great storyline. It seemed kinda rushed...but I kinda liked it because life is always quite rushed in retrospect. It was so imple, and that's what makes it mean so many different things to so many different people. Personally, I have mixed feelings, but I have mixed feelings about everything lately

[Coyote Poetry]

A very sad story. Started off a love story and ended with a lot of sadness. No weakness in the story. Good storyline and strong ending. Thank you for sharing the excellent story.
Coyote

[Taylor Ann]

I'm looking at my arms right now, and I have goose bumps on them.
When I started reading this piece I was smiling at his optimism. I was thinking, 'You know, this might actually be a happy story written by Sophie.' I was totally wrong. When I read the last sentence goose bumps skittered down my arms and legs. With so little action you could tell how strong their love was. It was so beautiful in such a meloncholy way.
Wonderful write, yet sad. You are very talented! And even though my eyes were glassed with tears, I loved it!

[Sophie]

Sorry about my inability to write happy short stories :P

[Taylor Ann]

As long as they're good stories, which are always true for you, that's alright with me ;)