Time Heals All

        It’s the fourth of July on my first night in Florida. I’m having hot dogs and hamburgers at a firework show with my family. We’re so happy to be living here now. The air is so warm and moist from the humidity. That’s the best quality of Florida. We love its ever-changing weather from sunny to rainy. As the fireworks are starting, the best song comes on: Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue. All of us begin to dance. The music shakes my small body as I move around. Looking around, I see a girl dancing in the same way I am, assuming she’s my age. I walk towards her and begin the conversation that changes my life.

“Hey!” I yell over the blaring music and booming fireworks.

“What’s your name?” she responds in the same tone.

“Haleigh, what about you?”

“My name is Hayley too! Oh my gosh! Where do you go to school?” she exclaimed.

“I’m new here; I’m going to a place called Aucilla Christian Academy, but I don’t’ know anyone.”

“You’re kidding! Me too. We’re going to be best friends, I’ll show you everything!”

The excitement is in the air now as we dance and watch fireworks all night. We will be best friends, I know it. This year will be the best one, and I’m looking forward to spending the rest of my elementary and high school years with my new best friend, Hayley.

 

This day is the worst day of my life. I’m only eight, how do I take this kind of pain? When I arrive at school, the rain is beating down on me and I don’t even mind. Walking inside my classroom kills me. The tears from everyone’s eyes are pouring down like water and there’s no way to stop it. Pictures of Hayley are everything saying “In Loving Memory”, but I see disbelief in everyone’s eyes... Even my own. Hayley was too young to be taken away from the world. She was an almost perfect person with God in her heart and love on her mind. How could she be gone? I shake my head because the pain is almost unbearable. Now I have to hang my head and go through the rest of my life without her.

 

As if the day in third grade wasn’t terrible enough, here comes the pain again. Here comes goodbye. Another person in my life is gone. It has been three years since Hayley’s death and I’m not even over that. Life is moving too quickly for me, I can’t handle it. I’m too young to be going through this much pain.

My mother finally gets off the phone, but she doesn’t even have to say anything because I already know what is to come. I immediately run upstairs and jump on my bed face first. I weep. I weep for my grandfather, and for Hayley, two people in my life that meant everything to me. I can’t do anything else. I picture the rest of my life without them, and it’s a nightmare. How much pain can a person take and how can I ever move passed this?

Moving was one way of trying to move on. Crawfordsville, Arkansas is my new home now. Leaving was the right thing to do. The memories hurt too much to stay in Florida; maybe it will be easier here. It’s away from all the pain I have to deal with. It’s away from the constant reminders of my loved ones. It’s away from all the memories that sting in my mind. Wouldn’t they want me to move on? Life is just as confusing now, being sixteen, as it was when I was eight.

 I think these things as I walk in the fresh new house. Everything is new. Everything. My room has a new bed with a comforter, new paint, and new dressers. There is almost nothing left of all my heartache except one picture of my grandpa, Hayley, and me, but I put it in a drawer and plan to never bring it out. I need to live my life now. There can’t be any more depression and anger. I have to move on.

 

               I walk inside my apartment and smile as I look out onto the beach. I put down my diploma and cap and take a look around. I think to myself how much more amazing my life is here. I remember the mild and moist air, along with the ever-changing weather as the sun begins to come out for the first time today. I remember how I loved this and realize that I still do. It brings back so many wonderful memories. My heart smiles as I remember playing on the beach with my grandpa and Hayley. They are looking down on me and are proud of what I’ve become. My heart and mind are at ease from this thought. Still walking, I hang up a picture in the hallway; it’s my favorite one of my grandpa, Hayley, and me.            When I do this, I know my heart is where it belongs. Florida and I are reunited in a whole new way, a better way. A way in which I can embrace my lost loved ones as they always were, happy.