Gone From Memory, Gone For Good.

A Story by Jess Holden

I released a steady breath out, trying to hold in my nerves. My hands were shaking, and my heart was pounding loudly in my ears as I sat quietly in the hard chair of the office. I removed my glasses, gently wiping them off with the edge of my shirt, trying to remain calm.

The day would have been completely normal if it wasn't for this call. I was always nervous around authority figures, even thought I was the innocent kid. I never broke the rules, and never disobeyed anyone in my life.

Now here I was, in the office of my high school, trying not to have a panic attack.

So far, so good.

The principal's office was a failed attempt at comfort, with pictures of his children posted all around the room, smiled plastered across their faces. They were beautiful children; the boy looking like he was at least 16, his plae skin complementing his dark brown eyes and crystal white teeth. The daughter was the same, being about 6 with her hair in pig tails, the same beautiful brown eyes.

I herd a click, and turned to see my two worst enemies walk in, Kiarra and Liora, followed by the principal himself. My enemies were people I use to trust, they were the friends that grew to hate me. I shrugged it off when it happened, not really caring what they thought of me; I was me, and they changed and stopped seeing that. Their loss.

Our eyes caught, and they gave a mocking smile, followed by small laughes and giggles. I looked away, ignoring their attempts at bullying me silently in front of the principal. Once they were all seated, the principal behind his big wooden desk, and Kiarra and Liora on both sides of me, he began.

"I understand that you three don't know why you are here," he said, pausing to take in a deep breath and releasing it, "but you need to keep this quiet. By quiet, I mean between the three of you, okay?" He asked, raising his greatly wrinkled forehead in wonder. I herd Kiarra and Liora start to giggle as I shook my head, trying to ignore the greatly ignoarant twins sitting beside me.

The principal looked from my face to Kiarra's and Liora's and back, before continuing.

"I know you three use to be close, and I realize that you aren't anymore. You aren't here because of that, but you three share something. Something that, I regret to inform you, is now gone."

He paused, removing his thick glasses from his face, rubbing his eyes and sighing. I felt confused, trying to think of what me, Kiarra and Liora all shared that was now gone besides our friendship.

"Sir," I began, watching him open his eyes to look at me, "I don't understand. Can you elabourate please?" I asked, wiping my black hair off my glasses which were slighly fogged. Was I crying? I didn't think I was; my face wasn't wet, and my breathing was normal.

"I'm getting to that." He said, his voice filled with irritation, yet sorrow and regret.

"You three are familiar with Derek Williams, am I correct?" he asked, trying to keep eye contact with me, but his eyes kept shifting from me to his desk and back.

I suddenly felt a shock rock through my body, as the atmosphere became dark and cold. It was as if the world froze solid, and we were in the dead cold center of it all.

"Wait, what are you saying?" I herd Kiarra's voice perk up, looking over at her and noticing the tears in her eyes.

Why was she crying? He hadn't even told us anything yet, and she was upset. I held my breath and hoped that Kiarra was just over thinking things, and that nothing was wrong. "I'm just going to come out and say it then; I'm sorry to tell you this but, Derek died this past weekend. He ended his own life, and left behind a note containing only three names: yours." I felt my heart shatter as his sentance ended, seeming to lose touch with reality as he spoke.

The last thing I herd was Liora and Kiarra begining to sob rather loudly, before I shut down and passed out. It was as unexpected as the news of Derek's death, but this one was more calming.

The moment my eyes were closed, I saw Derek.

His eyes were a calm green, and his skin was clear and perfect. Everything about his was what I remembered. But something felt different; his skin was cold to the touch, and he had big purple circles under his eyes.

What the hell happened to you? I thought, holding his face gently in my hands, fighting back the tears.

I died, he said, without his mouth moving. But why would our mouth's move? I knew this was a dream, even if I knew he wasn't dead.

Why? Why did you have to do it? You left me... I thought, closing my eyes and holding him close to me. His heart was still, and as I stood there holding him, I missed him.

Too much for words, just too much. He began to fade, his grip growing weaker and weaker.

No, please stay, I begged hoping he would. Please, come back.

I can't baby, but please remember that I love you. Don't forget me. Please.

And I never would.

I would keep my promise until the day I was to die. I would remember his laugh, his smile, his humour, his love... I would never forget my friend, Derek Williams.