Trumpet Blows

In memory of a dear friend. All names have been changed.

I quickly scanned the flyer and felt tears well in my eyes. Come support Alec Hilliard, the colorful piece of paper read. A band concert was being held in the school’s auditorium for him, and the students were getting out of class for the affair. People shouldn’t have to be bribed to come support him! They should just do it of their own free will! Angrily, I ripped the flyer away from the wall and tore it to shreds. It was all too much for me to bear. “What’s wrong?” my best friend, Cory, asked of me. I roughly shook my head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” This, however, was not true. It was a downright lie, actually. I didn’t want to admit I was feeling sad because no one knew how involved I had become with Alec. He had become one of my closet friends, and I truly believed I was in love with him. I didn’t want him to be on display because it didn’t seem right. He was sick, and I knew he appeared so. He should have been in the hospital, and I wouldn’t feel right with him being anywhere else. “Karly, hello,” Cory muttered as she waved her hands in front of my face. I snapped out of it and looked up at her. A forced smile sat on my face, but she seemed to be pleased. Of course Cory knew there was something bothering me, but she was in a hurry, so she would not pester me about it. Instead, she grabbed my wrist and gave it a tug. “Let’s go to the gym.” Our school’s gymnasium had two other purposes; it served as the cafeteria as well as the auditorium. I followed her and became a member of the throng gathered outside of the double doors. We were pushed inside, and I tried my best to stay safe from the mob of people. I stood on my tiptoes and peered about, hoping to catch a glimpse of Alec, but of course I didn’t see him. "Get moving,” someone hissed behind me. Cory pulled on my arm again and led me towards the stage. “Don’t let them get to you,” she told me. “I’ll see you later. Cheer for me?” I nodded as Cory ascended the few steps that led to the stage. I, on the other hand, found myself a seat on one of the long pink benches. “Excited?” a perky voice asked. I looked to my left and scooted over to make room for Ashlie. Ashlie and I were hardly friends, but she would have to do. My two very best friends played in the band, and seeing as this was a musical performance, they were needed on stage. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Ashlie. She was nice enough, but she was quite annoying. She always followed me around, and since I was a slightly shallow child, I didn’t like it. Ashlie was nerdy and rather pudgy, and if I hung out with her, I would become a dork by association. I didn’t want this because I was satisfied with my current reputation. I had worked hard for it! I did not answer her because my focus was on the stage. I saw Alec sitting on the edge of the stage, and although he looked out of place, he was being welcomed like he had never left. A swarm of people surrounded him, shaking his hand. They were giving him their germs, and I wanted to scream at them. He was sick enough as it was! However, I held back the urge and continued to stare. Those terrible people were greeting Alec as if they cared, but I knew they didn’t. They just wanted to seem nice. If they had truly cared, they would have visited him while he was in the hospital. No one had gone to see him. His only visitors apart from his family had been Alec's best friend and I. Those other kids…they were all wretched people. They didn’t even know Alec like I did! I was his very best friend, the first person he had called when he got sick. I had been there when he had fallen. I had been there when he needed a hand to hold. Those other people meant nothing to me or to him. They hadn’t been there for him, and they never would be. I tried to swallow back my hatred towards them. The crowd dispersed, and Alec was helped into a seat at the right side of the stage. He was almost concealed by the curtains, and I hated this. Why were they trying to keep him hidden? Was it because of the way he looked? It wasn’t his fault he did not appear well. He was terribly sick! They needed to give him a break. Why couldn’t he sit down with everyone else? Why was he being secluded like this? The band played a few pieces, but I did not listen. I couldn’t even recall what they were, and I had listened to my band friends when they had practiced! “Hey, that was pretty good,” Ashlie said to me as she clapped furiously. “Don’t you think?” “Yeah.” I didn’t even look at her. I was still looking at the stage. “Hey, are you okay?” she asked me. I nodded, and Ashlie accepted my response. I was suddenly glad that we were not very close. Otherwise, she would have known something was wrong. She would have pressed me for an explanation, and I didn’t feel like giving one. I didn’t even know if I could. “And now for a trumpet solo from our very own Alec Hilliard!” the principal said. I looked up, and she was standing at the edge of the stage with a microphone in her hand. I watched as he stood up and walked slowly towards the center of the stage. Another student followed him with a golden trumpet. Alec took it from him, and I was sure he had muttered a thank you. He was polite like that. He placed his lips against the brass and began to play. The trumpet was not his, and I knew this for a fact. When he had shown interest in music, the school had kindly provided him with the trumpet. Alec's family had been unable to afford the instrument, and they still were. The school did not want to deprive a student from joining the band, especially since he had shown such a keen interest, so they had given it to him on loan. He had only been playing the trumpet for a couple of years, but he was amazing! This time, I paid close attention to the music. I kept my focus on Alec and the beautiful sound he was making. I did not know how he had the strength to make that sweet music. Even I, a healthy child, wouldn’t be able to do that! All that breath support! How did he manage it? His skin was pale, and he was horribly thin. He was totally bald, and although I could not see his face close enough, I was aware of the fact that his eyebrows and eyelashes were gone as well. Chemotherapy would do that to you. My heart ached for him. How embarrassed he must have been! How the people must have stared! When he hit the final note and took the trumpet away from his lips, I saw a glowing smile on his face. He seemed so happy, and he appeared almost healthy. The clapping started, and it didn’t seem sympathetic. The people actually seemed to have enjoyed it! Ashlie nudged me in the side, and I began to clap as well. I felt tears forming in my eyes, and I stood up. People followed suit, and I realized that I was not the only person crying. Many others had tears in their eyes as well; students, teachers, everyone! Suddenly, it dawned on me. The other students weren’t the monsters; I was! I had been the one to judge. This whole time, I had believed they were poking fun at Alec, but I had been the one in the wrong. I had doubted every single one of them, but they were good people. They actually cared. Like me, they loved him. I couldn’t stop smiling. I had been so angry, but now I was filled with joy. I kept my face turned towards Alec, and his green eyes found my brown ones. He beamed at me and gave a small wave. Others waved back, but I knew it had been meant for me. There was this strong connection between us. It didn’t matter if he was sick anymore. He was still the same boy I had grown so fond of, and we would be there for each other until the end. If Alec were to leave me sooner than desired, I would have to go on for the both of us. It was only fair. At the age of thirteen, he didn’t want to go, so I would have to live for him. I made myself as tall as I could and clapped all the harder. I wasn’t alone in my feelings, and this bit of knowledge suddenly dawned on me. Alec was in love. I don’t know how I knew, but I did. His heart was meant for only me, and this was a love stronger than anything in the world.

Author's Note

Critiques requested.