Later that afternoon after everyone had stuffed themselves with pizza, Ricky drove everyone home. He was the only one out of his friends who had his driver’s license and a car. Instead of going home, Jerome and Ricky decided to go on a short drive through the city. They had already passed Fisherman’s Wharf and were now headed toward the sleepier parts of the city.
“So what was up with you today?” Jerome asked his cousin, staring out the front window.
Ricky drove in silence for a moment before sighing.
“Was it Samantha again?” Jerome already knew the answer to his own question so he continued. “Look man, I know this is difficult for you to deal with but you can’t just sulk about it for the rest of your life.”
A little more than a year ago Ricky had been happy with his girlfriend Samantha. It was the first and only time Ricky was certain he was in love. The couple often spent hours together each day telling each other their innermost secrets and dreams. They’d even planned on applying at the same universities so that they could go to the same college once they graduated high school. They both knew they wouldn’t be able to deal with a long distance relationship.
Then, one fateful night when she had been driving home from a friend’s house she wrecked into a tree. She was fine after the impact but the back of her car had still been sitting in the road. An oncoming car that didn’t see her sent the driver’s side of her car plummeting through guardrail.
Ever since then, Ricky had a hard time dealing with her death. Even his friends were shocked at the sudden loss of a girl who was very close to their own age. With time, people at school began to get over the shock and went back to their normal activities. But Ricky was the one who hadn’t been the same. In the beginning he spent all of his time in his room, not even bothering to go to school or play with the band.
But week by week he began to heal. He returned to school and rejoined the band but he knew his life would never be the same again.
He became depressed and went in to counseling. He got a lot better but still held some depression that he just couldn’t seem to let go. He laughed at old jokes between friends and almost any person could see by looking at him that he seemed just fine. But the thing was that he was not fine.
They drove a few more blocks until they reached a small highway. When they drove a good distance they pulled off to the side of the road. Ricky put the car into park and took the key out of the ignition. “I know but am I supposed to completely forget about her?” He scratched his forehead with frustration. “Ever since I got the call that she was in the car accident I’ve been on pins and needles wondering what’s going to happen next.”
“Well not much is going to happen if you keep acting the way you do.”
“How would you feel if you had a girlfriend who died?” Ricky said defensively. He got out of the car and walked along the nearly deserted road.
Jerome hurried out of the car and walked after him. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to push you. It’s just that when I saw that bummed out look on your face in the pizza parlor I couldn’t help but get a little irritated.”
“It’s all right,” he said not looking at Jerome. He sighed. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
As they continued alongside the road Ricky noticed the guardrail where Samantha’s car had pummeled through had finally been repaired. It had taken the community a while but now the guardrail didn’t even look touched. Maybe it was time for him to move on too. If only he knew how…
“So what was up with you today?” Jerome asked his cousin, staring out the front window.
Ricky drove in silence for a moment before sighing.
“Was it Samantha again?” Jerome already knew the answer to his own question so he continued. “Look man, I know this is difficult for you to deal with but you can’t just sulk about it for the rest of your life.”
A little more than a year ago Ricky had been happy with his girlfriend Samantha. It was the first and only time Ricky was certain he was in love. The couple often spent hours together each day telling each other their innermost secrets and dreams. They’d even planned on applying at the same universities so that they could go to the same college once they graduated high school. They both knew they wouldn’t be able to deal with a long distance relationship.
Then, one fateful night when she had been driving home from a friend’s house she wrecked into a tree. She was fine after the impact but the back of her car had still been sitting in the road. An oncoming car that didn’t see her sent the driver’s side of her car plummeting through guardrail.
Ever since then, Ricky had a hard time dealing with her death. Even his friends were shocked at the sudden loss of a girl who was very close to their own age. With time, people at school began to get over the shock and went back to their normal activities. But Ricky was the one who hadn’t been the same. In the beginning he spent all of his time in his room, not even bothering to go to school or play with the band.
But week by week he began to heal. He returned to school and rejoined the band but he knew his life would never be the same again.
He became depressed and went in to counseling. He got a lot better but still held some depression that he just couldn’t seem to let go. He laughed at old jokes between friends and almost any person could see by looking at him that he seemed just fine. But the thing was that he was not fine.
They drove a few more blocks until they reached a small highway. When they drove a good distance they pulled off to the side of the road. Ricky put the car into park and took the key out of the ignition. “I know but am I supposed to completely forget about her?” He scratched his forehead with frustration. “Ever since I got the call that she was in the car accident I’ve been on pins and needles wondering what’s going to happen next.”
“Well not much is going to happen if you keep acting the way you do.”
“How would you feel if you had a girlfriend who died?” Ricky said defensively. He got out of the car and walked along the nearly deserted road.
Jerome hurried out of the car and walked after him. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to push you. It’s just that when I saw that bummed out look on your face in the pizza parlor I couldn’t help but get a little irritated.”
“It’s all right,” he said not looking at Jerome. He sighed. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
As they continued alongside the road Ricky noticed the guardrail where Samantha’s car had pummeled through had finally been repaired. It had taken the community a while but now the guardrail didn’t even look touched. Maybe it was time for him to move on too. If only he knew how…