Ahh high school. The never endless homework, tests, and drama. Remember? They say high school is going to be the best part of your life. Is it? Here's the answer: NO. As a 2020 graduate, I present to you, my first year of high school based off of a true story. In it has drama I never faced, things I never knew, and things I never thought I was capable of.
If I wasn't worry about my friend, M, I was worrying about Carrie. Carrie moved to a different school in Mineral Wells. I remember the countless phone calls we had, here is one I remember.
I closed my algebra book and jumped off my bed. I heard my phone ring, I picked it up and accepted the call.
"Hi Carrie, how are you?"
She was silent for a second.
"I'm tired." She said. "I'm failing some classes, no all of them. I stay awake during the day, and I sleep through my classes."
"I'm sorry to hear that." I said.
I tried to find a silver lining.
"How is cross country?"
There was a pause, she took a deep breath.
"I had practice today... at six in the morning."
"Was it good?"
"I saw some cars." She said softly. "and all I could think about was how much I wanted to jump in front of one."
I felt my heart stop.
"Carrie..." I said trying to keep my voice calm. "Does anyone know that? Your parents? Sisters?"
"They don't care." She said her voice breaking.
"Come on," I said gently. "You know that's a lie. Your family loves you, your friends love you, including me; and God loves you too."
"If God loves me why would he do this to me?"
I didn't know the answer to that, I sat on the phone in my quiet room thinking of an answer.
"Carrie," I said gently. "just think. In the near future, this will be a moving part of your testimony. I know you know God loves you."
"But I don't understand." She said sobbing.
"Carrie," I said gently. "I know I can never understand what you're going through but please promise me you will tell your family this?"
"But..."
"Carrie." I said a little sharp. "They deserve to know what's happening. They are FAMILY."
"Okay." She said "I'll tell them."
There was a small pause.
"How is writing?"
"Well... I had this notebook." She said. "But this jerk ripped it out of my hands, dunked it in water and threw it in the trash."
My jaw dropped.
"What?" I asked. "How much was written?"
"More than half."
I leaned back burning in anger, who just takes someone's property and destroys it?
"What's her name?"
"I don't know."
I sat down in my bed, my hands in fists, I wish I knew. I wish I knew her name so I could beat her across the room and throw her in the trash can that she tossed Carrie's notebook in.
"It's probably best you don't know." Carrie said.
"What? Why? Some brat destroys your notebook and I can't throw her to the ground?"
She chuckled. "I need to go. Dinner's ready."
"Okay, but promise me you will tell your parents, it will help."
"Okay."
"No." I said sternly. "PROMISE me."
There was another pause.
"I promise."
"It doesn't have to be today Carrie." I said gently. "I'll be praying for you."
"Bye Abs."
"Bye."
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER:
I opened my school issued homework in the crowded classroom.
"Excuse me."
I looked up.
"Yes?"
"Did you finish your work?" my spanish teacher asked.
"Yes, of course."
She walked away and sat in her desk. I rolled my eyes when she wasn't looking and directed myself to my google drive. I clicked on the document titled: Conversations :D.
"How is school?" I messaged.
Within seconds, I saw Carrie respond using her old school email.
"The same."
"I wish I was there for you." I messaged. "But like I keep saying God is there for you."
"WHERE IS HE THEN? WHY DID I MOVE HERE?"
I sat a minute, reading the message over and over. I quickly found myself typing.
"I don't know why you're in this situation, I don't know why bad things happen to good people. But I know you're strong enough to pull through because he put you in this situation for a reason. Carrie, God is with when you don't know it, he sees you dream, and has angels watching over you. Carrie, when you are at your lowest moment, fall on your knees and pray. He'll pull through. He might not give you what you want, he might not let you move back here. But I'm sure it's for a reason."
The class bell rang, I quickly closed my chrome book, hoping what I said helped.
THE NEXT DAY:
I quickly finished my work in spanish and opened my chrome book to see if she read it.
"Abs, I read what you said yesterday. I want to say, thank you. I told my family what is going on, I'm getting therapy. You were right Abs thank you, can we talk after school?"
I smiled and messaged. "Of course! :)"
