The Death of a Friend by Alycia

The Death of a Friend by Alycia - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

I came home from work at 1 a.m., exhausted. It had been a long day and I couldn't wait to go to bed. My mom picked me up and a few minutes into a quiet drive she asked me if I had heard about a murder that took place in our neighborhood. I said I hadn't and that's when I saw all of the messages on my phone. My mom hugged me and held me when I stumbled out of the car, almost dry heaving from sobs. I hit my head over and over in the shower, trying to will myself to wake up.

I went to school the next day and everyone was abuzz about it. I cried in my first and second periods. My teachers’ offers of condolences were awkward and forced. My personality, so cynical and outgoing in class was reduced to a sniffling girl in the back, eyes bloodshot and nervous twitches. They were two of the best teachers I had ever had but they didn't know what to say. What do you say?

Lunchtime came around and I got a few texts from some close friends. They were in the band room, a part of the school I had never visited, but a big part of my dead friend's life. The music hall was quiet, an oddity by itself. The band teacher took one look at me from his desk. I'm sure I looked awful; I didn't sleep that night and wouldn't sleep for nights to come. My outfit was a mixture of comfortable clothing and my work outfit from the night before.

He shook my hand and offered me a jolly rancher. This teacher, who I had never conversed with until then, gave me what I needed. We talked about my friend and he explained that nothing could heal but time and friends. "You're going to want to isolate yourself," He explained, "But you can't. You just can't. We're here for you and I'm here for you, it'll be okay in the end. I'm so sorry."

I never went back to the band room but I think about it sometimes. Afterwards, I contacted close friends and we got together to eat pizzas and go over some photos with her. I miss her, I do, and I'm so glad that band teacher gave me the advice to help me through it.