My story is simple. It is a memory of a fateful day when my life came to an end, and the tragedy that overcame my love. He was so innocent and yet cursed to suffer. How could he have known, after going through that?
It was morning and the sky was full of gray clouds. I watched colorful leaves swirl in the wind as I walked along the cracked and broken sidewalk. As I make my way to my first class on this college campus I pass by various faces. They know me as Sandra. It was a windy day, but not cold, I loved the feeling of it. I remember how I had to cross a large park to get to my class. A skinny sidewalk led the way through, and there was grass, bushes and trees all around. Squirrels ran about collecting any food that was dropped by the students. Crows peered down on us from the large oak and maple trees. There were several large buildings that surrounded and seemed to encase this park. Each one served as a sanctuary for learning. The most intriguing sight I saw was the swarms of students that proceeded in orderly and mellow lines through the park’s sidewalks, all without the need of a dictator. I felt safe in this moment, and I had no cares as I arrived at the building, which held my first class. A young man held the door for me as I walked in. Everyone seemed so kindly that day.
My professor was a funny old man from what I remember. It is hard to remember the world when you leave it. Only pure memories like love remain untainted. The professor was teaching us about slavery in the 1800s. It is hard to fathom the evil that went on during that period of time. My classes went by in a blur. I was thinking all day about my love that I would see during our break. When the time came I was the first person to leave my classroom. The café was on the other side of the campus. I knew I would arrive way before him though, so I would sit peacefully and wait. I walked along several different sidewalks to get there; each one was different in appearance. I felt very free taking the last walk that I ever would down that paved road. It actually led to a parking lot but there was our meeting place, the café, on the other side. Hungry students were walking in it, and satisfied students were leaving. The woman at the cash register smiled when she saw me. I gave her my money and walked in. The booth we sat in was empty and available like always. It was perfect for two. The seats were padded, the table freshly cleaned and a beautiful red flower always sat as a decoration. He had told me before, no matter how perfect the flower was it could never match my beauty, he was so compassionate. I helped myself to a glass of water. It tasted very refreshing and cool. I remember that water very well because I had never tasted water with so much life to it. It breathed relaxation and freedom into me. I was not used to such a thing that it struck me with a wave of unspeakable feelings. That glass of water was the last great taste of life I had. It still feels like its coursing through my veins, making its way back to my heart. I feel its presence there in my heart as it is pumped out through my arteries to all the far reaches of my limbs. It was at that time that I knew I would be leaving this gorgeous world. I’d be dead to it forever. I only hoped that I could leave my love with something left to hold onto. I would try my best to. I looked up from my glass of water to see him walking towards me. He had arrived as expected.
