She couldn’t believe what she saw. He just laid there in the hospital bed as if there was no life left in him. A hot tear ran down her cheek as she thought about that night. She blamed herself for what happened to him. “Why?” she thought “Of all people, why him?” She was all alone in the room with him. She couldn’t bear to leave his side. She wanted to be there when he woke up. Everyone else was either asleep or in the waiting room. She wished that she never came here and then she didn’t. This was a very confusing time for her. “Why?” she said aloud, “Why?…………..”
About Three Years Prior
Gwen’s long blond hair blew back behind her as she stepped out of her parent’s green van. It was a sunny day and Gwen felt quite warm standing in the sun with jeans and her leather jacket on. She hadn’t gotten used to such warm weather in February. She looked around and saw that none of the neighbors were home. “Where is everyone?” Gwen thought.
“Well, Isn’t this place great?” said Ron. Ron was her dad. He was the reason Gwen and her family moved to Tulsa, OK in the first place. Gwen replied in sarcasm “Sure, it’s great dad!” He knew she wasn’t happy about the move but he tried to make the best of it.
Gwen walked into her new house and was in awe. It was huge! It had 4 bedrooms, a guestroom, 3 bathrooms, a family room, a fireplace, a pool, and a hottub. Gwen wandered up to her new room and sat down on the floor. She got her own room since she was the oldest. She suddenly got angry when she remembered how her older brother John got to stay back in Forreston, IL since it was his senior year in high school and he would be graduating in 3 months. John wasn’t her only sibling. She also had two 12-year-old twin brothers; Jordan and Zach, and a 9-year-old sister Madisin.
“I miss Don” Gwen thought to herself. Don was her boyfriend and was John’s best friend. She had to break up with him before she left, but Don insisted on seeing her off at the airport. He left her with a dozen white roses and a deep kiss. She remembered the pain she felt as she walked on to the plane. He promised her that he would visit her after he graduated. Gwen missed her other friends, too. Her best friends; Bridget, Amy, and Cassidy all said that they would write often and try to visit once they got their driver’s licenses. Being only 13, Gwen didn’t understand why they moved away. She tried to remember…
2 Weeks Prior
Gwen walked into the living room where her parents had just had a big conversation. “What’s up, guys?” Gwen asked. “Sit down, Gwen.” “Why?” “Just sit.” “Okay.” she said. Her father then explained that he got a promotion and that it forced him to move to Tulsa to take the job in 2 weeks. Gwen looked as if she had lost her best friend. But instead of moping around, she did as mush as she could with the girls, Don, and John before she had to leave. There was but only one minor thing that she looked forward to.
2 Weeks Later
“I can’t believe I live in the same town as Hanson!” Gwen thought to herself, forgetting all about her brother and her friends. She kind of beamed when she thought about it. It was the next morning and Gwen had already had her room set up and decorated. At about 9 a.m., her mother yelled “Harmony Gwendolyn, get down here for breakfast right now!” She hated it when her mom called her by her first name! After breakfast, Gwen headed out doors. She hadn’t seen many people but she planned to go out and explore. At this time it was about 10 a.m., so she snapped on her rollerblades and started down the block. When she passed the house next to hers, Gwen thought it looked exactly like the Hanson house but she quickly put it out of her mind. She then realized that it was Tuesday and most kids were in school. Gwen then laughed when she thought about she and her siblings being home schooled and how all those other suckers had to go to public school all day long! She went rollerblading for a couple of hours, until the High School got out. Her happiness then turned to sadness when she saw all the kids with their friends. She suddenly remembered Don and John and Cass and Bridget and Amy…
One Week Prior
Gwen was riding home with Don after her date with him. John had told Don that she was moving but they hadn’t talked about it all evening. When Don stopped in front of Gwen’s house, she turned to him and said “I’m sorry Don but I have to break up with you.” She could tell he was heartbroken, for they had dated for 5 months, but she knew that he would understand. He then leaned over and gave Gwen a long, deep kiss that she wished would never end. He said he would see her off to the airport as she stepped out of the car. They then said their good-byes and Don drove off. Gwen felt the tears well up in her eyes but she fought them back for she knew crying about it would do her no good since she couldn’t talk to anyone about it. She knew she would miss him dearly.
One Week Later
Gwen skated home as fast as she could. She didn’t care what was in her way. On her way home, she didn’t even notice that a van was sitting in the driveway of the neighbor’s house. Gwen stormed up to her room and plopped down on her bed. Although she was not sad, hot tears flew from her eyes in her anger. She was convinced now that this move was all meant to be bad for her. “I can’t believe this! I’m so angry I could just…” RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNGGGGGG! The phone ringing cut her off and she slowly walked to the phone and picked it up. “Hello?” “Hi, this is Jessica from next door. My parents have asked that you and your family come over for dinner tonight.” “Thank you and I’m sure they will accept.” “Okay, so we’ll see you tonight at six. Bye!” “Bye.” Out of her own pity and sorrow for herself, she did not think about what would happen tonight. But Gwen would go next door to dinner and not realize that she would return home later with a different view of everything and this would turn her life around forever.
Go to Chapter 2
I Will Remember You
