Eulogy

     "And now, Miss Hailey's closest friend, Jade DeVille, would like to say a few words..."

     I stood up shakily in a teary haze, trying not to trip over my long black skirt and formal shoes. As I slowly made my way towards the podium in front of the chapel where my best friend's funeral was taking place, I took deep, shuddering breaths trying to regain my composure. I felt light-headed from what felt like days of nothing but tears, choking, gasping, sobbing...

     Hailey had been my best friend since first grade. That made it almost a decade of friendship. We'd been like any other pair of best friends, sharing almost everything to the point where we had been virtually inseparable. Our families, as a result, had become closer too, and by middle school we pretty much were family. Hailey was one of those girls who everyone just naturally knew and liked, and she knew it too. I was not one of those people, and without her I basically would have ended up a social loner. She was such a large part of my life that from a certain point on I had begun to take her for granted. Then one day the phone call came; apparently Hailey and her entire family had been in a car accident. My parents and I had rushed to the hospital, and the rest of her family were not severely injured, but she passed away quietly the next day. I simply collapsed. I felt so lost without my best friend, and for once in my life I had no where to go, no one to talk to. I shut myself in my room and cried for days. Whenever I thought I could almost stand up again, something so insignificant would happen and bring back such intense memories that I would dissolve into tears once more. And so it went on until today, the memorial.

     Now I stood in front of a chapel full of people, including family, schoolmates, and others. Suddenly I had no idea what to say. I had planned out an entire eulogy the night before, when my tears had almost stopped for once, but now my mind was empty except for the one terrible haunting fact: the most important person in my life was gone, never to return. I fought the wrenching sobs as hard as a could, but a few escaped and echoed around the room. Some in the crowd made a few sympathetic noises; otherwise there was nothing but respectful silence. When I had calmed down a little, I looked up and took another deep breath. I then simply said the first things that came to my mind,

     "Hailey was my best friend, and I will never forget her. Neither will any of you who knew her, I believe, and that is what really matters. During her short fourteen years of life, Hailey has befriended so many of us and given us so many precious memories. I know that as long as we remember and love her, she will never truly be gone. Yea, I know everyone has heard that way too many times, and I know that no matter what it will never be the same. She will never be back here, with us, and there's no denying that I will miss her more than anything. However, sometimes life does this to us to teach us something. We now know that life is short, and you never know what might happen tomorrow. Never assume or take anything for granted, and live each day like it is your last. Treasure everything and everyone, because you never know how much longer it or they will be around. I think that I say this for Hailey as much as for me: instead of mourning for our loss today, let us take a moment and truly appreciate what we still have..."

The Happenings at Endicott Manor

       This is the 1st installment of a story I'm writing... more to come!


     I shivered in the cold December night air and huddled tighter under my thin jacket.  Strands of my long, caramel-colored hair escaped my ponytail and blew across my face as I walked down the sidewalk under the flickering street-lights. Somewhere, downtown probably, a clock began to chime. Once, twice, three times... I counted the bells: it was 11pm. I turned and headed home.

     As I neared the old mansion, I could see that the windows were dark. It appeared to be empty and abandoned, and it seemed sad, in a way. Lonely, even. I stealthily pushed open the ancient carved oak doors and slipped in, careful not to let them bang shut behind me. Any noise was heard coming from the "haunted" Endicott Manor would be sure to cause a commotion amongst the townspeople. Inside, it was surprisingly new and well-furnished. I ran up the spiral staircase and down the carpeted hall upstairs to the big double doors at the end, threw them open, and crash-landed on the comfy old fashioned four-poster bed within with a sigh of relief.

     One of the many doors leading out of my room opened, and a petite girl with long chestnut hair popped her head in.

     "Alex! you're back!" she stepped into my room. Her wide eyes were full of laughter and curiosity. I smiled.

     "Still up, Stella?"

     Before she could answer, the next door opened and a tall blonde girl came out rubbing her eyes.

     "Honestly! can't you let a girl get her beauty sleep!? Oh hey Alex. Back from another late night walk, huh?"

     " They help me think, Amber. You know I've had a lot on my mind..."

     " Oh my. Quite the troubled teen, aren't we?" The drawling, sarcastic voice came from the shadows beyond the 3rd door. I rolled my eyes.

     " Oh shut up, Kat!" I yelled as the owner of the sarcastic voice stepped out from behind the door. Amber stifled a girly giggle, and Stella's eyes danced with merriment. Kat smirked, and suddenly we were all laughing. It's generally that way, with my friends and me living alone in that "abandoned" house. We laugh at pretty much nothing, and yet at the same time, it seems like so much to the emptiness. I surveyed my friends: Stella, in her light blue pj's with the star pattern, with her straight bangs and sleek chestnut hair down to her waist. She was small for her age, standing probably no more than 5 feet. Her big green eyes were framed in long dark lashes, and they sparkled incessantly, always smiling, full of life and spirit.

     Then there was Amber. Tall, around 5'5" maybe, with the ends of her perfect blonde curls tumbling about her elbows. She wore a white lacy nightgown which looked surprisingly stylish draped on her model-like figure. Piercing dark blue eyes contrasted sharply with the fair skin and hair. Amber was the perfect princess stereotype, personality and all: girly, romantic, and all the rest.

     Katrina was, if anything, the complete opposite of Amber. Straight dark hair in a high ponytail and side bangs nearly covering one eye, dark eyes that had a hint of violet. Her face and features were sharp, and she always seemed to be either smirking or scowling. Despite the cold, all she was wearing was a black graphic tee with a gray swirl pattern and black shorts. Kat had a deep slightly raspy voice that went perfectly with her sarcastic attitude.

     Then there was... me. Alex. Caramel-colored waves loosely braided, with wispy side bangs always getting in the way. Brown eyes and still dressed in grey hoodie and black jeans. I can't exactly describe my own personality fairly, I guess, so I will leave that for you to determine.

     So there we were: 4 girls in an mansion that was evidently not as "haunted" or "abandoned" as it seemed. Why, you ask? Well, that is a long story...
    

Why Blue Roses?

     I have often been asked why I love blue roses, and if you are reading this I'm pretty sure you are too.

     Blue roses, sadly, do not occur in nature, but they are quite significant in literature. Generally they represent the impossible and unattainable, as in lost love. An alternative meaning is enchantment, mystery, and the inexplicable. Such allure!

     To me, blue roses also symbolize dreams: enchanting, mysterious, and out of reach. And so I have chosen as my talisman... the blue rose.