An unexpected twist of fate

This is real

The rest of the drive was pretty easy I was thinking more about marceys parents and how they were coping. Her mom loved her very much as did her dad however they had been divorced since she was about 12. Her dad and mom just didn’t love each other anymore and it was better for everyone that they split up, they were fighting a lot and made the home where they lived not very comfortable for marcey. They obviously had the chat about how it wasn’t her even though she knew that she was in some ways glad that they were getting divorced all her friends parents were doing it and they were saying how nice it was in the beginning because their parents were buying them gifts to show how much they loved them and almost making them love one parent more. As well as now she got two homes instead of just one. She was excited for that. However her parents didn’t act quite the same. Her mom made sure that Marcey stayed with her and yes she bought her a few things but not nearly as much as her friends got, and her dad hardly saw her. For her it felt like it was getting rid of her mom meant getting rid of her, he still tried to see her here and then but it was always her mom that she was with. I had only ever met him once when we where in grade 9, it was Christmas and he wanted her to go to him but I was staying with her so when we got there he was a little irritated that I was with her and I felt super uncomfortable to be there, as did marcey. We spent the day with him and his sister and her family but Marcey and I just kind of stuck together, he did try to speak to us but after the way he had reacted to me being there she didn’t seem very interested in communicating with him. We left straight after lunch and I’ve never seen him again. I guess that is going to change very soon. I got to my house which was a 2 minute drive from marceys mom. I walked inside and as usual the door was unlocked. 

“Mom, dad, I’m back.” I shouted through the house.

They both came running through to hug me, no words spoken only hugs. It was the first time since the call I felt my body somewhat relax. It was nice to share what was happening to me. We went to go sit in the lounge where my mom had made a pot of tea and some of her famous choc chip cookies, which were my favorite, and marceys too. they just stared at me for a while, until finally my mom asked,

“Honey, are you okay? How was your drive?”

I appreciate her trying to normalize what was happening, but my mind was still completely frazzled. 

“I don’t know, it was fine... I saw where it happened. It made me sick.” I told my parents just about everything, I hate when people lie to me so I try to make a point of not lying to anyone. 

“Honey, what happened exactly?” My dad asked very quietly. My mom nudged him kind of telling him to not be so blunt.

I giggled a little, I have no idea where it came from but the whole situation sounded absolutely ludicrous in my head that I didn’t know how to tell them without it sounding like I had made it up. A tree. A mother f*****g tree. I took a deep breath and calmed my thoughts, ‘this is actually happening Angelica, it’s not a story, it’s not a prank, this is real and you have no control.’ 

I told them in the most calm voice that I could what had happened and how some man had phoned me to tell me what had happened. They both just stared at me with sadness and defeat, probably the same look I had on my face when I got told. 

“I cannot believe it, our sweet marcey, gone, just like that.” My dad said to break the silence.

“I’m incredibly sorry honey, you must be absolutely distraught.” My mom said with remorse in her voice.

“I’m still trying to understand and grasp this whole thing. But I firstly need to go see Mrs Green and ask how she is doing.” I said looking down at my feet, I was playing with my thumbs trying to ease all this commotion going on inside me.

“Yes that’s a good idea, we will drive.”

“No thanks mom, I was thinking of walking, I need to clear my head a little before I see her.”

They both nodded as they understood what I meant, before I see Marceys mom I needed to sort of plan what I was going to say, as well as I couldn’t just melt as soon as I saw her I needed to be strong for her as right now the one person that she saw as her rock was gone forever. 

I put my bag in my room, changed into closed shoes and took a bunch of flowers my mom had picked from her garden. I said goodbye to my parents and that I would message them if I needed them to come fetch me. 

I walked out the house and in the direction of Marceys moms house. While I’m walking I’m thinking about how I need to stay strong, I can’t be a mess she needs to lean on me until all of this settles. I’m also thinking about what I will say when I see her, ‘she was so loved by everyone and her presence will be more than missed, this is a hard time for all of us but you especially and please if you need anything you must let me know, even if you need some company I don’t mine staying with you or coming over every day for tea. I wish I could have changed what happened today, I’d honestly rather it was me driving the car than her, but right now we must help each other recover from this traumatic experience, it will be extremely difficult and take some time but I am here for you and your family.’ While I’m talking to myself walking towards the house I few people I see in the corner of my eye watching me and whispering to each but I was far too deep in my head to concentrate on their remarks towards me. I’m finally at the house, a flood of memories rushes to my head and I feel my eyes start to tear. I clench my fists trying to control the pain, slowly the water dissipates back into my eyes. I walk up to the door step very slowly checking the driveway to see that she is actually home, which she is. I stand on the door step and remember all the times I’ve stood here and knocked on the door asking if Marcey is home to come play. I shake my head a little trying to remind myself of the promise I had made to be strong. I held my fist up to the door and knocked three times.