Becca and I met in the first grade detention room. I didn’t realize how quickly time flew by. I liked speaking to her. From that time, whenever I saw her in the corridors she always smiled and I waved to her. When we entered sixth grade, everyone’s priorities changed...from having challenges b/w girls and guys...they got onto dating. I wasn’t particularly interested in any girl. But the first dance was homecoming and I didn’t have a date. Becca had become one of my closest friends.

At the Friday morning game Becca appeared at my locker, where I furiously pretended to be looking for my biology book. "I didn’t know u weren’t going to the dance”, she accused me.
I shrugged
"C’mon...Why won’t u go?" she pleaded
Still silence from my end
"Is this because you don’t have a date?"
I stopped furrowing n said "maybe"
She sighed in frustration and turned away.
I sighed in relief.
Second confrontation came at the game...
"even I don’t have a date"...she announced
"Becca u told me u had a date"
"would u leave me alone already?"
I looked up to her. She had the wounded puppy look in her eyes. I hated that look
"call me tom ok" I said n walked away
As I turned back...I saw her bright smile n she was doing a happy dance sequence. For once something stirred and I grinned to myself next day. I got THE CALL
"so what did u decide?" she said trying to sound as if she really didn’t care
"I guess...."I started saying the I-wont-be-able-to make- it-to-dance speech I had been rehearsing all day
"thank u...thank u...u wont believe how happy I am, we'll go at seven ok?"
I didn’t want to admit it but her charm was catching up on me and I spent a full hour deciding what to wear
"maybe the night wont be so bad"...I thought to myself
I'll say I had the time of my life. Becca threw her arms around my shoulders
"Thanks for coming" "Thanks for talking me into it”.
I smiled back I must say she did look rather stunning in her turquoise outfit matching the color of her eyes. I could go on looking into them. But self control got better of me as I looked away
"shall we head home?" she asked
"yeah, let's go babe"
We got into my car listening to some soothing music. She looked prettier by the night and all the time I had spent with her since first grade flashed into my mind
"this is weird” she commented
Indeed it was weird to have a hailstorm in October, I thought to myself while switching on windshield wipers. I cast a nervous glance at her
"Are we almost home?" she asked with a twinge of anxiety in her voice
"Yeah...a few more miles"
Squinting out of the front window, I watched the tree limbs laying in the bed of the truck in front of us swinging in the wind
"I don’t think I like being behind this truck" I said nervously
"I m going to get in the other lane"
Just as I turned my blinker on...Becca gasped and screamed in terror "Matt"
The next few seconds lasted for ever, yet they went faster than my mind could process what was happening. The huge truck spun out of control laning on its side. Tree limbs, leaves and everything imaginable came flying towards the car in a tangled mess.
With a sickening crash, we came to rest on the side of the road. I pried my eyes open. Broken branches n twig lay on my lap. The speed and force with which twigs hit us was evident by the etched pattern on my face, arms and other exposed skin. I fought to get out of the car and reached Becca's side and opened the door.
Small twigs n branches were packed and I could hardly see her. In a mix of fear n frenzy I broke them away till I finally uncovered her
"Becca"
"Hmm....are you allrite Matt?"
"Yeah...I m fine. I think...u look awful. Are you okay?"
I think at this point my heart started beating faster
"Yeah I m fine too, glad u r okay"
I was hoping someone would drive by but in this weather it was highly unlikely. Becca turned her head towards me. I strained to look at her face
"I m really glad u came to the dance with me"
"I m glad too"
Her smile slowly turned into a grimace and I followed her gaze. Suddenly I thought I would get sick. A large tree limb protruded from her chest; Right where the heart is supposed to be. Her entire left side was covered in blood and more was added to it with each pulse of her heart
"You’ll be ok"
I told her, taking her hand and holding onto it for dear life
My heart was smashed into a pulp as I watched her. With every breath I took, I could feel tiny razor-sharp daggers stabbing every inch of my body. She smiled again at me...my heart skipped a beat.
"U r so sweet...thanks"
My face was wet and I wasn’t sure it was blood, tears or rain. It was probably all three. Soon her hand grew cold and blood that pulsed from her chest became less with every beat
"Hey Becca"
"Hmmm..."
"Girl...I love u so much. Dont let them keep us apart ok"
"I love u too"
"Hey promise you would always stay with me"
She smiled in a sweet way...closed her eyes...nodded her head and the grip on my hand loosened. In a panicked choke I shook her...
"stay awake girl"
Running out of my voice I stared at the blood covered body of the person I really liked since my first grade. It all ended before starting. I laid my head on her lap n cried till I had no energy left in my body. I fell on the cold ground n grasped her hand again. The cold hail pounded my back. I was all alone.

After two weeks I came back to college. The grief blasted me on my face. I dragged myself to my locker. New card was pinned to it and the handwriting just too familiar. And yet it just couldn’t be. Using every bit of self control I had left I took out the card. A well known scent it carried actually knocked me over. Sitting on the floor, new tears came running down my cheeks. There was nothing left to do. I had to open it. Opening the card I could barely read the lines through my blurred vision

Matt,
I know u really didn’t want to come to the dance tonight
But I m glad u agreed
I really love u
I hope I didn’t drive u mad getting u to agree to coming to the dance
Just wanted to be with you
Don’t know your answer
Hoping to find out soon
Love ya
Becca

I let my eyes wander to exactly the picture I didn’t want to see of me n Becca. It was taken 2 yrs back at a summer camp. How would I stay without her? I closed my eyes. Her face flashed, her beautiful smile, twinkling eyes. I jerked my eyes open to reality. I wasn’t alone. She was in every smile I gave away. The spirit of that girl...lived within me