CHAPTER 8
*3 months later*
Tour, to my surprise, was pretty awesome. I kept a day-to-date journal about everything that happened in hopes that when I returned, Rileigh would be able to read it. I wondered about how she was and how she was dealing with her condition. I didn’t believe that she’d pass away after the week I left. She was too strong for that. She was the most stubborn person I knew and there was no way she was letting death come over her. The bus stopped at my house after a few minutes. The rest of the guys had already been dropped off at their places and my house was the last stop. “Thanks for the ride,” I told the bus driver as I hopped off and watched him drive away. I was too excited to see Rileigh. It had been a long and hard journey without her and I was dying to know how she was feeling. Before I left, the doctor had told me that she’d been feeling better and I knew that that was only the beginning of it. Well, I wasn’t really certain but I had a feeling. I really great feeling that we’d be together for the rest of our lives.
I walked past my mailbox and noticed the little red flag was up which meant that I had mail. I simply switched hand and made the left carry my bag as I grabbed all the stuff from the mailbox. There were a bunch of letters from fans I met on the road, but there was one with a different envelope. It was one from the hospital that Rileigh was staying at. There was a big red heart in from of my name on it and I smiled as I ran a finger on it. I climbed the porch in a rush as I grabbed my house key from my back pocket. Once it was opened, I quickly ran inside and literally ran to the living room. I placed my bag on the floor and the other letters on the coffee table eager to read what was written in the envelope that Rileigh had sent me. I smiled as I opened the envelope. Tearing it up here and there, and flipped open the flaps of the paper she had written on. I just looked at the words on the paper and loved how her handwriting had grown through the years. I looked at the words on the paper and loved how her handwriting had grown through the years. I looked at the very top and saw that she had written this on the day I told her I was leaving for tour. I smiled as I remembered every detail of that day. I didn’t delay it any longer. I started to read it from the very top.
Dear Owen,
This would be even cornier if your name was John, just like that Amanda Seyfried movie with Channing Tatum. Remember how I asked you to watch it about a thousand times be you refused to because you knew you were going to be the only dude in the theater? We laughed for hours, but I guess it’s not time for fun and games because if you’re reading this letter, that must mean that I’m either in an extensive coma, or I’’m stuck six feet under the ground right next to my mother. You didn’t think I’d leave without saying goodbye for real, did you? But don’t you lose that charming smile of yours. The world needs to see the wonderful smile of yours. I know I would because I practically sigh in adoration inside as I watch your lips curve up the way they do when you show me that you’re happy.
Anyway, I need you to know that when I’m gone, life will go on and I want you to live it to the fullest with each and passing day. Do crazy things and stay true to yourself. Change only for the better Owen, but I don’t think you’d need to since you’re practically amazing just the way you are. (Sorry, I heard that song a week ago and I never really got around to forgetting the lyrics. HA-HA.) I want you to stay the same no matter what because being someone else might destroy you and everything you’ve worked so hard for in your life. Wait, I just read everything I wrote and I’m not sure I’m making any sense to you Owen? I hope I am because I want letter to be full of sense and meaning. I hope you don’t throw it in the trash after reading. Not that I’d now or whatever.
So as I’m writing this, I’m actually watching you sleep, and you know what? You have developed a very cute snore. I wish I could her it day in and day out but due to time constraint, I can’t. Can you believe I’m being really perky about this? I know it’s weird; it’s scaring the shit out of me too, but basically I have nothing to say to make things better. I mean when I imagine you reading this, I always see tears forming and the sides of the paper crumpling up as you get tenser. Are you on the verge of shedding this paper into shreds? I hope not. I mean, I want you to read through everything I’ve written down here because I worked my ass off just to write this to you. Just kidding. Owen, I want to remind you to listen to your heat more than your head. Your heart knows what’s real and right and that’s why you have to pay attention to what it say’s and who it knows, maybe it’ll set you free one day. It would probably have said you were meant for someone better than what I could’ve been and that you two would run away together happily, and maybe in time, make a beautiful family. I could already see little boys and girls running around your huge house just laughing and being crazy kids. I wish I could be there to see you have more firsts but unfortunately, time didn’t allow me. Maybe it’s saying that I’m a hinderance to you and that’s why it wanted me far, far away. I don’t know anymore, I’m confused as it is.
You know, my father always said that what I had with you-our friendship-was just a phase in my life that I should’ve forgotten. Should I have listened to her Owen? So I could relieve you of the pain that might be crawling up your skin right about now? But if I did end up forgetting about you, who would I have? I would’ve had no one left to care for me. You were always there for me Owen, and for that, I’m forever indebted to you. I want to thank you for all the memories that we’ve shared and for the times where you taught me to be who I am now. I want to thank you for staying with me through this very rough patch and for not being like the others who came once and left the next day. I want you to know that in some way, life will reward you. I don’t know how yet, but I’m sure you’ll find out soon. You will be in my heart forevermore, Owen Peyton, and hopefully you’ll get through this and face life as great challenge that you’ll always be willing to accept. Promise me that you’ll never throw your life away and that you’ll always live to chase and follow your dreams. Remember when I told you that the only dreams counted are the ones you had while you were awake? I mean that and I want you to always keep that in mind because I won’t be here to remind you. I wish you the best and always know that I love you.
Sincerely,
Rileigh
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