The day was filled with excitement. People all in the Christmas spirit and rushing to class. We were all in just utter happiness that Christmas was only eight days away,and we were going to be departing for Christmas vacation after today.

I was rushing down the halls to different classrooms to deliver everyone's present,making sure they got it before we all left. Finally,I had given every one their gifts,except for the people in my particular class. So I took up the last five bags and my English books,and headed to my room.

I walked in to see only a few people,three of which were some of my closest friends. Kala,Ashley,and Micaela. "Good morning ladies!"I said cheerily.

"Hi Shantelle! Ooo..whaddya get me this year?" Kala asked,with a knowing grin on her face as I handed her the neatly wrapped package. I gave the other two gifts to Ashley and Micaela and smiled as one was placed before me by Micaela. I opened it up to see something(which I will NOT specify what^_^)and I giggled and gave her a hug.

"Thanks Micaela....I'll look at it every night." I again grinned and looked around. "Where's Heather?"I asked. Almost as if on cue,Heather and her twin brother David entered the room. "Merry Christmas Heather!" I said as she set her books down on her desk,and a handful of gifts in her hand.

"Hello Shantelle! Its great to see you! Are you excited about Christmas break?"she replied,passing out the gifts to the three other girls I had mentioned earlier.

"Oh you bet! And I have a little something for you!" I said,holding up her present.

"And I've got a little something for you too!"she announced,her voice seaming to beam throughout the room. I handed her the package and she handed me a little card with a heart on its front. I opened it curiosly and it read:

I looked up at her with a brilliant smile as she smiled back humbly. "I know how much you like wisdom stuff,so I thought I'd give you that to put in your room or something so you can be reminded of its meaning every day." Again,I grinned and gave her a hug. Heather knew how much 'difficulty' I was having in a so-called 'love life',cause I was going pretty nutso for a while there about something (which I will NOT specify again!^_^). She was so precious to give me something so timeless like that. It was something that would last forever. But I remember when all was not so well between us.

It was fourth grade (95-96) and Heather had invited me to her birthday party,and something happened that I can't explain but it ended up having us separated,neither allowed to talk to the other. A year later,in fifth grade I just couldn't take it any more. I had to talk to her and have it be just like it was before all this mess came up. So,I had Micaela deliver a message to Heather on what I should do to get us back together. Heather replied that I needed to write a note of apology(don't ask) to her parents. I agreed and delivered the note. That nigiht it was Wednesday and I was roaming the halls before choir. As I turned the corner,I saw her. Her eyes sparkling not from just her tears but from the happiness that encircled us. I extended my arms to her and she ran up to me,throwing her arms around my shoulders. I held her so tightly as we cried tears of joy,never wanting the moment to end. Ever since that day,our friendship grew stronger than ever and we were not going to let anyone take it away again.

Finally,our teacher Mrs.Berkey stepped into the room a big smile on her face. It was clear the Christmas spirit was in her this day. "Goooood morning guys!"

"Morning Mrs.Berkey!"We all said in unison,with some giggles here and there. Instead of doing class instead she passed out some candy canes to us,and talked with us for a while about what we liked most about Christmas. Many of us said because it was Christ's birth...some said for the time with family,and all of us agreed on giving and receiving presents.

The ten o'clock bell rang through the halls as it was time to get ready for the Christmas concert. We all dashed out the door,some of us giving Mrs.Berkey hugs before we joined the ever increasing stampede for the gymnasium. I made my way to my recently taken up clarinet along with Kala as Micaela snatched her flute. We,the junior high band were the first to perform and I had the jitters. It was my first time to play my clarinet in front of a big audience. So we played,and I did remarkably well,with maybe a squeak here and there. Then we had a short break as the speech students arrived and well...did their speeches. Next,was the junior high choir.

I too was in the choir as well as band. Heather was standing next to me,both of us adorning our jingle bell necklaces. First we sang a rather happy Christmas tune. One that got the whole choir going as well as the audience. The next song was one that sounded kind of depressing,but it had such an impactful message. It was about a rose that bloomed in the middle of winter...but what does that have to do with Christmas? Heather and I were able to figure it out during practice. It meant that Christ came to earth even though we were sinful and dispicable,but still he came,just like that rose that came in winter.

While we were singing,I could hear Heather's voice. She literally sang like an angel. Her voice could be heard throughout,yet it blended perfectly with the choir. I admired her singing ability in so many ways, and she had told me that she learned how to sing from me,which I don't really believe,cause I can't even come close to her voice. So I continued to sing,Heather's voice still echoing through my mind.

I only wish I could've said goodbye like this...

At last,the concert was over and I made a dash towards my case to put my clarinet away. As I was beginning to take off the bell I heard a voice call my name. "Shantelle!"

"Heather! Hey...you did great during the concert!"I told her,putting my clarinet down gently.

"Thanks...umm,I just wanted to tell you goodbye. My family wants to leave so we can head out on our trip to Florida first thing."she told me.

"Ohh yeah...I almost forgot you guys were going."I replied. She extended her arms,her eyes almost smiling. I welcomed her embrace and held her tightly,letting the moment sink in that I wouldn't see her for a couple weeks. "Bye Heather...I hope you have a nice trip and a very merry Christmas!"

"You too Shantelle,I'll see you in a couple of weeks!" She then bounded away to her family and I hurriedly put my clarinet away and made my way over to my parents. Just before she exited the doors I caught her gaze and waved. She waved back with a beaming smile to match and hopped in her van to Florida. After a little bit of conversation with a few friends,my parents and I decided it was time to head home.

It was early and I got out of bed to head for the bathroom to brush my hair. When I was out on the walkway,I saw my mom and dad,almost standing in my way. "What is it?"I asked. "What's going on?"

"Something terrible has happened."my mom said,struggling to fight the tears.

"What? Is it Sacha?"I said,re-calling my older sister who had gone to Chicago to see a friend the previous night.

"No...do you know of anybody who went on a vacation or trip to Florida for Christmas?"she asked,her face turning redder by the second.

"No...the only one's I can think of are the Marley's."I replied,my voice eager to understand the situation.

"Well,late last night they were in a car accident and Heather...got killed."

Those last three words hit me like nothing ever before. I couldn't breathe,I couldn't think, I couldn't even cry. Instead,I just turned around and headed back to my room. I shut the door then just fell down on the floor,an eruption of tears escaping from my eyes. I had never lost someone so dear as Heather before. I cried and cried for hours upon hours. Never ceasing it seemed like. I wouldn't speak to hardly anyone for days I was so hurt by it all.

That night while I was in bed,I turned over on my right side,feeling the dampness of my pillow from my tears. Then,I saw a bright but warm light in the far corner of the room. Inside,I saw a face and smile I never imagined I would see in such brilliance. It was Heather,and she told me goodbye and then slowly faded away. I was dumbstruck and laid there all night staring at that corner.

In the couple weeks to pass,we were back at school all of us struggling to keep our heads together. A special chapel was convened,and we all knew what for. The principle again told the painful story of Heather's death. Many of us sniffling and hiding our faces from others. But not me,I couldn't even bear to cry,knowing I would cry for hours. Finally,it was over and as I was walking down the hall,I just burst into tears because I couldn't hold them in any longer. I couldn't seem to catch my breath long enough to say anything to anybody. My teacher excused from class for a few minutes,and apparently while I was away,she told every one what a difficult time I was having with this and that they should give me any type of emotional support,whether it be humorous or spiritual,just anything to make me feel better. So in the following days every one pitched in,bringing rare smiles to my face again. I was touched by their acts to me and couldn't help but be reminded of one person...

Heather was in many ways like a sister to me. She was always there when I needed her. A shoulder to cry on or a smile to share. She always could make someone smile no matter what they were feeling. I truly wished I could be more like her and cherished my time more with her,but we don't know when God will call us home. So I ask you this...take the time to say hi to your friends...talk to them cause you don't know when their last day is going to be. Cherish them because friends are forever.