Tonight, shortly before 9:30pm on my way to pick up the boy my phone rang. It was one of my oldest friends, Andi. The first thing she said to me was “I’m sorry to call so late” and it was with those words that I knew whatever she had to say wasn’t good.
And it wasn’t.
Last Sunday a high school friend of ours was riding her bike and was struck from behind by a car. She was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been married 8 months and 2 days.
The last time I saw Jess was at our 10 year high school reunion. The other two home office employees wouldn’t step foot back “there”, so I went alone. I was nervous, being alone, despite knowing most of my class–there weren’t that many of us. I saw Jess fairly quickly, and as always she was welcoming and friendly.
And boisterous, God that woman was always so….Loud
I can still remember, when they had all the women get on the dance floor that were no longer single, her yelling jokingly how they had sold out. She was always right there, in your face.
Even sadder still, we only found out by a fluke. One of our other high school classmates manages a hotel where most of the funeral guests are staying-one of them told her by happenstance. Now it’s a rush to try to let the rest of our class know, or at least try to. While Jess and I were never exceptionally close, it’s still breaks my heart to think that others wouldn’t know, that they wouldn’t be extending their thoughts and prayers at her funeral on Sat. So I will be making the trek home, to pay my respects. It’s the least I can do.
I won’t claim to have been her closest friend, and yet somehow this one hits home in a way that even surprises me.
And if there’s a small fire in heaven, started by…say…a candle centerpiece…then we will know for sure it was Jess
Rest in Peace
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