• A light, perfumey aroma floated on a sudden gust of wind. Petals drift in the breeze, tenderly caressing the air. The stately poinciana trees stood in rings around the grassy space in the meadow where we laid. A midsummer afternoon’s sun hid timidly behind one of the largest trees. Another shower of petals rained down on our heads, as our laughter echoed through a thousand boughs of blood red. Your hair perfectly matched the flowers, flowing like a waterfall around your daisy print dress. I always envied you for your beauty, how your scarlet eyes harmonized with your fiery hair, which framed a fair skinned face blemished only by the freckles that sat above your straight nose. You were my best friend, with your wiry frame and a voice so small nobody would believe how boldly outspoken you were. You were my only friend.
    I lie awake in the middle of the night, sweating feverishly in an air-conditioned room during the middle of winter.
    “You left so early,” I whisper to no one.
    Rolling over, I glance at the pictures of us. There’s the one we took at the beach in Honolulu, next to it the one with you pushing me on the swings in Norfolk Memorial Park with a full view of the adjacent cemetery. My eyes rest on our favorite photo, the one where we’re sitting under the giant poinciana tree in our meadow. That was taken on our last day together. It’s in front of the music box you gave me that morning, along with your crystal figurine collection. I close my eyes and remember for the millionth time what happened so many summers ago.

    -----

    I leaped out of bed with an ecstatic yawn. Today was going to be the best day ever. After combing my dark chestnut hair until every strand is in place, I threw on my sunflower print dress, filled with excitement. My brother waited by the front door, smiling.


    “Are you going out with Ania today, Millicent?” my mirror image asked.
    “Yes, Lewis.”
    “Come home early, okay?”
    I batted my violet eyes endearingly. He rolled his matching pair at me.
    “I’ll be home before dark, okay?”
    “Okay.”
    I gave him a hug and ran out the door. Lewis has always been protective of me since our parents died in a car accident five years ago, especially since he’s ten years older than me, twenty four back then, he believes he has to take care of me all the time. Ania’s house is just down the street, so it didn’t take long to get there. She was sitting on the porch steps wearing her daisy print dress like mine, holding a small box in her hand. She skipped down to meet me. Even though she’s about three inches taller than me, we’re the same age.
    “Happy Birthday, Millie.” She held out the box.
    “Annie, you know it’s not my birthday. And isn’t this your music box?”
    “Mmhmm. I know you like it, so I decided to give it to you. Open it.”
    I complied with her odd request. Inside the velvet lined box was Ania’s collection of crystal figurines, her most prized possession.
    “Ania, I can’t take this. These are your favorite things in the world.”
    “Yeah, but you’re my favorite person in the world. I want you to have them.”
    I grudgingly accepted her ‘present’, and we walked hand in hand to our meadow.

    All the time we we’re there, sitting in the middle of the poincianas, I never expected how that day would come to an end.
    As we walked back home, you slowed down significantly. In a matter of seconds you were on the ground, not moving. No matter how much I shook, shouted, or cried, you wouldn’t move. The paramedics came, worked all their fancy gizmos and machines, yet they shook their heads. When the ambulance left and took you to the hospital, the doctor had the audacity to say there was nothing they could do, refusing to let me see you.
    The next day you were gone.

    -----

    Every night I lie awake, replaying our last day and hours together in my mind. Trying to think of different outcomes, I edit even the most miniscule details to make things work. But in the end, the original always comes back to haunt me. All I really want to know now is why.
    Why didn’t you tell me you were dying?