Value Of A Best Friend

• Tiffany Christy, Grade 10
• Short Story
• 2014

When you lose someone, and you can turn back time, will you do it?

My name is Claire. I lost someone precious to me. It distracts me knowing that the person who died, protected me from getting an accident.

I lost my best friend, Laurel.

She pushed me aside before a car crashed into me. Her head banged against the road, the main reason for her death. Her funeral seems like torture to me. I felt that if I was the one who died, she might still be here with her family. I took her away from them.

If I can replace her, I would.

*The next day*

“Claire, you’re going to be late for school!”

It’s 7.50am. I quickly changed my clothes, brushed my teeth and grabbed a toast from the dining table. After putting on my shoes, I grabbed my bag and said goodbye hastily.

And I saw something that might be a hallucination.

Laurel was there standing in front of my house, just like every time when we go to school.

“You’re late! Now we have to run to school!” she whined.

I looked at my phone. August 11th. I ran with her, but a certain thought filled my mind.

I’ve gone back in time, a week before her death.

*A few days later*

“Claire, let’s go to that store, please?”

Everyone knows that I’m not much of a girl when it comes to personality. I tend to be boyish a lot.

The whole reason why I don’t go to an……. Accessory shop.

But I knew what will happen the day after tomorrow. The day when I’m supposed to die. So this time, I went along with her whims. She practically skipped around, looking everywhere. I sighed and waited while listening to some songs.

“I’m done!”

I looked at her direction, and she gave me a blue ribbon.

“It matches you, so I thought I should buy it for you,” she explained.

“Thanks.”

“Think of it as a good luck charm for you Taekwondo championship, OK?”

It snapped into my mind. She died when we were crossing the road, on the way to my match. I was silent all the way back home, thinking of a way to change her fate.

*The day of the finals*

“The finals of the Asia-Pacific Taekwondo Championship 2014 will start in 30 minutes!”

I looked at the clock. I’d been here earlier since I had to. Not the same way as it was ‘before’.

“Try your best, OK?” my father, who is also my coach, supported me.

“I’ll be outside.”

I ran as I could outside of the building where the championships were held. Then I saw her, she was waiting to cross the road.

The light turned green, I saw the same car.

I sprinted as fast as I could, and closed my eyes as I grabbed her.

*A few moments later*

Both of us sat near the sea, as the sun sets.

“Don’t you regret it?” Laurel asked, "Sacrificing your life?"

"No," I replied, "I don't think so."