It ripped.
Raine stared at his parents in shock, each of them holding a small piece of the boy’s stuffed-animal frog. He watched in horror as the cotton stuffing seeped to the floor, forming small mounds of snow white fluff.
A tear dripped down Raine’s pale cheek as he scrambled forward, grabbing the halves of the mutilated toy and hugging them close to his chest, his raven black hair falling into his eyes.
“I’m telling you Beatrice! He is 17 years old! To old to be so attached to that toy!” his father was at it again; yelling at his mother over the stupidest of things.
The young boy was sick and tired of having to deal with this on a regular basis. With the remains of the frog in his hands, he picked up his backpack, got in his car, and left.
After driving for a while, he pulled into an empty parking lot, pulling his cell phone from his bag. Raine called the person he missed most. He wouldn’t answer of course, but he settled for the voicemail like he had so many times before.
“Hey its Dylan… I can’t get to the phone right now, or well, to be honest I might just be ignoring you call, so try again later.”
The sound of his young, high-spirited voice floated though the receiver. The black haired boy began to sob as the phone indicated that it was time to leave a message.
“Dylan… They’re doing it again, I’ve left home. I can’t stand it They ruin everything. That frog you got me when we were 12? They ripped it in half.” Raine tried to compose himself, but failed miserably. “I love you Dylan, I’ve decided to come and find you. If you don’t want me to… call me back.” He snapped the phone shut as he replayed the message he had left in his head.
Dylan won’t call back. He said to himself, Dylan is dead and I’m going to join him, anywhere is better than here.
Raine started the car again. It was late so the roads were empty. He was about five minutes from the closest bridge.
The bridge was old fashioned and made of many wooden support beams. It was constructed during the 80’s and was still standing tall. Upon arrival, the young boy wiped the tears he had shed with the back of his hand. He picked up the frog and walked to the edge of the bridge. Standing on the top of the railing, he extended his arms on both sides, and letting the wind run though his hair one last time.
He let all the repressed memories of the times he and Dylan had spent together. Three years ago, they were inseparable. Three years ago, Dylan was in a car accident. Three years ago, Dylan died.
So much had changed in three years. Raine’s friend Amanda had gotten pregnant, Dylan’s parents moved to Canada, and his own planned on getting a divorce.
Raine turned towards the horizon of the now rising orange sun, the frog still firmly grasped in his hand.
“I love you” he whispered as he allowed the wind to carry his body backwards and guide him into the water.
Alixanna Community Member 
|
|
