IN A MOMENT

“We’re going all the way this year man! I can feel it!” Don said.

“Oh yeah… We’re gonna take state! No questions! Me as quarterback…you catching everything I throw at you…and dating the most beautiful cheerleaders on the team!” Chris laughed back.

It was the perfect year! He couldn’t believe how great things were going! Captain of the football team, crazy in love with Jenifer Miles! It was definitely gonna be the best senior year ever!

Nobody could have expected it to come to such a screeching halt!

It seemed like an ordinary day, but that was the last thing it was.

Everything started the same as always, Chris picked up Jenifer and drove to school. They talked about the big game and laughed about some silly thing from the day before. Then they shared a sweet kiss before walking to class hand in hand. If only he’d known…. all the if onlys in the world couldn’t change what would happen a few short minutes later.

Chris had just sat down in his government class and Don slid into the desk behind him as the bell rang. Mr. Jefferson began his lecture when they heard the sound…. It was like a bunch of pops… suddenly time seemed to stand still yet not.

There was a mix of frozen in time and chaos at the same time. Nobody was sure, yet they all knew… yes they all knew they were under attack. They took cover. The popping started again…and yelling…screaming…the most blood curdling, horrendous screaming… and crying! By now everyone in Mr. Jefferson’s class was under a desk or behind a closet. Cell phones were out and people were calling for help. Sirens could be heard in the distance…closer and closer they came.

Suddenly the door opened……..more popping..more screams……crying……sobbing! Chris closed his eyes tight and prayed for God to protect him. Suddenly the popping stopped. Chris didn’t know whether to open his eyes….he wasn’t even sure if he was still alive. Then he felt something warm running down his face. Then someone touched his arm. Finally he opened his eyes and saw a policeman asking if he was okay.

He nodded, but when he looked around, there were bodies and blood and they were his friends and his teacher and………NOOOOO NOT DON!!!! Tears mixed with his own blood and ran down his face as the paramedics took him out sobbing! He asked for Jenifer, but no one told him if she was okay.

It was hours later before he learned that indeed Don was gone and the love of his life had been shot in the head and had severe brain damage. His injury was minor, just a graze.

2 years later he is still waiting for Jenifer to fully return to him. He sits with her for hours a day, hoping she’ll remember the love they once shared before a senseless, violent act took her from him. Until then, he’ll continue to pray and wait. After a breath of air and some private time with God, he’s ready to go spend a few more hours with her.

By Kim Holdiman