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Description
The chilly November wind rustled the orange, yellow and red leaves of fall. The sun was tucked behind the thick gray clouds, just as it had been for the last few days. Jenna sat with her legs curled behind her on the grass, replacing the roses, now wilted and dead.
“Here you are, Andrew,” Jenna began to speak softly, as she set the crisped brown roses down beside her, fluffing the lush red ones that had taken their place.
“I know it is rather silly of me to be speaking to you and all,” She continued to speak softly at first, but with every word her voice grew more confident.
“But Andrew!” Her voice was now in a normal tone, as If scolding him, “It’s horrible here without you! I know. I know it’s been months. Everyone tells me to start over, move on. Move on, Jenna, he’s gone, they say. But Andrew! Andrew I just can’t! I can’t forget,” Her voice cracked. She brought her hands to the top of the gravestone, feeling the rough sandpaper concrete.
She traced her fingers over the words engraved. Andrew Matthews. 1982-2004 Killed by a drunk driver. Good son. Loving fiancé. Rest in peace.
“Oh the irony,” Jenna gave a small chuckle, “They killed you. They killed you absorbed in their alcohol. They didn’t care. They were having a good time. They didn’t know. They didn’t know that they robbed me! All they cared about was partying, drinking,” she continued, “Now me.”
A crystal tear fell from the corner of her eyes, and slid gracefully down her cheek, “Me,” She returned to her soft, hushed tone, now barely even a whisper, “Me, turning to the very thing that killed you,” A deep sigh followed.
“Now me! I’m one of them!” She pounded her fist on the gravestone. Not forceful enough to cause any harm to the stone, but forceful enough to cause a small scrape on the side of her hand. Small droplets of blood smeared on the words of the marker as she slid her hands down to the clear glass bottle beside her.
She picked up the bottle and took a swig,” If you could only see me now,” She mumbled as the bottle met his lips once more, “You would hate me Andrew. But you’re gone. It’s just as they say. I’m moving on Andrew. How I wish you could save me. Please save me,” She was interrupted as an elderly man kneeled down beside her.
“Yes?” She asked after a moment of hesitance. His hands were rough and bony. His hair was gray and almost completely absent. He looked at her, with his wrinkled eyes, and bushy white eyebrows.
“Why would a pretty young girl like you be taking the wrong path like this?” He asked in a kind tone, glancing at the mostly full bottle.
“Why would an old man like you not mind his own business?” Jenna asked harshly, alcohol taking an effect.
“You’re right,” He said after a few moments of silence, “It was no business of mine. I work here at the cemetery, and I always try and comfort those who are in need of it,” The words flowed from his lips in an uncertain tone.
“Yeah well, I’ve got all the comfort I need,” She took another gulp from the bottle, gesturing with her hand for him to leave. He bowed his head in understanding.
“Just one more thing,” He said as he took his coat off, “You look cold. Here, have this. I wouldn’t want to see you freeze.”
“Yeah I guess you’re right,” Jenna snorted, setting down the bottle to put in the coat. She slipped on the thick black coat. It was a couple sizes too big, but Jenna was cold.
While she was preoccupied with the coat, the old man gently p0icked up the bottle and dropped a folded up piece of notebook paper in its place. He smiled to himself, as he walked away, knowing that he had probably saved someone that day.
“Hey! Where’s my…” She yelled, but she fell silent as she stared at the folded up piece of paper. She gently picked it up and unfolded it carefully. Two tattered twenty dollar bills fell in her lap. “Child, you are far too young and beautiful to destroy your life like this. You have a future, but only if you choose. Please use that money to take a taxi home. Be careful, and may the Lord be with you. Andrew will never forget.” she read aloud.
A small smile formed on Jenna’s lips as she looked up slightly. “Thank you Andrew. Thank you,” She stood up and slipped the note and the forty dollars into the coat pocket. Brushing herself off, she turned away from the grave and began to talk away.

Description
The chilly November wind rustled the orange, yellow and red leaves of fall. The sun was tucked behind the thick gray clouds, just as it had been for the last few days. Jenna sat with her legs curled behind her on the grass, replacing the roses, now wilted and dead.
“Here you are, Andrew,” Jenna began to speak softly, as she set the crisped brown roses down beside her, fluffing the lush red ones that had taken their place.
“I know it is rather silly of me to be speaking to you and all,” She continued to speak softly at first, but with every word her voice grew more confident.
“But Andrew!” Her voice was now in a normal tone, as If scolding him, “It’s horrible here without you! I know. I know it’s been months. Everyone tells me to start over, move on. Move on, Jenna, he’s gone, they say. But Andrew! Andrew I just can’t! I can’t forget,” Her voice cracked. She brought her hands to the top of the gravestone, feeling the rough sandpaper concrete.
She traced her fingers over the words engraved. Andrew Matthews. 1982-2004 Killed by a drunk driver. Good son. Loving fiancé. Rest in peace.
“Oh the irony,” Jenna gave a small chuckle, “They killed you. They killed you absorbed in their alcohol. They didn’t care. They were having a good time. They didn’t know. They didn’t know that they robbed me! All they cared about was partying, drinking,” she continued, “Now me.”
A crystal tear fell from the corner of her eyes, and slid gracefully down her cheek, “Me,” She returned to her soft, hushed tone, now barely even a whisper, “Me, turning to the very thing that killed you,” A deep sigh followed.
“Now me! I’m one of them!” She pounded her fist on the gravestone. Not forceful enough to cause any harm to the stone, but forceful enough to cause a small scrape on the side of her hand. Small droplets of blood smeared on the words of the marker as she slid her hands down to the clear glass bottle beside her.
She picked up the bottle and took a swig,” If you could only see me now,” She mumbled as the bottle met his lips once more, “You would hate me Andrew. But you’re gone. It’s just as they say. I’m moving on Andrew. How I wish you could save me. Please save me,” She was interrupted as an elderly man kneeled down beside her.
“Yes?” She asked after a moment of hesitance. His hands were rough and bony. His hair was gray and almost completely absent. He looked at her, with his wrinkled eyes, and bushy white eyebrows.
“Why would a pretty young girl like you be taking the wrong path like this?” He asked in a kind tone, glancing at the mostly full bottle.
“Why would an old man like you not mind his own business?” Jenna asked harshly, alcohol taking an effect.
“You’re right,” He said after a few moments of silence, “It was no business of mine. I work here at the cemetery, and I always try and comfort those who are in need of it,” The words flowed from his lips in an uncertain tone.
“Yeah well, I’ve got all the comfort I need,” She took another gulp from the bottle, gesturing with her hand for him to leave. He bowed his head in understanding.
“Just one more thing,” He said as he took his coat off, “You look cold. Here, have this. I wouldn’t want to see you freeze.”
“Yeah I guess you’re right,” Jenna snorted, setting down the bottle to put in the coat. She slipped on the thick black coat. It was a couple sizes too big, but Jenna was cold.
While she was preoccupied with the coat, the old man gently p0icked up the bottle and dropped a folded up piece of notebook paper in its place. He smiled to himself, as he walked away, knowing that he had probably saved someone that day.
“Hey! Where’s my…” She yelled, but she fell silent as she stared at the folded up piece of paper. She gently picked it up and unfolded it carefully. Two tattered twenty dollar bills fell in her lap. “Child, you are far too young and beautiful to destroy your life like this. You have a future, but only if you choose. Please use that money to take a taxi home. Be careful, and may the Lord be with you. Andrew will never forget.” she read aloud.
A small smile formed on Jenna’s lips as she looked up slightly. “Thank you Andrew. Thank you,” She stood up and slipped the note and the forty dollars into the coat pocket. Brushing herself off, she turned away from the grave and began to talk away.