Anniversary

He sat alone in the one-room apartment; all the lights were turned off.
A cake sat on the small table next to the mattress.
Frosted with pink and white icing, it bore a single candle - the only light in the whole room.
Rain beat against the windows, but other than that it seemed the whole city had fallen under a solemn silence.

You need to get out more.

He rummaged through the papers.
There were piles of them, and each one brought back fond memories.
Fond memories, but also pangs of regret. She was gone, now, and he missed her.

But you're not just a friend. You're one of the best friends someone can have.
Someone who understands you and loves you no matter what you do, say, or think.

Lightning crashed as he fingered the pictures. He would move on - there's little else to do. With luck, he'd still see her around. And he really couldn't ask for more.
He would always love her.

Jaa ne, Ai-chan.

He blew out the candle.
"Happy anniversary."

---

( Addendum )

"Did You Hear About Emily Croft?"

So, as I'm running out of my room for work, I just barely remember to grab my cell phone out of the charger. Not three steps out of the building, I get a call from my sister:

"Did you hear about Emily Croft?"

Five teenagers from YOA (my old youth group) had gone to the Virginia Tech game this weekend. On the way home, they had an accident, and their car flipped over several times. Two of the teens I know personally - Rob Hamerick, who was in my group and one of the guys I consider a good friend. He's a really cool guy. The crash hit him hard, I'm told, and he had to go into surgery, but I don't know any more than that.

The other one you've all heard of, Emily Croft. Jenny didn't know how bad it was, but she said they're afraid she hurt her neck. It may only be a small bother (like she can't swim or play sports), and I pray it's nothing more. I hope she's doing alright.

Please, if you're the type to pray, keep these two friends and their families in your thoughts. Hell, if you're NOT the type to pray, I ask that you keep them in your thoughts.
I hope they're doing alright.

---

Update (6:00pm): I called the Crofts and was able to talk with her dad. He says that they're all really beat up, and might be several weeks recovering, but he thinks they should all be fine. Considering it all, he says, they're all doing well.

(no subject)

Didn't do much of anything today. Work went by fast, but left me drained. Was worried about my two friends most of the day. Gotta chat with Claire momentarily, and it was quite enjoyable. Leslie made an appearcance for precicely 43 seconds (well, OK, 44...). Checking over new songs I got from Kazaa - some of the cool ones: Street Spirit by Radiohead and Because and Waltz #2 both by Elliot Smith (as recommended by Second Waugh). Been going through old e-mails and Journals, for lack of anything else to do online (OK, I admit - I'm adicted). Been thinking about eitner (A) Burning a new CD or (2) Listing the tracks of those I have. Also have to call Oli and see about changing our plans from Friday to Thursday.
And, yes, that's that. ^_^ Whee.

---

Oh yeah - I think I want to start doing some more dramatic writing, like I've done on occation here. It's fun and leaves me satsisfied. Prolly stick mostly to short stories and the like, as they don't need really solid plots or developments. With any luck, I'll get to the point where I (1) feel confident enough to start that Novel again and (B) have a plot for said Novel.

Compact Discs, Part I

( The Tracks )

( The Notes )