PART 1 OF MANY!

Looking out at the crowd of high school students sitting impatiently in the auditorium has my stomach in knots. I was never one to speak up when I went to school, and as a twenty-two-year-old working towards her Masters in Literature, I’m still not. I need to do this for Derek though. I need to tell his story, and these kids can gain a lot from it. I also want every person I can reach to know about what a horrible person that woman was for what she did to Derek and I. Who better to tell than a room full of bored high school student’s who post every bit of gossip and news they hear all over social media? Sure, that makes me petty, but I deserve this after everything that has happened. If I can never have my Derek back because of that accident, at least I can share his story, so tragedies like ours do not happen to other young couples. The day that heroin addict hit us head on will forever be the worst day of my life.

“Ophelia, are you ready?” Mr. Dryers, the high school criminology professor, puts his arm around my shoulders as he asks me. I had him all those years ago when I was at this high school, and he was always my favorite teacher, which, is probably another major reason I am doing this speech. Had anyone else asked me, I might have just laughed in his or her face, but Mr. Dryers helped me to graduate when I wanted to drop out, and now I owe him.

“Ready as I’m going to be.” I give him half a smile, adjust my dress, push up my glasses, and before you know it, I’m walking out onto the stage.

Mr. Dryers walks up to the microphone to introduce me, and I immediately do not know what to do. Do I walk up with him? Stand back and wait to be introduced? What should I do with my hands? I’m a mess!

“… Without further ado, Miss Ophelia Weava!” With that, Mr. Dryer’s is done talking, and now it’s my turn. All I have to do is tell our story, the one where a girl I met my best friend and love of my life. How hard could this be?

* * * * *

“Hey guys, look at what I did today during Earth Science,” Derek said, lifting up his shirt and showing the entire team the smiley face he had drawn in sharpie on his stomach. This moment is the earliest memory I have of him. I’m sure there are other things that he had done throughout the season that had drawn my eye, but when I look back on the hockey season when we first met, that is what sticks out the most.”

With just these first few sentences I feel at ease. This is Derek I’m talking about, and I could go on forever, even if these kids are giving me looks like I’m crazy. I know they would rather be somewhere else; hell I’d rather be somewhere else too, but they need to hear this story. The world needs to hear Derek’s story.