Don't Go Out In The Woods Today

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty- Six

The cold weather had given me a runny nose and numbed my hands, the sun had nearly disappeared from the horizon meaning soon I’d be left in the dark. When I finally reached the steep hill which the church sat on I was out of breath and wishing I’d brought a torch. The familiar lump in my throat and burning eyes made themselves known, the cold metal lever on the wooden church gate added to the coldness of my hands as I pulled it to open with a creek. Standing in the graveyard I came across the familiar grave stones, the first stone you come across is one hundred and fifty years old- it’s quite large in size and the writing had nearly disappeared with age. Just to think under it is a body that was alive all those years ago, it makes you think what the village looked like back then. 

I walked across the grave yard being careful not to ‘walk over anyone’s grave’, I came to the newest part of the cemetery where most of the headstones were accompanied by flowers which gave a bit of life to the place. Automatically my eyes welled up with salty tears and one blink later they were trailing down my face. The bitter wind nipped at my face so I pulled up the hood of my red coat to protect and hide my face as I strolled along.

A large oak tree stood at the back the branches sheltered and protected a large beautiful white marble headstone. A white rose bush had been planted in the centre of the grave, the simplicity made it the most beautiful memorial here. I couldn’t help but picture Lizzy in my head which tipped me over the edge; I choked as I burst out crying. I fell to my knees next to the headstone sobbing into my numb hands. A minute or so later I crawled to the back of the stone and sat with my back leaning against it pulling my knees to my chest to preserve heat and comfort myself

“Lizz I’m sorry. I’ve failed you and now Ellie hates me because all I’m interested in is working. You told me the day you went into hospital to look after Ellie and I haven’t I’ve been more worried about getting into medical school so I can be a doctor and find something to cure cancer which isn’t very likely and even if I do it won’t change the fact that…you’re dead” I sobbed.

I spent ten minutes trying to control myself “Not to mention what happened after school, I wish you could be here to give me advice. I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you recently I don’t have any excuses, I’m going to have to tell you the story from the beginning aren’t I?” I laughed wiping tears from my cheeks “It all started in September when Mrs Evington was replaced by a teacher called Mr Bates…”

Twenty minutes later I had told her most of it apart from what happened a few hours ago “…so he kissed me as we were stuck in the cupboard which made this situation…real then to top it all off he said ‘my names Jared by the way’” I mocked his voice “And I didn’t want to know his first name because now it means he’s more than just my teacher. I don’t know what to do” I crumbled into tears again. The light had drained from the sky and I was now in a graveyard in the pitch black with the only light source being the full moon lingering in the sky. I felt ashamed that I kept thinking about the kiss when I should be thinking of Ellie and Lizzy instead although sitting with her made me feel calm and comforted in some way.

Over three hours later and my lips still tingled when I imagined the scene in my head, I shook the thought out of my head as I peeled myself off the floor with a sniff of my runny nose.