Through the Window

Chapter One

A/N - Heyo!! I'm new to this, and idk how often I will be writing, but if you like it, please tell me I would love to hear from you! Sorry if this gets cringy, I'm not the best author. 

As the teacher stopped signalling the instructions for the new Christmas Wish Assignment, I raised my hand, with my fingers crossed, which was the signal to use the restroom. The teacher, who obviously wanted to get on with the explaining how the wishing tree works, just bobbed her fist back and forth, as if it too were giving me permission to use the restroom. I decided to take my time as I walked down the long hallway, admiring the beautiful (Well, depends on your definition of beautiful) artwork the kindergartners had put up for the holidays. I also thought about how Mom had promised me and my best friends a trip to New York, if we all got at least a B on our next English test. Josie had promised Dakota and I, that she would help us study since she was the English/Language arts master.

I rounded the corner, and studied the Wishing Tree. The assignment was, we each had to write a wish down on an ornament, and we hang it on the tree. When someone takes it down, that means they are working to ake your wish come true. I had planned to wish for my 20 year old brother Al, to be home for Christmas. He was studying at college in New York, so it seemed like too much to ask. This year, I just wished for my friends and I to have fun together. When I finally opened the door to the bathroom I could smell something sharp and piercing, cutting through the air like a knife. As I was washing my hands, I finally realized what I was smelling. Smoke. As I stepped out of the restroom, smoke and flames surrounded me. I lunged for the fire alarm before it was too late, but the smoke was already making it hard to breath. The flames were biting at my skin leaving pieces of scorched flesh. For the first time in my entire life, I heard someone screaming, I think. I knew it was Jo. I'd always imagined Jo's voice would be comforting, like the warm sun on my face in the summer. But when I heard it, it sounded like a dark, and sad, reminding me of a thundercloud on a rainy day. But then I heard someone else screaming. Me. I looked at Josie, smoke burning my eyes, I took one final breath, and then, everything went blank. Blanker than what I heard on a daily basis, nothing.

When I woke up I saw Jocelyn sitting next to me on her knees crying. Her face was soaked with tears and her hands were black with ash. The school, which before, had been a large building with four rooms inside and four class rooms outside, was know a pile of burnt wood and ash. I stood up, and put my thin, slender hand on Josie's shoulder, trying to comfort her. But then, a moment later, I realized, something was off. I could hear her crying. She was sobbing and muttering words like, 'Its all my fault' and 'I should have been a better friend'. I didn't have a clue what was going on until, she didn't acknowledge me when I tried to talk to her.

"Its all right Josie. I'm here. What is wrong?" I told her. She just continued sobbing over something I had assumed was a pillow. It wasn't.

When she raised her head and said "I'm so sorry Willow. Its all my fault," I saw that it wasn't a pillow she was crying over. It was a girl. A short girl, with a rather skinny build, and singed long blonde hair, with a small pretty face covered with ash. There was raw red flesh on her arms and legs. She wasn't moving, and she wasn't breathing. After closer inspection, I realized I knew exactly who this girl was. Her name was Willow Maxler, her father worked at the school, and her mother worked at the hospital. She had a brother, and two sisters, and two best friends. She was deaf, but hated people treating her like a baby because of it.. I know all of this, and more, because I am Willow Maxler.

~----~

Jocelyn's POV

When you watch your best friend die, you feel helpless. But I felt more then that. I felt as if a part of me was dying as well. Willow had been my best friend for years, and now she was just. . . Gone.

______

One time, when Willow and I first met, I tried talking to her. I had only been at the school for a day or two so I didn't know she was deaf. She got so mad at me and tried to tel me she was deaf but I just kept talking to her until she kicked me in the shin and walked away.

That was the moment I knew we would be best friends. With her hot-headedness and my sense of humor, it was meant to be.

______

Some days, it was as if nothing happened. For two weeks, everybody has been mourning, crying and doing everything they can to help support Willows family. Al even came home. But here I am, sitting on my bed. Day after day just staring at the wall. I haven't talked to anyone but Jake and Dakota. I hardly eat and I hardly sleep. How do people deal with this? I think. Sure, I'd have pets die, but nothing had ever hurt THIS MUCH. The other day, I was sitting with Dakota. She was feeling a little better then I was, but she was the only one who I felt that I could actually talk to.

"Are you sure you don't want to go see Willow's family?" Dakota asked.

"Maybe tomorrow." I always reply. She's been asking that question for weeks, but I can't bring myself to go.

"Want to watch a movie?" she pressed.

"What movie?" I asked.

"Anything you want, and if you want we can make coco and popcorn. We can even invite Jake over!" Dakota said, her eyes full of hope. Hope that I might go back to my old self. Hope that maybe I wouldn't be lost.

But part of me was. "Not today." I replied.

"Okay enough is enough!" Dakota yelled. "She was one of my best friends too! Do you see me moping around?"

"No, but did you watch her die? Did you see the look in her eyes when she realized that there was nothing I could do? DON'T try to compare whatever you are feeling to me." I shot back.

After that Dakota gave up. As she walked out the door she just gave my parents a sad nod and hung her head in defeat. This is how it had been going for weeks. Dakota comes over, trys to talk me out of my misery, and then leaves. Occasionally Jake would come over and try to mae me laugh, but he always walked away with no success.

Because of the fact that they had been the only two visiting me, I didn't think today would be any different. When I heard a knock on the door, I expected Jake to open it and crack a joke or use a cheesy pun. But when I looked at the face that opened the door, I was surprised. It was Willow's older brother Al.

"Um...Hi Jocelyn." he said. Al was intimidatingly tall, and had an attitude that could make anyone fear him. That was the old Al. New Al, slouched and his sargent-like attitude had turned to numbness.

"Hi." I replied, not looking up from my book.

"You read the Divergent books correct?" he asked as he scanned my bookcase.

"Of course. They were some of my favorite books a couple years ago." I said, pointing to three thick hard cover books.

"May I?" he asked gesturing towards the last book, Allegiant.

I slowly nodded as he flipped though the different pages until he came nearly to the end.

"There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

But sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.

That is the sort of bravery I must have now." he read. "Remember that. I know how it hurts, just be brave." And with that he left, leaving me speechless and on the brink of tears.