An Old Friend

An Old Friend

It has only been a few days since I have lost my best friend, I still do not know how to function. Today I am going to force myself to get out of the house and do some of the things she would be happy to do. I got myself up and forced myself to get dressed and start the day. Cannot start the day without the breakfast of a champion right? So, I headed to Starbucks to grab an iced coffee and get the day started. After waiting in the drive through for what seemed like three years, I finally received my drink and was on my way to make today a better day. I started by driving down our favorite trail, enjoying every stretch just like she would have wanted me to. I made fun of the tourist doing their usual weird things and laughed to myself as I thought of all the corny jokes you had. I was shocked, I was having a good time! Who knew taking a drive alone to reminisce would be so freeing and rewarding? I took the long way back to my house, driving down that old country road that she hated so much because of all the potholes and how dark it gets at night. Tunes cranked high and not a care in the world. As I came around the curb not realizing I was driving a little too fast when I hit the turn, I lost control of my car and before I knew it everything went black! Eventually, I awakened with a major headache and I could not feel the rest of my body for the first few minutes of being awake. I had never felt like this before.

Looking around, I tried to see if I could figure out where I was, but I had no clue there was nothing but trees as far as the eye could see. I rambled around trying to find my phone, to see if I could call for help or at least have a flashlight of some kind but finding it in the pitch black was impossible. My next option was to get out and try and find my way to civilization. I grabbed the handle and used what little strength I had to push on the door and open it. As the door opened, I fell to the ground as if gravity were completely against me. My hands could not be seen in front of me and my body was sore and weak. I struggled to find a way to stand up on my wobbly sore legs. Suddenly, in the distance I heard a very distinctive screech... but I could not tell what it was for the life of me. I had no other way of finding my way out, so I followed the sound. As the sound began to grow louder, I realized it was coming from above my head. I began to look toward the sky as I staggered my way through the woods hearing the leaves crunch under my feet with every step. Finally, I saw it! There was the most beautiful barn owl I had ever seen, although all I could see was its beautiful white heart-shaped face it was enough for me to understand its beauty. The owl screeched again and started to fly off into the woods. I followed it by listening to its screeching, its distinctive sound was the only thing that kept me going. As I struggled to breathe, I began to move slower, so did the owl. It became clear to me that this was not just a normal barn owl. Micala loved owls, she even had a tattoo of a barn own done just a month before her passing. Is this her way of helping me? I smiled as my eyes swelled up with tears, this gave me the strength to keep going. I pushed through the pain until I finally saw what looked to be streetlights. The tears ran down my face live a river flowing downstream. As I finally reached the road, the owl continued to screech and led me to a home at the end of a well-lit street. Falling to my knees in crippling pain, I crawled up the driveway and clawed at the door of a stranger with the little strength I had left. I do not know what happened next, I woke up in a hospital bed surrounded by family members smiling at me. As my eyes readjusted, I began to smile back at them happy that I was alive. I looked to the window and saw a beautiful barn owl, white heart shaped face with beautiful brown wings starring into the window at me. I smiled as a tear rolled down my face. Thank you Micala for showing me the way. Just goes to show they can be gone but they will always be with us.