Regret Story(Final Draft)

Regret Story: Final Draft

 

The horizon’s glaze signaled the end of dawn, the sun’s peach and orange rays painting the indigo sky with spring colors at five o’clock in the morning. Animals in the frigid windy city were up already, preparing for another cold February day similar to people of the town. Inside a small house on the Northside of Chicago, a young teenage girl awoken to the beams of the sun. Closing her thick purple curtains, the sixteen-year old grabbed a neatly-ironed shirt, blue jeans, and a towel before walking into the bathroom. The teenage girl exited the bathroom ten minute later dressed in a pink floral-designed shirt and bright blue jeans, and entered the kitchen.

“Good morning Cindy” a slightly older male said hugging the girl.

“Good morning Henry” Cindy responded before hugging him back.

The two were step-siblings by marriage, but considered themselves blood siblings. Cindy was a sophomore at Sojourner Truth High, and part of the school forest perverse club. Cindy is an actual junior volunteer of the Friends of Chicago River and Forest Preserver of Cook County. Cindy assisted many projects to help native species of Illinois and clean up the Chicago River. Henry was two years older than Cindy, and was learning the basics of advance computer design at a University just outside of Chicago. Their parents were in Ohio for their anniversary, but the step-siblings had enough money to sustain themselves until they arrive back.

 

 

“Getting ready for the trip so late?” Henry teased, receiving a nod from Cindy. The young volunteer was gathering ingredients for a simple sandwich.

“I wish they had chosen another day for this field trip” Cindy said, her voice hinting at her slight anger. 

“Yeah, clearly the trip was rushed. Just relax, this is a perfect opportunity to relieve some stress” Henry advised, receiving a bit of laughter from the young volunteer. Cindy, now finished with her sandwich, placed the wrapped meal into a lunch bag along with a bottled lemon tea. Cindy began packing her book bag, but a music sheet fall out of her music binder, Henry picked the sheet up out of curiosity.

“Hey, is this the song that…”Cindy took the music sheet from Henry’s hand.

“Yes, this is the song Angel wanted me to play” Cindy answered calmly before placing the music sheet back into her music binder.

“Cindy, you will get to see Angel tomorrow. You guys could make up” Henry assured Cindy, lightly patting the step-sibling on the back.

“I know, but I-“Henry said before interrupting her.

“Please worry about this later when you come back home” Henry playfully flicked her nose softly, causing Cindy to laugh.

“Okay Henry” Cindy said. Within five minutes, the volunteer had her lunch bag in her left hand and her book bag against her back. With one final wave, Cindy left her house and walked to her high school.

Sojourner Truth High was among the top ten schools in Illinois, one of the hardest school to be enrolled in. With only six hundred students, the school specialized in all subjects and value important practices of diversity and acceptance among all students. Cindy never expected to be accepted to the prestigious school as the volunteer took an enrollment test for the rival school. Now, the volunteer was attending Sojourner Truth High for a second year. Cindy was very friendly toward whomever greeted her, but overall she was very shy. The volunteer found making friends who share most of her interests impossible, claiming she had been cursed to have no classmates in any of her seven classes with her key interests. Unfortunately, it appear all the students in all her classes only cared about sports, the latest action shows, latest hit songs and shopping. Cindy feel she could never talk openly to her classmates. However, Cindy remain determined to learn the trends and interests of her peers to know them better.

 Cindy arrived at school to be greeted by most of her class for the field trip. Moments later, the teacher Mr.Wolfe arrived and took attendance. After everyone was accounted for, the students and chaperones entered a single yellow bus with the label “JB Bus Company: Safety First”. Cindy sat beside Paul Anderson, a quiet student in the class similar to her. Cindy did not mind, at least she did not have to worry about him chatting from across the walkway to a friend; a fear she had if she was paired with a gregarious person. Cindy simply placed her wonderful headphones on, canceling noise that erupted from the back and pulled out a novel from her bag. Cindy read a variety of poems and listened to array of music flowing into her mind. Once in a while, Cindy would glance outside the window to see the silver and chrome buildings or the lush green trees and vegetation as the bus rode to Springfield. Cindy enjoyed looking at the passing scenery, it assured her she was going somewhere and not idly wasting her life.

The bus traveled across Illinois, and Mr.Wolfe noted particular statues or structures to the students as the bus rode. Unaware of Paul’s interests, Cindy as surprise to

Cindy manage to spur up some chat with Paul. To the volunteer’s surprise, Paul enjoyed many video games Cindy was aware of. It was refreshing to find someone to talk who shared some interests. Eventually, Cindy retreated to her previous quiet state.

Cindy looked into the window beside her and felt a chill keep slowly into her spine. The bus is too close to trees, at least the road was….narrow” Cindy thought, noting the bus was traveling on a dirt path of some kind. Cindy tried to push worried thought out of her mind, before fear began to spark into her mind. In one swift to the left, Cindy felt the gravity shifted and her vision began flashing. Her mind began panicking wildly, and her heart began to shatter from pain caused by fear. Cindy felt like a tumbleweed in the bus as it fell over the edge, hoping broken glass did not puncture anything vital. Her vision blurs, and she enter her subconscious.  Cindy never expected her memories before her “death” to be so…bleak. It was just fun memories with loved ones, except for a small black speck. Suddenly, a string of memories emerged.

Saturday, February 27

Cindy sat patiently in a cotton seat of the vivid and elaborate theatre of Prenton Elementary School, scrutinizing the garnished walls and doors for the special occasion. Today, the small elementary school was presenting performances with collaboration of local high schools and colleges. Many of her piano classmates were performing in the formal event, and dressed appropriately in orchestra attire. Cindy, however, watched the performances with a music sheet in her hand.

Another promise bites the dust Cindy thought, her mind drifting to her seven-year old cousin Angel. The young girl begged the volunteer to play a song titled “Lu” for her at the concert, and after an entire week of pestering Cindy did the volunteer finally accepted the request. School, club priorities and procrastination formed the perfect recipe for failure to learn the song before the concert. Cindy snapped out of her troubled thoughts to see the last group if musicians stepping onto the wooden stage. Cindy concluded to apologize to Angel tomorrow

Yesterday, February 28

Cindy was in the kitchen, stilled by shock from the news given to her and Henry by their aunt. Angel’s best friend, Alex, died today from suffocating. More, the song Lu was dedicated to Alex and not Angel.  Cindy manage to hold back tears of anger and hatred against her own self. Cindy ruined Angel’s last day with Alex, and Angel’s gift to Alex. A cowardly monster.

Finally, her mind began to turn completely blank and she blacked out.

Cindy woke up hours later, her innominate left hand clothed in bulky white bandages. Cindy in minutes learn what happened. The bus veered into a large ravine due to ice on the exit of the expressway, causing the bus crash and many students injured.

“Who was hurt?” Cindy asked, getting only a vague answer from the nurse. It was only an hour of waiting did Cindy finally received the answer she wanted from Henry.

“Everyone on the bus was injured. Some more serious than others. Mom and Dad will be arriving soon” Henry lightly shook Cindy’s shoulder, a sign of assurance. A doctor entered the room beside Cindy’s parents, who embraced the teenage girl.  Cindy rocked in her chair with nervousness, listening to details about her left hand beside her family; the left hand is permanently damaged and would never recover.

To her own surprise, Cindy was more worried about the school than her own mangled hand. The next day, Cindy learned a few doors down were Augue’s room and of his condition. She never particularly know the student, always a loner like her. The volunteer respected his privacy and never bother him unless they shared a project. Just this once, Cindy would talk to Augie for just personal reasons, even if he couldn’t respond back. It took a few days, but Cindy manage to get permission from his mother to talk to the muted boy.

Such a shame. Hopefully he’ll recover from the coma. Cindy thought, as she slowly entered Augie’s room with a nurse.