A chance to share her quitting...

I still remember it like yesterday. When I was 20, It was July, a nice summer day, many summers ago. The summer wasn't all hot but that weather was far better.

I was on my way to the high school and got on to the school bus driven by Uncle Sam who was always gleaming a wide smile on his face. It's only the enthusiasm that subsisted in him, but for some reason he was rarely despondent on that day. I moved further inside the bus. Rest of my friends were sensate. I was wandering and understood that there is something weird. I was still reluctant to inquire about what had happened to all of these. I went towards my regular seat, then I realized my best friend's rare absence. This made me hovered nervously on my seat. I soon stood up and rushed near Uncle Sam's tidy driving cabin. '' Sam Uncle, why are u all so glum? where is Maya? why didn't she come? Is she sick?'' I was bothering him by overlapping several questions. ''Don't be so panic Baba..'' He said, with a rattling voice, by using the usual nickname that he calls me where ever he sees me. Without knowing anything I went back to my seat and sat with a pensive mood. The bus was numb unlike other days.

Finally we reached the school premises. The next minute I felt so strange to get off the bus without Maya. I gloomily walked through the misty school ground. To all intents and purposes, people who were inside the school were also atypical. I ran to my classroom at the second floor and kept my bag in a corner. My teacher Ruchi looked upon me so differently. I knew that she was struggling to say something unpleasant. I went to her and asked, '' Teacher what's going on? '' ''Don't dwell on what I say, your best friend Maya had faced a huge mishap last night. she had met with a car crash. She is in the ICU at the moment''. This news came as a complete shock to me. I was just stunned. I felt that my teacher's soft arms held me as if I would faint. Drops of perspiration scrolled over my face. ''she'll be okay soon. It's all in god's hand. Don't worry my dear. Come let's continue our work.'' Said the teacher.

It was obviously a tough day for me. Anyhow I restrained myself till the school hours end. After school, as usual, I raced to Sam Uncle's Bus. I did not look at anyone. As the first horning went through my ears, I knew that I had reached my home. I soon took my bag and got off even by forgetting to say the usual goodbye tone to Uncle Sam. When I entered the house, Mama with watering eyes came to me. I hugged her and said ''Cry, Never! She'll be okay soon.''

After few hours later we went to the city hospital where Maya was admitted. As soon as I enter the hospital, those ambulance alarms and people's weeping sound made me even more fearful. Maya's mom and her old pity granny was sobbing near Maya's room. I felt horrible and I was eager beaver to know Maya's condition by that time. After about two hours later doctors came and said '' She is in a savage condition. She is likely to die soon, as her brain had damaged severely.''

I was gobsmacked. Doctors said that they'll be giving just five minutes for us to see Maya for the last time. Maya's mother and that granny was weeping together with my Mama. '' How can I see my girl lying dead! I can't.. I cant. My heart will split into two''. Maya's mother cried out. To be true, her words made my eyes wet too. My heart felt like crushed when I hear that my most closest friend is going to leave me, leave me permanently. But I convinced myself to talk one last thing for my friend. I closed my eyes, opened up the cold metal lock of the room and stepped inside. Maya was unconscious and restless, but I held her her dry hand and start talking, not to her ears but to her mind. ''I do not remember the days. I remember the moments with you. You are gone from my sight but never from my heart''. Simultaneously her chest stilled, and held her last breath. I didn't cry, I once promised her that I will never let the tears mar the smiles of our friendship. ''She isn't dead. She is alive in my heart''. I said to myself.

Since her death, every summer that came along each and every year, had a sense of normalcy. That walks along the beaches, those longest chats, that my favourite bakes she brings me in those summer picnics, I still recall those in every summer. Those endless summer nights, I would never see again. Anticipatingly summer was once the most beautiful season of my life until the day she said goodbye to me. I always had a hope to enjoy those occasional super hot sweaty dirty summer days with her. But all my hopes ceased with her passing away. It's true no I will never find someone like her to spend my summers again. But so long as her memory exists within my heart, I shall always say that life is good.

Me being a middle aged mother now, seeing my fifteen years old daughter going for summer outs with her best friend Shamy, recommences the summer picnics that I and Maya used to go exactly when we were teenagers. Looking at Maya's yellowish photograph every summer morning, find myself reminiscing about that day of her departure, as she left me forever in such a beautiful summer day. Her death which made an extensive space within my life many summers ago, merely reminisce our memories and wish to play our song again.

By; BIYONI MALWATTA