Our Sunrise

Hadley Russell:

Every morning Katie and I watch the sunrise in Deatsville, Alabama, at exactly 6:16 a.m. Katie has been my best friend since the third grade. We have had every class together, been neighbors forever, and been all around the world together. One of our favorite places we traveled to was Paris. The Eiffel tower is quite magical in person, and the lighting was magnificent. It also had the best sunrise and sunsets you will ever see. Our favorite thing we did was eat lunch on the Eiffel tower. Best sandwich I have ever had! Everything there was so beautiful, even the beaches. We were in Paris for about two months. Our least favorite part of the trip was leaving.

We made so many new friends, but we had to leave to start our sophomore year of high school. We are both so excited. Anyway, it's finally the first day of school. The day Katie and I have been waiting for so long. Katie picked me up at 6:00 so we could go watch the sunrise in our favorite spot. Our favorite spot was where the rocks compile at the head of a trail we used to go down every day to swim in the sparkling lake. For some reason, the sunrise today was the most colorful I have ever seen. I guess that is a good sign for the school year and everything. We left for school at 6:45 am and got there at 7:00am to look at our schedule. When we got our schedules, we quickly compared them to see if we got the same classes. I felt my heart sink as I saw for the first time since the third grade that we didn't get any of the same courses. For some reason, it didn't seem to bother Katie as much as it did me. Was she hiding something from me? When we looked at each other, we gave each other a hug, and she said, "It'll be okay. We will still be best friends, no matter what." I shook my head yes and went to my first-period class. I felt so lonely throughout the whole day. I didn't know what to do. It was like I couldn't even breathe. In the middle of the fifth period, I shot Katie a text telling her to meet me in the middle floor bathroom. She responded with, "Is everything okay." I said, "yes, of course, just meet me there in five minutes." Ten minutes have passed, and she still isn't here. Class is almost over, where is she?

The bell rings, and I rush to her sixth-period class. I see her with a bunch other people talking and laughing and just having a good time. Was this why she didn't come to meet me? I mean, she can have other friends, but I waited ten minutes in the bathroom for her. Right when we make eye contact, I can see the regret on her face. She rushes up to me, and I quickly start a conversation with one of the kids passing by me. I don't know why I did it, but at the time, it just seemed fitting. I felt terrible as I watched her slowly turn around and walk back to class. When I started walking back towards her, the bell rings, and I had to rush to class. Throughout the sixth period, I can't stop thinking about what I did to her. She is my best friend. Once the bell rings and school is over I wait outside for Katie. She finally shows up and tells me how sorry she is for forgetting to meet in the bathroom. I quickly forgive her and admit that I was kind of jealous to see her with so many other friends. She said, "I might have made new friends, but you are my best friend."

I was so relieved to hear that. We walk to Katie's brand new white Chevrolet Cruze. We looked so cool, driving out of the school parking lot. Everyone was looking at us. When we got home, we hung out in my treehouse, where we could see the whole neighborhood. She started telling me about her new friends and how bad she wants me to meet them. "You should come to coffee with us on Thursday! It'll be so much fun! Please, Hadley?" I sighed and said, "Alright, but promise me you'll be the one paying." We both chuckle and finish our homework. After we watch the sunset, we go inside. I walk inside and say good night to my baby brother Conner when I hear my mom crying and yelling my name. I walk into the room and ask what's wrong. She says, "I just found out your father has cancer." I feel my world flip as I burst into tears and run and hug my baby brother. My dad is currently in the hospital and has been for the past couple of weeks. Apparently, he just started chemo and told the nurses not to tell us. Once I tell Katie what is going on the next day, she starts crying immediately, feeling the pain I felt when I was told. And there we were, crying together, watching the sunset. We both miss school to go to the hospital to see my dad. He looks so weak. His hair is falling out, his arms are as skinny as rails, and he can't even stand. It hurt my heart so bad to see him like this. My mom was crying so much she passed out, which left me and Katie in there watching him. He opened his eyes once he heard my voice and smiled the biggest smile. The nurses say, "That's the first time he has opened his eyes and smiled since he was diagnosed with cancer." When visiting hours are over, we all left except my mom. Me, Conner, and Katie left for home to get some rest. It's the next day. Today is the first day Katie and I have missed the sunrise since our best friend relationship. I had to take care of Conner. We took Conner to school first, and then we left for our second day of high school. It's Thursday, which means I go to the coffee shop today with Katie and her friends. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about it, but I'm doing it for Katie. Anyway, my first four periods pass by so fast with me thinking of the coffee shop and how my dad is doing. It's the fifth period again, and Kattie still forgot to meet me in the bathroom. Why? I thought she was sorry? Maybe she forgot. After school is over, we go and get ready for the coffee shop hangout. "I am so nervous," I tell Katie in a shaky voice. "You'll be okay, Hadley. They are nice, I promise." I shake my head as an agreement with what she has just said. On our way out, I tell Conner to go over to Katie's and hang out with her little brother while I am gone. I was so nervous the whole ride there, but when everyone arrived, my nerves chilled a little bit. Two hours have passed, and everyone starts leaving except this one girl Emily. Kattie offers to take her home, and she kindly accepts. Emily was the first one to the car and sat in the front. That's my seat, I think to myself. I look over at Katie, and she just shrugs her shoulders and gets into the car. I think oddly to myself and then just get in the back seat. I ask Katie to play our song, "I'll be there for you," but Emily quickly turns the station to a completely different song. At this point, I am distraught, but I make it through the ride. When we get done dropping Emily off, I ask, "Okay, where in the world did you meet that girl?!" Katie rolls her eyes, "Don't be rude." I was so shocked I didn't know what to say. Katie has always been on my side, but now it is different. Anyway, we get home, and I get Conner ready for school in the morning and put him to bed. It's the next morning, and I swear I didn't get any sleep at all. I was up tossing and turning all night. On our way out the door, I ask Katie if we can go to our spot and watch the sunrise. She says, "Sure for a little bit, but we have to go pick up, Emily." I was so confused. Why? Is Emily going to be around more often? We leave to watch the sunrise at 6:00 just like every other morning except this time Conner is with us, and we have to leave early to get Emily. I wish we can go back to old times. Mom is still in the hospital with dad, so until he gets better, I guess we are stuck with the way things are. We leave the sunrise at 6:35 this morning to get Emily. The sunrise today was so dull. Not many colors, really. After we dropped Conner off, we left to get Emily. When we saw Emily walking up, Kattie told me to get in the back. I looked confused, "For what?" She looked at me and said, "Get in the back!." "You're crazy. Really, for her?." She rolled her eyes. I got into the back like she said, but I was upset the whole way to school. They were having so much fun, jamming to music, and taking photos. I felt so alone. When we arrived at school, Emily and Katie entered the school together, leaving me behind. The day went by so fast, and I didn't even bother to go to the bathroom during the fifth period this time. She is probably just with Emily. I waited outside the school for Katie as always. She walked out with Emily, and they both looked at me and rolled their eyes. I wonder what's going on with that. Emily walked in the opposite direction as Katie and me. "So, I'm guessing we aren't taking Emily home again.?" Katie ignored me. The whole way home was silent. She wouldn't talk to me. When we got home, I asked Katie to watch the sunset with me in the treehouse. "Cant, I'm going to see a movie with Emily." she says. I feel my heart crumble and fall into a trashcan as it sinks down and down through the floor. "What? Really? Please, Katie. We haven't hung out together in two or three days." I begged her not to go, but she still left me. My mom finally came home from the hospital. I was so happy to see her. "Where's dad?" I asked. She looked at me with her eyes filled with tears. I start sobbing in the realization of what happened. He's gone. "Why him?" I cried soberly. It's been three days, and Katie still hasn't checked up on me. "I thought she was my best friend." I told my mom, miserably. She looks down at me and says, "Don't worry, if she loves you, she'll be back." I shook my head-hugging her so tightly. Two hours passed when I heard a ring at the door hoping It was Katie. I open the door and there she is. I just want her to hug me as tightly as she possibly can, but she doesn't. Instead, her eyes are red from crying, and asks, "Do you wanna watch the sunset?" I shook my head, yes, and we went up to the treehouse. It was about five minutes of silence, and then I said, "It's pretty today, don't you think?" She looks at me and then back into the distance, "Yes. It is." she pauses for a while and then says, "Look, I heard about your dad, and I am so sorry. I felt so bad for you and bad for the way I have been treating you. I just didn't know what to do." I felt so relieved to hear that from her. I look at her and say, "But why? Why did you treat me the way you did?" She started crying even more, "I was scared. I didn't like seeing you hurt because it made me hurt. You know I'm moving? I start crying even more, "Really? Why? First, I lose my dad, and now I'm losing you." She grabs my hand and says, "It's okay from this point in time to the time I leave, we are watching every sunrise and every sunset together." I felt so relieved to have my best friend back. I missed her. Seven beautiful sunrises and sunsets have passed. Today is me and Katie's last sunrise together. We both meet at our spot at exactly 6:00 a.m. After the sunrise is over, I help Katie finish packing, and then that was it. That was our first and last goodbye forever. I will never forget Katie Marie Robinson as long as I live. I ended today differently. Instead of watching the sunset in me and Katie's treehouse, I watch it in the moon's reflection off the beautiful lake we used to go and swim in every day for five years.