One Last Day

Marie and I have been best friends for many years. Many movie nights with popcorn scattered all over the floor and both of us hysterically laughing. That was is high school. We are now both twenty-one years old and we still have nights like that, but we just watch Netflix and eat our dinner. Today she was different. 

I invited her over for breakfast that morning. We both made it together. Scrambled eggs, french toast, pancakes, bacon, and orange juice. A really big breakfast usually comes when we are together. After breakfast, we went out to go shopping. We arrived at a little cafe to get coffee. I of course do not like coffee, so I got a tea. As we were leaving the cafe, she got a phone call. I have no idea who it was from, but she seemed to be really upset. I tried to ask her about it, but she would get all shy and move onto another topic before I could question her. I just moved on and did not bother her any more. We went clothes shopping in a few stores. By then, it was noon and we decided to get lunch. We went to a cute place to get chicken sandwiches and lemonade. The food tasted amazing. After lunch, we moved onto home shopping. We got cute plates, house plants, and other various items to put around our homes. That took us and hour or two and then we got back in my car and drove back to my house. We watched some of the latest movies, chatted about them, and ate some food. All normal. She seemed normal and happy. After our fourth movie, it was going on midnight and she had to go home to her husky, Winter. He was probably worried because she was gone since nine in the morning. We said our good byes and she rushed to her car and drove off. About an hour later, I got a strange call from her saying to come over to her house, it will be unlocked. Once there, I found a note on Winter's cage.

Dear Joanne, 

You may not see me for a while. Things have been too hard on me. I know you have been such a good friend. You were my family and I enjoyed those nights on the couch, the mess in your kitchen after breakfast, and the joy we had while shopping. I just need a break. I need everything to stop. I booked a flight and will be back in a few weeks. Please take care of Winter for me. All of his things are in that cabinet in the corner. Thank you, again. I'll be going, take care of yourself.

Your Good Friend, Marie.

That's the last words she will ever say to me or to anyone else, because after that night, the police found her on top of a wrecked car. Someone had hit her on the way to the airport. All her pain was gone. All her worry was gone.