Derek:
I never thought I would hear from Sophie again. She was gone and I was trying so hard to accept that. And then one day, that millionth of an ounce of acceptance that I had, that had taken me so long to gain, was gone. All it took was a phone call.
It was just an ordinary day, a Thursday. School had just gotten over with, I was doing homework. That's when the phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, I figured it was a telemarketer, I wasn't even going to answer it, but for some reason, something deep down inside told me I probably should.
"Hello?"
"Hi, um Derek? This is Sophie. I know it's been a long time since I talked to you, but um, I found your phone number and I just figured I should, um, call you."
"Sophie?! Sophie? Is it really you?"
"Yeah . . . it's me."
It was just like the first phone call all over again. Again, I probably sounded stupid. I stuttered nervously as if this was someone I'd never met in my life. Just like the first time we spoke, I don't really remember what I said. I know we talked about her new life and what it was like in Florida. I know I told her about school, and about all of our friends. But the most important part of that conversation was when she told me she was coming to visit.
Sophie:
The time was finally here. June 12. The day we leave for Ohio. There would be an exceptionally long car ride that I didn't know how I would sit still during. I surprised myself. I was actually excited to be going. I don't know what made me do the impulsive thing of calling Derek, just as I had that day after we first met. I was nervous, but I eventually worked up the nerve to do it. And now I was going to see him again.
For the first time since I'd been in Florida, I realized the changes I'd gone through weren't for the better. Derek made me realize this. He reminded me of all the things we used to do together, and I thought back to how I used to be. The old me would never like any of the things the new me liked. I realized I hated my new hair color, my new clothes, and my new music. There was nothing fun about life anymore. It was fun to dress up in clothing that was different from everyone else and to listen to upbeat music, while dancing my way through life.
After we hung up the phone that night, I went into my closet and pulled out all of my fun dresses and leggings. I began to remember what I loved about them. I found old scrapbooks, pictures of fun times with Derek, pictures from our day at the beach, our sandcastle. I found the movie ticket from our first date, and so many other memories. I found a soccer ball.
I took the soccer ball outside and started kicking against the wall, just as I used to do at my old house. It felt so weird, so unfamiliar. I hadn't kicked a soccer ball in months. I used to be 24/7 soccer, and then I somehow just quit. I realized I had missed it.
I had missed Derek too. I remember leaving him. God, how could I forget? That was the saddest day of my life. When I told him I was moving we were both devastated, but when it actually came time for me to leave it was horrible.
He came over to say goodbye. I don't know why I thought it would be easy. We stood in my driveway as he held me in his arms. I was crying. Hard. I remember thinking about my family in the car, all packed up and ready to leave. I knew they were all staring at us, and waiting patiently for me to get in the car. But I didn't want to leave. So we stood there in the driveway, getting soaked with rain, until my sister finally called out to me.
I couldn't bear to let go, but I had to. So in risk of wanting to hug him just once more, I sprinted. I sprinted away from my house, and Derek, and everything I was leaving behind. I sprinted until I reached our van and then I got in, and I left. That was the last of my life. The life I wish I could have back.
