Just a memory

Easy tasks

She had to get up, get dressed, brush her hair. They had all seemed like such easy tasks before but now she could bearly do them. Clara forced herself out of her twin bed and up onto her carpet. She walked to a mirror her eyes were red and puffy. on her dresser was the bracelet Jaycee had made her in 4th grade. She didn't know what would make her feel worse, wearing it or leaving it.

Clara grabbed a hairbrush it was heavy in her hand. She brushed out the knots in her hair she was great full to have hair on the shorter side. Today's outfit. Black nike shorts and a simple pink t-shirt. The first things grabbed from the dresser. She decided to wear the bracelet, it felt like part of Jaycee was concealed in the bracelet and leaving it behind was like leaving Jaycee behind. She couldn't let go of her, not now, not ever.

"Clair are you ready", her mom said

Her family sometimes called her Clair it was her nickname. She went be Clara but didn't mind being called Clair some of the time.

"Yes", she responded her voice more steady then she thought it would be.

Clara walked out of her room and shut the door behind her. On her door she had a wooden sign with her name on it decorated. She had made it with Jaycee in 7th grade. Her name was in black with rainbow stripes covering the rest of the board. She walked out to the car. Her mom was sitting in the front seat wearing a a very summery dress. Clara plopped down into the passenger seat clutching her iPhone.

"It's nice to see you up and about", her mom said.

All Clara could do was nod. She didn't want to be up, she wanted to be in bed watching Gilmore girls, eating pizza, and crying. Her mom started the engine, cranked the radio, and drove off leaving the house behind. She felt like she would never return.

The drive was only 15 minutes but it felt like 15 hours. The finally pulled up to a large brick building. The sight of it made Clara burst into tears.

"It's okay. You know I don't want to have to do this but it will be good for you", her mom said attempting to comfort her

"I know mom", Clara said.

Her mom offered her a tissue and she blew her nose and patted her eyes dry.

"Are you ready?"

"Yup"