When I Bid You Farewell
Based On a True Story
Dedicated to those Involved

It wasn't too early in the morning when Alison woke up for another harrowing school day at Lynn Mott High School. Honking the horn from outside, her best friend David parked in her driveway. He had his license for a year and a half now. But that couldn't possibly compare to the long lasting friendship he shared with Alison. For seventeen years, Alison and David grew up, watching each other change throughout the years. Indeed, seventeen years was a very long time.

There they were, Seniors at an enormous high school in Inglewood, California. It was nearly two months before graduation day and the anticipation in the two friends grew more each day. Alison opened the front door to find David, buff as ever, standing before her. "Good morning," he said with a smile on his face. Beaming back, Alison mindfully told him to sit down. "Want something to eat?" She asked as she walked into the kitchen. Like always, he let out a sigh. Then, without another word, he nodded his head. Yet, something seemed a bit different about him that particular morning. Oddly, he didn't look too good. "What's wrong with you?" Alison asked, slapping him gently on his droopy face. "Nothin'," he shrugged his shoulders. But Alison knew something was amiss. His brown hair seemed uncombed underneath his New York Baseball Cap, almost as if he didn't care. "Are you doing drugs again?" His friend suddenly asked. Brushing her dark hair out of her face, David simply said, "You're beautiful." Then, he stood from the couch and led her out the front door. Something kept hindering at Alison as she sat in the passenger seat of David's dark blue jeep. Pulling into the parking lot of their school, David opened his glove compartment. Inside was a letter. "Oh, a note!" Alison giggled, taking it out. Anxious to open it, she knew it was for her, for the name "Alison" was neatly written on the fold. Grabbing it from her finger tips, David shoved it into the visor above the steering wheel. "You can't!" He had raised his voice to her for the first time. Shocked, Alison sat speechless. "Sorry," she remorsed calmly. "It is for me isn't it?"

"Well, you can read it in my later life," he said straight-faced. She was unsure if it was an attempt to be funny. "Don't joke like that, "Alison looked at him. Quietly, he stepped out of his Jeep Wrangler. His angry expression gave no question of reason. Still, Alison couldn't help but wonder what was troubling him as they went their separate ways.

Soon, as the day ended, David drove Alison home. As usual, like it always had been, they sat in the living room and watched television. "Memories," Alison thought. Still troubled about that early morning, she sat quietly and said nothing. Without warning, David ran to the bathroom. Running to his comfort , she could smell his vomit in the toilet. "What's wrong with you?" She asked concerned. Finally, David broke free of his secret. "I took lots of pills last night," he confessed.

"Why do you do that to yourself?" Alison asked, helping him up. "That's not good for you. Why can't you tell me what's really going on?"

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