�Well, my Siobhan, my Syvanni-bean....I know this is going to be the hardest for you, and you have to believe me that I do not want to leave you. I love you so much. You are the closest friend I have ever had, even closer than Ally, Kenni, and Tari. The kids I knew in elementary and junior high schools don�t even add up to what I have with you. It�s astronomical. But I need you to do something for my, my Syvanni.� Madison said, looking into her friend�s brown eyes. They were more of a light brown, compared to Kennedi�s which were a deep chocolate color.
�W-W-what?� Siobhan stammered, as she tried to keep her sobs in check.
�I need you to not feel sad that I�m gone. Not for too long anyways. I really need you to be brave for me, and live your life to it�s fullest, okay? It�s what I want.� Madison said, her eyes full of tears, too.
�O-O-okay.� Siobhan said, shakily. She didn�t trust her voice to say more than that. She then lowered her head into Madison again, and clutched her tight, �I love you.� she said, her voice muffled.
�I love you, too, my sweet darling girl.� Madison said, hugging her back. She held her for a few moments.
�Maddi?� Siobhan asked, lifting her head, tears pooled in her eyes.
�Yeah, honey?� Madison asked, her heart just breaking.
�Will you say Hi to Annie for me? And tell her that I love her?� Siobhan asked.
�Absolutely.� Madison promised, even though she herself didn�t believe in heaven. All of her friends did, though, so she played along. Siobhan buried her head back into Madison, and after a few moments Madison whispered to her, �Is it okay if the others come back in?� Siobhan nodded, so Madison raised her voice and called, �Ally, Tari, Kenni, you can come back in now!�
The threesome came back into the room slowly, as if each was thinking about what Madison had said. They gathered onto the bed, and Tara suddenly squealed, �Ally�s transferring to Edina State!�
�I know! You guys are going to have so much fun!� Madison smiled.
Tara opened her mouth and then closed it again, her eyes filling with tears. Madison immediately understood, �But it would be better if I was coming, right?� she asked.
Tara nodded, tearfully, and Madison reached out her free arm to her friend, who shifted over and hugged Madison. She and Siobhan stayed like that until Madison�s mother came in.
�Okay, girls, I want Madison to get some sleep now, it�s getting quite late.� Maureen said.
�Okay, we were just going to go to sleep anyways.� Tara said, as she got off the bed and sat on her sleeping bag on the floor. Alyson and Kennedi got into theirs too, while Siobhan stayed on the big bed with Madison for a while. Finally she slipped into her own sleeping bag, and the light was turned off.
�Good night guys, I love you so much!� Madison called out.
�I love you too!� Tara called.
�You guys, too!� Alyson echoed.
�I love you more!� Kennedi said, grinning in the dark.
�Love you to bits and the end of the universe and then some!� Siobhan called out, sounding choked up.
�Love you!� Madison said, and then turned in her bed, allowing sleep to take over.
* * * * * * *
The next morning, Siobhan was the first to awaken, followed quickly by Kennedi. They opened the shades, allowing the sunlight to reach Tara�s and Alyson�s sleeping bags, but not Madison�s bed.
�Rise and shine!� Kennedi called.
�I�m up.� Tara said, and crawled over to Madison�s bed and went to shake her and screamed, �She�s cold!�
Alyson rushed over and felt for a pulse, �Guys, she�s passed on. She�s gone.� she said, solemnly, her eyes filling with tears.
* * * * * * *
�We commend to Almighty God, our sister, Madison Chantelle Winters, and we commit her body to the ground...�
Alyson thought that was a little weird. Madison had been an atheist, she didn�t believe in God, and yet they had a Christian burial for her. She stood there, arm in arm with Tara and Siobhan, with Kennedi on Siobhan�s other side. All four of them were wearing black dresses and veils, watching Madison�s casket being lowered into the ground. Siobhan was sobbing openly, Tara was crying, tears streaming down her cheeks, and both Kennedi and Alyson were teary-eyed.
�...Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust...�
Each of the friends allowed their thoughts to drift off, to memories of happier times.
*October, 1998*
�Hey, my friends have taken up a whole table, so is it okay if I sit here?� Madison Winters asked.
�Sure! I�m Alyson Almond, and this is my best friend, Tara Maclayne.� Alyson introduced herself and Tara.
�Madison Winters. Nice to meet you guys. So, how�s the chicken?� Madison asked, plopping her lunch down.
�Terrible.� Alyson said, grimacing.
�It tastes like chalk....that�s been sitting in the sun for a month.� Tara grinned at her analogy.
Madison laughed, �That�s why I like to bring my lunch. So, who do you have for English?� she asked.
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