It was a long drive from Jersey to Tennessee. Time for Andy to think, to try to forget, and to put the past behind her. As she approached the southern border of West Virginia and left her home further behind her, Andy was feeling much better. The tune of Aretha Franklin's 'I Will Survive' belted from the speakers, and an excited Andy bounced along and sang her heart out.
As Andy moved to the sound of Aretha's voice, she glanced around, studying the mess of a car that surrounded her. She noticed countless empty fast food bags and Styrofoam containers filled with a few remaining drops of now lukewarm coffee. On the seat beside her, there lay several maps of the East Coast in varying degrees of disorder. Beside the maps were letters from Lizzy, helping her to remember her friend, and at the same time allowing her to locate Lizzy by return address. A rather large box of tissues was nestled beside Andy, for the frequent times when tears came randomly. There was also an assortment of travel items thrown here and there: gum, sunglasses, and of course, a wide selection of CD's.
Andy did love her music. She listened to just about every type of music out there in some shape or form. But most of all, Andy loved oldies. Well not necessarily 'oldies' but those older songs, the ones that make you sing and even dance along. There was nothing better than that upbeat music and the catchy lyrics that everyone knew. The kind of song that you forgot about until hearing it or that you weren't even aware you knew at all. The lyrics that you started singing without even realizing what it was that you were doing. Aretha was quite possibly one of Andy's all time favorites. That
woman could sing. There was no denying that.
"I, I WILL SURVIVE! Just as long as I know how to live I know I'll stay alive! I've got all my life to live! I've got all my soul to give! I will survive, I will survive!"
After driving for several more hours that seemed to last an eternity, Andy finally reached Memphis, Tennessee. She had memorized the map of this area several hours ago, when she'd stopped for lunch. Now it was almost 3:00pm, and she was almost there. Andy pulled up in front of a fairly small two-story home, looking very pretty and homely. Beautiful flowers, shrubbery, and a few weeping willows surrounded the house, making it even more appealing to the eye. A sweet aroma filled the air and Andy breathed in the intoxicating smell, as she shut off the engine and exited the car. Lizzy had always loved plant life of all forms and had been gardening and planting things for as long as Andy knew her.
Andy tucked an escaped strand of her long, chestnut hair behind her hear, smoothed her travel worn clothing, and took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come. She walked up the path leading to the house, her deep brown eyes smiling for the first time in days. The thought of seeing Lizzy caused her to nearly squeal with glee, as she approached the door and raised her hand nervously to the door.
Knock, knock, knock. There, she'd done it. She'd knocked on the door. At any moment, Lizzy would open the door and...
"Andrea Jacobs! Ohmygod! Andy! What are you doing here?"
"Lizzy! I missed you so much!"
"The feeling is mutual, girl. Come here!"
The tall, thin blonde embraced the somewhat smaller brunette, and soon the two girls moved into the house, Lizzy shutting the door firmly behind them. She ushered Andy towards the back deck, and after retrieving some refreshments and sitting her obviously tired friend down, looked the girl over and instantly knew something was wrong.
"An, sweetie, what's wrong? What brought you all the way down to me in little old Memphis?"
Lizzy had always been like this. She was ultra perceptive, caring, quick to the point, and well, generally very persistent. Andy knew that she'd have to spill everything before Lizzy would even let her leave the chair she was in. She just wasn't sure how to start, WHERE to start. She took a deep breath and looked at her friend.
"Well, I, um, really missed you...and actually, I'm...thinking about, uh, moving down here. More like I am moving down here, really."
This fractured statement was received by a shocked look and a questioning gaze. "Andy, I thought you were happy in Jersey. With Princeton and James."
Lizzy paused when she saw Andy wince at the mention of James. "An, this has to do with James, doesn't it? Did he hurt you? You don't have to leave Jersey just because of some man, you know."
"Lizzy, um, yeah actually, I think I do. James didn't hurt me, well, not intentionally, but this definitely involves him, and I'm definitely in pain. This is so hard to say."
Lizzy gave a sympathetic glance. "Well then, just come out and say it. You know that it'll make you feel better to get this off your chest. It must be pretty big to have left you all broken down and tired like this. You're the strongest person I know, Andy. You've been through so much."
That simple statement reminded Andy that Lizzy knew everything there was to know about her, and vice versa. They knew each other so well that sometimes it was scary. Lizzy deserved to know the truth, to know everything.
"Lizzy, James...he um...well...he...he...died."
With this last word, Andy's face contorted in pain, and tears that she didn't think she had left began to fall quickly. She hadn't said THAT word aloud until this moment, and there was no stopping these tears, the sobs that shook her small frame. Lizzy gasped and pulled Andy to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. "Oh, Andy, I'm so sorry, i'm so sorry. Don't you worry, An. Everything will be all right. You'll be just fine."
The blonde held this crumbled girl, smoothing her hair and uttering comforting words until the sobbing ceased, and the broken girl lay sleeping quietly in her friend's arms. Even in her sleep, a pair of sad blue eyes watched Andy, their owner wishing she could do something to stop this girl's pain.
'She doesn't deserve to hurt like this. Not after all that she's been through already.'
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