Engraved

“Bye!” I called to my friends as Lana crept towards the door. We were at an early Halloween party, and by early, I mean October 9 early. I had promised Lana that we’d leave by 11:30, but it was midnight when we did.

Lana has been my best friend for 10 years, and we have been inseparable since she moved in next door in first grade. It was always, “Joy and Lana did this,” “Joy and Lana went there,” etc. I was the crazy, adventurous one. She was the rational one who brought me back to my senses when I got overworked. She was the last piece to my chaotic puzzle.

As we walked home, we passed the cemetery, the moon giving an eerie- yet welcoming- glow to the tombstones. Contrary to the pounding feeling the bright lights and loud music gave me, this silence was- comforting. “Can we make a quick stop?” I asked Lana.

“At the graveyard?” She replied, shivering in her Tinkerbell costume. “It’s dark and freezing. Let’s just go.”

“Please!” I pleaded, “We’re only two blocks away from our street.” I turned and stopped in front of her, the streetlight reflecting on my Periwinkle costume. I pouted at her, before turning and sprinting towards the fence.

“Joy!” She called out as I jumped over it and landed on my back.

On the floor laughing, I see Lana slowly walk to the gate nearby, pushing it open, wincing at the creaking noise.

“5 minutes.” She whispered, helping me up.

We walked around, stopping at every few tombstones.

“Ryan Folie, Age: 14, Beloved friend, brother, and son…” I trailed off. “He was so young.” I sighed, glancing at the fresh flowers. I looked over to Lana, her face pale in the moonlight. “What’s wrong?” I called out, hurrying over to her.

“They all were so young.” She mumbled.

She was right. 13, 16, 14, 15….From the corner of my eye, I saw a glittery white cotton ball, much like the one I had helped Lana glue onto her heels. “Lana, your cotton fell,” I called to her, reaching to pick it up. I felt the dry glue and slowly started to get up, before I saw the tombstone I was standing at.

Lana Couffrey. August 21st, 2009 - October 10th, 2024. Beloved daughter, sister, student, and friend.

“L-Lan-Lana….” I gasped, turning around. But she was gone. “LANA!” I cried, sprinting to the gate. No response. I pushed open the gate and ran home, stopping at Lana’s house. I frantically rang the doorbell, sweat dripping down my face. A second later, I saw the porch light turn on, and Mrs. Couffrey opened the door. Her dark brown hair streaked with gray, her forehead creased with stress.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” She asked.

“I can’t find Lana, but I saw a tombstone with her name, and I can’t find her-”

“Oh, sweetie.” She said, a lone tear rolling down her face. "Lana died last year. Don’t you remember?”

Thanks for reading!

Kashika Paul