The Day I Died

I pointed two big ole thumbs at myself. Jonathan Jacobs is the name! Dying is the game!

But, actually though, less than two hours ago I was killed. Let me be the first to say, this kind of blows. The biggest bummer has to be not being able to join that Smash Tournament my friends and I were planning this weekend. I was so going to crush James.

What had happened was I was out in the forest with my little sister. She wanted to look for fairies and my mother was too tired from drinking to join her, forcing me to go instead. Lame.

Anyway, after she made it safely across the highway—by double checking both sides, the annoying little goodie two shoes she is—I followed. Only to get hit by a truck like some idiotic deer. Double lame.

Ah well, at least I won’t have to go to school anymore. Or work that part time job only to have my mother steal half my money. Or spend countless hours babysitting my obnoxious little sister.

She’s still there, by the way. Crouched over my bed body, sobbing uncontrollably and shaking my corpse like it'll wake me up. God, this is so irritating. The way she doesn’t accept things the way they are! The way she still cares! Grow up, Lily! The world doesn’t work like that! Mom is never going to be sober, no matter how many times you try to hide the liquor! Dad is never going to come back, no matter how clean you keep his room!

Damn it!

She’s still crying.

Why doesn’t she just get it already? I felt my hands tremble at my sides. I wanted to shout. To scream. To say something, anything that would get her to shut up and move on. My eyes slowly welled up.

Damn it!

I sucked in my breath. Only one question remained in my mind: can I do it over again?

Can I play the supportive brother? The one who helps his bothersome, hopeful, little sister?

Please, just one more chance?

A tear fell and flattened against the sidewalk.

Please.

She sobbed louder.

Please!

But life doesn't undo itself just because you made one dumb mistake. It never does.