Even though I didn't like Tawnya that much, my best friend, Summer, did. In fact, Tawnya was Summer's second best friend next to me. I tried to get along with Tawnya for Summer, but I constantly found myself talking about her and being in fights every other day. We were at each other's necks a lot.
But, by November something incredible happened. We slowly started to mature and (BEHOLD!!!) we actually started to get along! In fact, Tawnya started to become a good friend. We started to learn to respect each other and our differences.
At Christmas, I gave her a pair of gold cross earrings. They were beautiful. She wore them rarely, but only because she didn't want to lose them. She gave me a little teddy bear with a purple and green satin dress on. She was very floppy and cute. Tawnya gave Summer a bear that looked similar to mine only with a different dress on. We both loved each other's gifts.
Well, you know the story. Tawnya and I stayed good friends for the rest of the year. We bickered sometimes, but we couldn't stay mad at each other for more than an hour. She was in my "group" and we had so many fun times for the rest of the year.
Then came summertime. We called each other a lot. I didn't see her much during the summer, but when I did I had lots of fun. We sort of grew apart, but so did me and my other friends. I guess everyone does when they don't see their friend in 3 months. We still stayed in touch and talked frequently.
Then school started. It was horrible. We were in no classes together. I had the advanced math class, when she was only in regular. I was also in band, which she wasn't. Well, she had tried out for flagline in 7th grade, but didn't make it. I was there for her, though. Anyway, we didn't get to see each other anytime, except for one time: lunch. It was pure torture.
One night at church, my youth minister told me to pick one person who was a good friend who I didn't think was saved. Instantly I thought of Tawnya. He told me to pray for her and witness to her the next day. I did so, and my witnessing went through pretty well. She didn't make a commitment, but she seemed to respect my thoughts. I liked that. We didn't talk about it much after that though.
Last Friday night we had a game at Odenville. At halftime, two ambulances sped by. I didn't think much about it after that. On riding home, I found out that at a "Haunted Hayride", two girls were shot by a horrible accident. I felt so sorry for the family and friends of the people, but I figured that if I didn't know them, it wasn't that bad. Man, I was so selfish.
Saturday morning, I figured out the worst possible news there could be. I knew the person who was shot. The person who was shot was Tawnya. She died instantly; it was just too sad. She was shot in the head. But, the worst news was that the bullet had gone through her head into another 8 year old girl. The girl was in critical condition (and still is). I was so sad and depressed. Why hadn't I tried harder to witness to Tawnya???
There are so many more things I could say. What I have written is mostly just what happened. Not my feelings. But to make up for that, here is what I feel now. SAD, DEPRESSED, HORRIFIED . Many comments have been made about how if Tawnya had made flag line for the band, she wouldn't have been at the "Haunted Hayride" that night, saving her life. I know that it would have happened anyway. I mean, God took her life for some reason. No one knows. Her time on Earth was up. It is her time to go home. I hope and pray that Tawnya did take to heart what I said to her about Jesus. I hope she took my witnessing seriously and hope that I'll never forget her.
Whenever I'm sad I think of the good times. All of the good memories. I have so many pictures and notes she sent me. What I've learned is to not take life lightly. Cherish every moment of life and remember to do everything you want. You only live once.