Personal Narrative: Combustion And Gun Fire

Combustion And Gun Fire
“The trouble is you think you have time” (Buddha). Time is something we take for granted; we always say witty quotes thinking it will prepare us for when time runs out although nothing can prepare us for sudden death. For as long as I can remember I had been around pure genuine love, one couples love story had a great impact on me. My oldest cousin Dustin fell in love at the young age of seven years old, he fell for a beautiful soul named Lindsey. I admired her personality and after years went on I became very close to Lindsey; we were like sisters. On July 18, 2012, my families lives changed forever and so did mine, Lindsey’s father Ricky murdered Lindsey and her mother Darlene. I still remember the day as If it is replaying in the back of my head. There’s often moments where certain smells or sights take me back to this day, it is a hard one to forget.
When I was much younger about age five I remember, Lindsey making her way down her trail in my grandmothers back yard to come see my cousin Dustin.
They said seven is too young to find your soul mate but they beat the odds with a twelve-year relationship. It reminded me that you should not give up on something because someone has a bad opinion about it. They were best friends and I watched them fall into something beautiful called love; although I was younger than both they still came to me for advice when they had arguments. I felt important when they came to me for help because they trusted my opinion. Watching them grow as a couple from seven to nineteen I learned an abundance from them both; they learned a lot from each other as
well. It was summer before I started my final year of middle school; I was so excited because I made the cheer team and I was finally teenager. I thought to myself often “this is the year I blossom into who I’m going to be”. Little did I know it was going to be the year I blossomed into an entire new person; it was July 17,2012 I had to spend the night at my grandparents because I had cheer camp the following morning. I was ecstatic to come home and go show Lindsey my new dance routines like we had discussed the night before when she asked if I wanted to have a girls’ sleepover. The next morning came and something seemed different it was quiet, the air was musty, and my surroundings roared with a sad silence.I quickly put it behind me and went on my way to cheer camp However, after camp I felt a knot in my stomach so I texted Lindsey and told her I wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t make it, there was no reply so I just assumed she was busy with school or with Dustin. Later that night my mom informed me no one and been in touch with Lindsey or Darlene since lunch time. I immediately called and left what seemed the longest voicemail of a life time. I thought about it, cried about it and prayed about it but nothing was giving me the answer I needed. I finally made some positive thoughts and went to bed but I was awoken to an uneasy message coming from the hallway; it was my mom she was saying “wake up their house is on fire” immediately I knew something was off. We rushed to my grandmas and walked up Lindsey’s trail to meet the rest of my family, I remember calling her phone and hoping she would pick up. Watching her house burn for what seemed like days made me feel weak because I had no control and I couldn’t help. Waiting on the fire fighters to give us the answer we had all wanted to hear we were let down to be told they had found three bodies; my surroundings were like nothing I had been around before. I distinctly remember my cousin letting out a scream full of heartbreak, the smell of burnt rubbish everywhere and there where so many questions being asked as to how, When And mostly why this happened. I also recall my mom and dad hugging me thanking god I didn’t spend the night that night. I didn’t know how to process what I had been told all I knew was that it hurt and I didn’t want to speak to anyone. Thirteen is so young to be impacted with the news that people you cared about were shot and set on fire. I knew there were crazy people in this world but I never thought I would personally know someone who could do something like that. This man we all trusted and thought of as friendly and kind turned out to be full of combustion and gunfire, he was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. I will never forget the morning of July 18,2012, it was the day I lost my best friend but also the day I matured and stepped up to make sure my family was okay. I never thought I would have to lose people I care about to shape me into the person I’m supposed to be but I suppose everything does happen for a reason.