The Willow -Gibby ♥♥♥

The willow

Gaby Sosa

pd.2

11.05.13

Its where i had my first kiss, the place my friends and i would go when we snuck out, where i smoked for the first time, drank for the first time, and where we hid from the cops numerous times. Where is this place? Under a willow tree, behind my old elementary school, right in between two parks (the red park and the blue park) surrounded by bushes and hovering over a retention pond. We got in so much trouble there,but  it was so much fun.  Countless games of truth or dare and spin the bottle. A million and one secrets hidden in the vines. It was a safe place for us all; a second home. Not too far from this safe haven was a bridge over the pond.

Graduating 5th grade was a huge deal, finally going to middle school meant we were adults right? We had to do something memorable to celebrate. As we were walking home on the last day I got a brilliant idea. Once in the middle of the bridge I climbed up to the very top. Everyone watched me curiously. I felt on top of the world. I turned to give my friends one last glance, winked, and jumped. I hit the cool water and felt nothing beneath me, I automatically kicked my legs until i surfaced. I couldn't control my giggling because I knew no one would ever forget this. Next my best friends jumped in, then what seemed like the whole 5th grade class. We were all laughing and splashing, we knew our mothers would be upset but we just didn’t care because we were 6th graders now.

This became a tradition. The brave 5th grade graduates would jump in on their last day. My friends and i would watch from our beloved willow.

On the three year anniversary since we jumped in, we were done with middle school and on to high school. We sat beneath the willow, waiting to see who would be the “me” of the group, to jump in first. Some boy finally dove in and we cheered. Then one by one they were all jumping in. Half an hour or so later they were all out drying off. We were barely paying attention at this point, too excited about summer and high school. Out of the corner of my eye i saw one last girl get pushed in by two girls also going into high school. There was a faint splash..then silence. I knew my friends saw too because we were all staring at the bridge. Silence..then panic. Screaming, crying, chaos. We watched, wide eyes, frozen in fear. Sirens blaring, screaming, helicopters all around. It felt like it happened in a matter of seconds. I hadn't realized i was crying until i felt teardrops on my knees. I looked over to my friends whose faces were also stained with tears and mouths wide open. The willow shook violently from all the wind the helicopters were causing. Police cars, news vans, ambulances, and dive teams were everywhere. A cop found us and yelled for us to leave, to go home, get away. We rose without a word and parted way to our homes. Once I arrived, my family was already watching the new.

“Little girl drowned in pond performing a school ritual on the last day of school. More news on this to come. “

I felt numb.

“Little girl was pronounced dead at the hospital, after jumping into a pond participating in a school custom a few kids made up on their own.”

I started that ritual. I didn't know what to feel. Was it my fault? Who were those girls who pushed her? Where are they now?

I haven’t been to the willow since that day. i don’t think I could ever go back.

R.I.P Jordan Oliver ~ 05.12.12

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT 100% ACCURATE. Yes I knew Jordan, yes I knew who pushed her, yes i started the ritual, but no I was not there that day. This is partially from my friends point of view who were there and i did exaggerate quite a bit. The willow is no longer a place people go to hang out.