It was just over a year ago, I was on a news website, absent-mindedly, browsing various news stories when I came across an article that caught my eye. The article said, 32-year-old killed in house fire. I recognised her, she was from my high school. She’d been in my year level. Her name was Jessica. While I hadn’t had much contact with her, nor spoken to her a great deal, I couldn’t help feeling sad. Jessica had been pulled from her house, unconscious. Paramedics had worked to revive her, but were unsuccessful.
In any case, the event, while tragic, had slipped my mind in the past year. Until, by chance, I came upon her grave. I saw her name on the head stone, birth date, date of death, and a photograph of her. There was an accompanying note. Hand written and recent. It read, as it approaches one year, not a day goes by where I don’t think of you, missing you always.
The next time, I went to the cemetery, after my wife attended to the graves of her relatives, we took a short walk to Jessica’s grave. Amid the vases and artificial flowers, I placed a single flower, next to her head stone. No one was around, I doubt Jessica’s relatives even knew about my visit. Or even if they know now. I thought back to, when I’d last seen her, it had been several years before. I’d been sitting inside a Grill’d Restaurant, when she walked past the window outside. In a hurry, Jessica appeared to be upset about something.
It was still quite hot, the harsh sun of summer in the air. so, I suspect my flower soon would have wilted in the heat. After that, with my wife, we headed for the exit. That night, after falling asleep, a dream began. In my dream I was once again standing at Jessica’s grave, when Jessica appeared beside me. She did not look ghoulish or ghostly, but normal. Far from hostile, she said she was both surprised and grateful, that I’d thought of her, after all these years. I am not one for belief in such things. Do I think it was actually her? Probably not, but it is an interesting thought. And so, it is on this note, that I conclude my piece To Jessica.
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A nice tribute to Jessica, RagingBull, and it’s always a sad feeling when someone we know – whether a lapsed friend or a casual acquaintance – passes away prematurely and we’ve missed the chance to say goodbye.
May Jessica Rest In Peace.
Very touching.
RIP Jessica.