Leo~~ Original Story

Instructions

I walk through Maple park's big green gate. I listen to the creek swish by. I think about how much a creek can change someone, in one moment, one wrong move. I dig my feet into the cool, wet dirt. I see a boy, giggling with his dog. How stupid I was, I think. Leo, my German Shepherd dog was perfect. Leo was my only friend. At school, I am called stupid, weird, dumb, baby, and never by my name, Grace. Leo didn't care about my grades, though, and he could always cheer me up when I was pretending to be fine. We would play ball for hours till we got so tired that Leo and I would collapse on Maple Park's wet, green grass. I would laugh and hug Leo, and tell him “I will always be there for you.” “I will always love you.” “I will always protect you.” But I didn't. Even though that horrendous day was over a year ago, I still think of it all the time, all day. And Maple Park, my used-to-be home away from home was no longer enjoyable, because of that one day- one hour, that will forever change my life. That day, I walked into Maple park, as usual, playing ball with Leo. I thought Leo would be getting bored of the regular ball game, so I threw it into the rushing creek. Leo ran up to the creek bank, then looked at me and refused. Leo never refused me. Something inside me snapped. Words from school bubbled up “Don't be a baby, Leo!” “You are so dumb!” Then Leo, being a loyal, true friend, jumped into the water. His head went under. A flash of fear ran through me. “LEO!” I yelled “It's okay, come back! Please! I'm sorry” But it was too late. That was the last time I saw my dog, my best friend, the one who got me through my life. I stare at his emptiness. Every second, stabbing my chest. I choke. I fall. I suffer. “Leo, please,” I manage to sob, “Don't die,”. I cry. Burying my head in my knees, tears trickle down. They fall. They splatter. They remind me I'm weak. I couldn't survive a minute without him. He was my gentle nudge on my shoulder, telling me everything was going to be fine. I glare at the sky. “Leo may seem gone, but he will thrive in my heart,” I mutter. I turn. One last glance at where he once stood, and I ran. It seemed strange that Leo had disappeared. I remember, very vaguely, that I had seen a glimpse of a shadow, but with a blink, it was gone. Anyways, as I was saying, I was walking into maple park. Then I saw this guy. He saw me and he ran. He was staring at the space where Leo died. It made me squirm. I can't tell who it is or how I know him. Now that I think of it, the shadow I saw was wet. No… it couldn't be. I KILLED LEO. Me. My fault. Soon after, there was a funeral for Leo. Mom and Dad were barely emotional- they just wanted to get it over and done with. I cried. I cried and cried and cried. I was the only one doing that, but I didn’t care. The next week, Grandma died. She was the other light of my life, so every day, those shining stars flickered out. The brightness dulled. The flame flickered. That's how my life ended. At school, it was worse. I was bullied, teased, and taunted. I didn't care. I wanted to leave. WIP