*******AUTHOR'S NOTE*********
EVERYBODY IN THIS STORY IS 18 OR OVER
This is my first time writing from personal experience. This is very dear to my heart and I almost didn't publish it.
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Kathy Schiefer. It's always been about Kathy Schiefer. I've known Kathy since her family first moved into town when her and I were both only five years old. They just so happened to chose to attend the same multicultural church my family attended.
Her and I weren't best friends. We were too different and didn't see each other outside of church events often enough to build that kind of bond. But we still had a very special friendship none the less.
Her family is exorbitantly wealthy. They reside in the upper-class part of town in a nice mini mansion on top of a hill. It looks like something out of a vacation advertisement. Whereas I grew up in extremely violent, ghetto and impoverished part of town. I may have moved out of there when I was eleven but it hasn't left me.
I no longer live in a run down area but it still feels like I do because I go there almost everyday. The majority of my friends and family have not been lucky enough to leave that place behind so I go there to visit or hang out almost every day. Around here somebody is always getting shot, stabbed or robbed. It's the usual.
Kathy and I are both 19 years old and we just finished high school. Her family could have afforded to send her to a bourgeois private school but her father believes in struggle and hard work. He built up his own business empire with his bare hands and wants to instill that into his daughters.
Kathy is a white girl with light brunette hair. She has a fairly slender figure. Her skin is bright and radiant and her smile is infectious. I have yet to meet any girl quite like her.
I however am Cuban with flowy short-longish hair. I'm very tall and imposing and have an athletic build. I dress very "urban." At least that's what my high school principle called it. Kathy always thought that I looked "adorable."
Kathy and I went to the same middle and high school but the only time we got to really talk or connect was during church events. During school we were a part of two very different groups. She associated with the preppy wealthy kids and I hung with the criminals and troublemakers.
We would smile at each other in passing or maybe she'd say a quick "hi, Justin" and I'd say an even quicker "sup, Kath." I always called her Kath. During those six hours of school we could not associate with each other and neither of us disliked this unspoken agreement. It's just the way things were during grade school.
When we finally got home we would send each other emails. Yes, we could have texted and that would have been easier but something about signing in every couple days hoping to see something from Kath just made it seem more personal.
We would send long multi paragraph emails to each other every few days or sometimes every month or so just updating each other about what's going on in our lives. Whoever arrived at church first on Sunday would save a seat for the other person. I was always waiting for prayer to start just to have an excuse to hold her hand.
Our hands would always stay together just a little longer than everybody else's. This has been our relationship for a while now. Quick hallway greetings, emails and church gatherings. I never missed a Sunday service no matter how I was feeling or how busy I was. My parents thought I really loved God. I just really love Kathy.
It started out as a small crush but after all the time spent sitting next to her. All the youth group outings and cookouts. All the visits to her house with my family I grew madly in love with her. She is everything to me.
It is now 5;30 pm on a Wednesday and I'm preparing to leave for the middle of the week night service. It's not Sunday so we don't have to be as dressed up. I put on black cargo shorts, a long baggy shirt accompanied by a baggy blue hoodie. I grab my keys, enter my car and drive off.
My jaw and ribs still ache from last week when Steph and his friends tried to jump while I was walking home from work. I was able to hurt two of them pretty bad and that gave me enough of a window to run to safety. There's no way I could have fought the entire group at once.
I gently rub my jawline as I pull into the church parking lot. Church doesn't start until 7 pm but I like to get there at 5:45 before the rest of the congregation arrives. This gives me more alone time with Kathy, who also arrives early.
I back my car into a parking space and see Kathy standing by the door waiting for me outside. She smiles and waves at me and I do the same back. I get out of my car and walk towards her. She speed walks towards me and gives me a big hug, the kind only Kathy gives.
She is wearing a long yellow summer dress along with black sunglasses. She has her hair out today. Usually at school her hair is tied up or in a pony tail. But right now she looks so free and comfortable.
"How're doin', Kath?" I ask still gripping her in my arms.
"Fine now" Kathy replies with her head in my chest.
"Okay, I think we've hugged for long enough, Kath." I say not really wanting the hug to end. I could live in this moment forever.
She releases me and we both start heading towards the building. We go inside and proceed down stairs into the kitchen area of the church. I open the refrigerator and take out two soda bottles. I toss one to her, open mine up and sip.
"So...Penn State. That's real far away." I say after my sip.
"Yeah but I've wanted to go to this college since I was a little girl. I love the area and my dad graduated from there. It's my dream school." Kathy replies in an excited tone.
I'm happy for her being able to live out her dreams but a part of me wishes that she would have picked a school nearby. Why does she have to go so far away? Our hometown isn't so bad. I see Kathy noticing the sad look on my face.
"Awwhh. Don't worry Justin. I'll come back home during every break I get. I'll email you everyday. I'll send you pictures and actual letters in the mail. I'll tell all my friends about how badass you are. It'll be like you're there." Kathy says with a grin.
Kathy always knew how to bring my mood up. She was there for me when my best friend got shot. When I didn't know who to trust and I had my doubts about everyone. I never once doubted her.
"We have another hour to kill before anybody shows up here. What do you wanna do?" I ask taking another sip.
"I just want to talk to you, Justin. I want to really, really want to just hang out. Like really hang out. Not during a church event." She said leaning against the counter.
"I would love that so much, Kath" I said trying to contain my happiness.
