Hey Lucy, I remember your name

I left as soon as the sun went down. I had to, if I wanted to get some time with her before I had to return. The trip was three hours each way and I wasn't familiar with the area where she was located now.

Hey Lucy, I remembered your birthday

It was quiet on that grassy hill in Pennsylvania. There was a bit of rain, a drizzle really, that served to deter visitors as well as the odd hours. I was thankful for that minuscule benevolent act by Fate. Similar actions had been scarce since last November.

I just came to talk for a while, got some things I need to say

I left the Jeep in the lot, and started the long walk to her new residence. The path is through the thickest part of the woods. She'd fallen in love with the forest at seven, and never stopped. She got me involved with all of her preservation projects (not always as a willing assistant. I wish I had made more of an effort to support her. It's too late now.)

They said it'd bring some closure to say your name

16 months ago, Lucy's car had been hit by a drunk driver. She'd been driving home from college for Thanksgiving, and had reached Old Stone Bridge, about 45 minutes away from Violet Hill. The other driver forced her over the bridge and into the valley below. The fall off the bridge was only about 8 feet. She had worn her seat belt, and the injuries appeared minimal to witnesses. They weren't.

I'll see you in another life

Lucy had crushed several vertebrae in her spine during the fall. She had broken some ribs and her left leg as well, but it would be her neck injuries that were fatal. Several people called 911 and the responders were quick to get to the scene. They realized that to live, Lucy would require immediate surgery on her neck. It's so ironic, the girl who couldn't stand the idea of swallowing an aspirin for a headache, would have been forced unconscious for days by far more severe drugs.

Now that it's over, I just wanna hold her

She never made it to the hospital that specialized in spinal injuries. It was an hour west of the bridge, an hour that Lucy wouldn't live through. I couldn't help but wonder how different things would be if that first call to 911 had been placed a mere three minutes earlier.

I'd give up all the world to see

She had lived fifty-seven minutes after being loaded into a rescue helicopter. The pilots were considered the best in the nation and among the greatest in the world.

It wasn't enough to save Lucy that day. Nor did the medics' many attempts to revive her, both in the air on the ground, bring her back around.

Hey Lucy

In typical Lucy fashion, she was impatient for even death.


This is the fruit of an idea that prompted me to create my FF account, inspired my pen-name, and motivated me to finally share my writing.