As Lizzie's car began moving deeper into the grey blackness of night, Gordo
yelled to himself, "No! I'm not going to let you die tonight, Lizzie!"
And even though it seemed hopeless, he began to run in an attempt to catch
up with Lizzie's car. The driving rain was forcing Lizzie to drive slowly
and cautiously, and Gordo thought that if he sprinted as hard as he could,
he could reach her car when she would have to stop at the stop sign at the
first intersection. If he caught up with her, he was going to stand in
front of the car and force Lizzie to run over him if she wanted to keep on
driving.
**************************************
The windshield wipers on Lizzie's car were working furiously to keep the windshield clear of rain, but Lizzie was still having some trouble seeing the road ahead of her. She didn't care, though, because she loved nothing more than driving during the night while it was raining. She found it an incredibly peaceful, soothing experience.
And on this night more than any other night in her life, she was desperate to go on a drive and to use that time to sort through her frazzled and confused emotions. She was both terribly upset with Gordo, and yet deeply moved by the things he had said to her just a few moments ago and by the intense look of love and caring she had seen on his rain strewn face.
As she made the decision to keep driving, she was torn, as one part of her wanted to stop the car, get out and give Gordo a big embrace, to let him know everything was okay between them and that she really cared for him as well. But, another part of her was telling her, compelling her, pushing her, to keep going, to keep driving away. That part of her was still extremely hurt and angry about the fight that they had in her living room, and that part of her couldn't forgive Gordo for the things he said, at least not at the moment. That part of her was keeping her feet firmly planted on the car's gas pedal, that part of her was telling her that she simply *had* to go for a drive, because it was something that she was meant to do on this unusual night . . . .
****************************************************
As he kept running, Gordo could just see Lizzie's car and red blinkers in the distance. Although he couldn't tell for sure, he thought he was gaining ground on Lizzie's car. Perhaps it was a hallucination conjured up by wishful thinking, but Gordo had no time to think about what was really happening, he just kept running.
But as he was almost 50 yards beyond the McGuire's home, he suddenly felt his feet giving away underneath him. He had been running so fast that the upper portion of his body had gotten just too far ahead of his weary legs and the momentum of his weight was carrying him over and propelling him towards the hard concrete sidewalk.
Oh crap . . .
Gordo grimaced and braced himself for the impact that was about to come. He felt his right shoulder hit the sidewalk first, then he felt the right side of his head bounce off the pavement next. His body then rolled around several times before he found himself face down on the ground, dazed, not physically hurt, but emotionally wounded . . . .he was about to fail once again.
Lizzie, please stop, please stop . . . .
*********************************************
As Lizzie's car was about to reach the first intersection on her street, she gazed back in her rear view mirror, to see if Gordo was still out there. She couldn't tell for sure, but it looked like there was someone lying on the sidewalk, right under one of the street lamps. Was it Gordo?
Lizzie stopped at the stop sign, then, began to wonder if Gordo was hurt somehow, lying on the sidewalk. Maybe I should go back . . . She checked her rear view mirror again, and she was right, she did see someone back there. It is Gordo, whispered Lizzie. Was he chasing after me? Lizzie frowned with curious concern. What is going on with him? Why is he trying so hard to stop me from going on a drive? He knows I'm gonna come back in a little bit.
Ohhhh, I should go back to check if he's okay. Yeah, he's been a real jerk, but I don't want to see him hurt, he's still my . . .friend.
Lizzie pondered about the last word in her previous thought. She had just referred to Gordo as just her *friend*, instead of as her *best friend*. She couldn't remember the last time that she didn't think of Gordo as anyone else but the closest, most cherished person she knew in her life. But, she was realizing that the events of the night may have created a rift between her and Gordo, a rift that she wasn't sure could ever really heal. He had said things to her that she could never have imagined him saying to her before. And no, she wasn't sure that she could ever really *trust* him again.
She paused for a second, as she struggled with her conflicting desires. From her rear view mirror, she saw Gordo pick himself up. Okay, he's fine, Lizzie. You don't have to worry about him, he's a big boy. So go. . . .
I'm just going for a drive, Lizzie repeated to herself, I'll be back in a little bit. With that thought, Lizzie took her foot of the brakes, and was about to turn right onto the crossing street.
As her car starting to veer right, she wondered again, if Gordo knows I'm just going for a drive, then why is he acting like this is the last time he's ever going to see me again?
With that thought Lizzie quickly slammed on her brakes, as her mind and heart was suddenly overflowing with images. In her mind, she could vividly see once again the somber, pained look on Gordo's face as she was about to drive away. It *was* a look of someone who was about to lose someone he loved forever.
Me, whispered Lizzie, Gordo's afraid of losing *me* . . .
Then Lizzie began seeing images she hadn't ever seen before. She saw images of a funeral, and she saw Gordo there. Her family was there, too, and Miranda, and many other people she knew in her life.
This is like a dream, whispered Lizzie.
She saw Gordo watching intently as a casket was lowered into a grave. His face was drained of all life, pale, ghostly. He held his hands together in front him, and she could see him muttering to himself in the bright sunlight. It was a beautiful summer day, and Lizzie thought how sad it was for there to be such a sorrowful event in such brilliant sunlight. She couldn't quite make out what Gordo was saying, but she could hear him saying her name over and over again.
What's he saying? What's he saying? wondered Lizzie.
"I'm going to miss you so much, Lizzie, I'm going to miss you so much. Goodbye, Lizzie," said David in a trembling voice. Lizzie then watched as Gordo buried his face in his hands and began to weep uncontrollably.
He's going to miss me? Why? Why would he . . . . Lizzie's thoughts trailed off into the darkness, as she was suddenly with an epiphany. Everything seemed crystal clear to her in her heart, even if her rational mind didn't have a clue as to what was transpiring. She knew now what she had to do, what she wanted to do . . . .
*********************************************************
Gordo picked himself up from the ground, trying to grab a hold of his senses. He was still extremely woozy and dizzy, and even though his mind was telling him to go after Lizzie' car, his body, his legs, just could not comply. Helpless, he watched Lizzie's car drive further and further away from him, further away from his reach.
It's too late. . . .
But, as he saw Lizzie's car reached the intersection, he saw it stop, then begin to turn right. Then, he saw the car stop once again. Gordo's eyes lit up with hope. Maybe she's gonna turn around, maybe she's coming back . . . . Gordo wasn't waiting, though, as he geared himself up to run after the car again. But, just as he started his spring, he then saw the car continue its turn to the right, and just like that, the car was gone from his sight. Lizize was gone . . . .
Gordo stood there, on the sidewalk, in the pouring rain, dumbfounded. Oh, no . . . Lizzie's gone, Lizzie's gone, she's gone and it's all my fault . . .
As Gordo felt like his exhausted body was about to crumple onto the sidewalk, he saw something in the distance. A light. Two lights. Car headlights, thought Gordo. The lights were slowly getting brighter and brighter as the car kept inching closer to where Gordo was standing.
Gordo waited with baited breath as the car came nearer. The car headlights were staring straight into Gordo's eyes, making it hard to see anything except a bright blinding flashing. He squinted his eyes, hoping to be able to see who was in the car. The car was now only a few dozen yards away from him. He could finally see that the car was of a familiar make and model.
The car was now 10 yards from him. Gordo's eyes lit up as he was now able to recognize the driver inside the car . . . it was his best friend, Elizabeth Brooke McGuire. . . .
**********************************************************
Author's Note: Thanks to you all for the heartfelt reviews! It truly made my day reading your thoughts about my last chapter. Wow. Thanks again.
Hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. Please read and review and let me know what you think. And, I'll just end by saying that there's a lot more story left, it's not quite over yet!
hm
**************************************
The windshield wipers on Lizzie's car were working furiously to keep the windshield clear of rain, but Lizzie was still having some trouble seeing the road ahead of her. She didn't care, though, because she loved nothing more than driving during the night while it was raining. She found it an incredibly peaceful, soothing experience.
And on this night more than any other night in her life, she was desperate to go on a drive and to use that time to sort through her frazzled and confused emotions. She was both terribly upset with Gordo, and yet deeply moved by the things he had said to her just a few moments ago and by the intense look of love and caring she had seen on his rain strewn face.
As she made the decision to keep driving, she was torn, as one part of her wanted to stop the car, get out and give Gordo a big embrace, to let him know everything was okay between them and that she really cared for him as well. But, another part of her was telling her, compelling her, pushing her, to keep going, to keep driving away. That part of her was still extremely hurt and angry about the fight that they had in her living room, and that part of her couldn't forgive Gordo for the things he said, at least not at the moment. That part of her was keeping her feet firmly planted on the car's gas pedal, that part of her was telling her that she simply *had* to go for a drive, because it was something that she was meant to do on this unusual night . . . .
****************************************************
As he kept running, Gordo could just see Lizzie's car and red blinkers in the distance. Although he couldn't tell for sure, he thought he was gaining ground on Lizzie's car. Perhaps it was a hallucination conjured up by wishful thinking, but Gordo had no time to think about what was really happening, he just kept running.
But as he was almost 50 yards beyond the McGuire's home, he suddenly felt his feet giving away underneath him. He had been running so fast that the upper portion of his body had gotten just too far ahead of his weary legs and the momentum of his weight was carrying him over and propelling him towards the hard concrete sidewalk.
Oh crap . . .
Gordo grimaced and braced himself for the impact that was about to come. He felt his right shoulder hit the sidewalk first, then he felt the right side of his head bounce off the pavement next. His body then rolled around several times before he found himself face down on the ground, dazed, not physically hurt, but emotionally wounded . . . .he was about to fail once again.
Lizzie, please stop, please stop . . . .
*********************************************
As Lizzie's car was about to reach the first intersection on her street, she gazed back in her rear view mirror, to see if Gordo was still out there. She couldn't tell for sure, but it looked like there was someone lying on the sidewalk, right under one of the street lamps. Was it Gordo?
Lizzie stopped at the stop sign, then, began to wonder if Gordo was hurt somehow, lying on the sidewalk. Maybe I should go back . . . She checked her rear view mirror again, and she was right, she did see someone back there. It is Gordo, whispered Lizzie. Was he chasing after me? Lizzie frowned with curious concern. What is going on with him? Why is he trying so hard to stop me from going on a drive? He knows I'm gonna come back in a little bit.
Ohhhh, I should go back to check if he's okay. Yeah, he's been a real jerk, but I don't want to see him hurt, he's still my . . .friend.
Lizzie pondered about the last word in her previous thought. She had just referred to Gordo as just her *friend*, instead of as her *best friend*. She couldn't remember the last time that she didn't think of Gordo as anyone else but the closest, most cherished person she knew in her life. But, she was realizing that the events of the night may have created a rift between her and Gordo, a rift that she wasn't sure could ever really heal. He had said things to her that she could never have imagined him saying to her before. And no, she wasn't sure that she could ever really *trust* him again.
She paused for a second, as she struggled with her conflicting desires. From her rear view mirror, she saw Gordo pick himself up. Okay, he's fine, Lizzie. You don't have to worry about him, he's a big boy. So go. . . .
I'm just going for a drive, Lizzie repeated to herself, I'll be back in a little bit. With that thought, Lizzie took her foot of the brakes, and was about to turn right onto the crossing street.
As her car starting to veer right, she wondered again, if Gordo knows I'm just going for a drive, then why is he acting like this is the last time he's ever going to see me again?
With that thought Lizzie quickly slammed on her brakes, as her mind and heart was suddenly overflowing with images. In her mind, she could vividly see once again the somber, pained look on Gordo's face as she was about to drive away. It *was* a look of someone who was about to lose someone he loved forever.
Me, whispered Lizzie, Gordo's afraid of losing *me* . . .
Then Lizzie began seeing images she hadn't ever seen before. She saw images of a funeral, and she saw Gordo there. Her family was there, too, and Miranda, and many other people she knew in her life.
This is like a dream, whispered Lizzie.
She saw Gordo watching intently as a casket was lowered into a grave. His face was drained of all life, pale, ghostly. He held his hands together in front him, and she could see him muttering to himself in the bright sunlight. It was a beautiful summer day, and Lizzie thought how sad it was for there to be such a sorrowful event in such brilliant sunlight. She couldn't quite make out what Gordo was saying, but she could hear him saying her name over and over again.
What's he saying? What's he saying? wondered Lizzie.
"I'm going to miss you so much, Lizzie, I'm going to miss you so much. Goodbye, Lizzie," said David in a trembling voice. Lizzie then watched as Gordo buried his face in his hands and began to weep uncontrollably.
He's going to miss me? Why? Why would he . . . . Lizzie's thoughts trailed off into the darkness, as she was suddenly with an epiphany. Everything seemed crystal clear to her in her heart, even if her rational mind didn't have a clue as to what was transpiring. She knew now what she had to do, what she wanted to do . . . .
*********************************************************
Gordo picked himself up from the ground, trying to grab a hold of his senses. He was still extremely woozy and dizzy, and even though his mind was telling him to go after Lizzie' car, his body, his legs, just could not comply. Helpless, he watched Lizzie's car drive further and further away from him, further away from his reach.
It's too late. . . .
But, as he saw Lizzie's car reached the intersection, he saw it stop, then begin to turn right. Then, he saw the car stop once again. Gordo's eyes lit up with hope. Maybe she's gonna turn around, maybe she's coming back . . . . Gordo wasn't waiting, though, as he geared himself up to run after the car again. But, just as he started his spring, he then saw the car continue its turn to the right, and just like that, the car was gone from his sight. Lizize was gone . . . .
Gordo stood there, on the sidewalk, in the pouring rain, dumbfounded. Oh, no . . . Lizzie's gone, Lizzie's gone, she's gone and it's all my fault . . .
As Gordo felt like his exhausted body was about to crumple onto the sidewalk, he saw something in the distance. A light. Two lights. Car headlights, thought Gordo. The lights were slowly getting brighter and brighter as the car kept inching closer to where Gordo was standing.
Gordo waited with baited breath as the car came nearer. The car headlights were staring straight into Gordo's eyes, making it hard to see anything except a bright blinding flashing. He squinted his eyes, hoping to be able to see who was in the car. The car was now only a few dozen yards away from him. He could finally see that the car was of a familiar make and model.
The car was now 10 yards from him. Gordo's eyes lit up as he was now able to recognize the driver inside the car . . . it was his best friend, Elizabeth Brooke McGuire. . . .
**********************************************************
Author's Note: Thanks to you all for the heartfelt reviews! It truly made my day reading your thoughts about my last chapter. Wow. Thanks again.
Hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. Please read and review and let me know what you think. And, I'll just end by saying that there's a lot more story left, it's not quite over yet!
hm