CHAPTER 26 (WEDNESDAY)

Lizzie wasn't in school the next day.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

Gordo: Hey Miranda, have you seen Lizzie today?

Miranda: No. She wasn't in English today. I hope she's not sick or anything.

Gordo: Think we should call her?

Miranda: Yeah. Lemme get my phone. The lunch bell rings. Rats! How 'bout coming over to work on our Chemistry project? We can call her from my house.

Gordo: Sounds great. See ya then.

END FLASHBACK

Your father and I met after school and went to my house. I phoned Lizzie. "Hey Lizzie, we missed you in school! Are you sick? What's up? Call us at Miranda's. Maybe if you're feeling up to it, we can meet at the Digital Bean? Well, bye!" We figured she'd call us back. Instead Sam called. I answered the phone.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

Miranda: Hello?

Sam: Is your mom home?

Miranda: Yeah. How's Lizzie? Is she sick?

Gordo: Who is it?

Miranda: It's Mr. McGuire.

Gordo: Is Lizzie sick?

Miranda: Shh!

Sam: I need to speak to your mother.

Miranda: Can I talk to Lizzie afterwards?

Sam: Miranda, I really need to talk to your mother.

Miranda: Okay, I'll go get her.

Daniella answers the phone: Unaware that Miranda and Gordo are listening in. Hello?

Sam: It's Sam McGuire.

Daniella: How's Lizzie? Is she sick? Miranda said that she wasn't in school today.

Sam: Hesitates. Lizzie's not sick. Hesitates.

Daniella: What's wrong?

Sam: Lizzie's gone.

Daniella: Whadya mean, gone?

Sam: She's dead. Jo found her this morning. She killed herself.

Daniella: Oh my God! Miranda and Gordo hear all and are crying in her bedroom. Wha? Why?

Sam: We don't know. We found razor blades in her bed.

Daniella: I'm so sorry. How's Jo?

Sam: She's in shock. Do you think you could ask Miranda if she may know anything?

Daniella: Gordo's here too.

Sam: Could you ask him too?

Daniella: Sure. Let me know if there's anything we can do for you.

Sam: Thanks. They hang up.

END FLASHBACK

I couldn't believe it! Lizzie, my best friend in the whole wide world killed herself. It felt so surreal. We had no clue why. She seemed so happy the night before. I couldn't believe that a few short hours after we got out of the car, she killed herself. Your grandmother knew we had listened in because when she knocked on my door, she could hear us crying.

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

Daniella: Knocks on the door. Miranda, can I come in?

Miranda: Crying. Sure.

Daniella: I take it you heard the phonecall from Mr. McGuire.

Miranda: Yeah. Is it true? Lizzie's dead?

Daniella: I'm sorry baby. She envelops Miranda in an embrace.

Miranda: Why mom? Why'd she do it?

Daniella: They don't know. Pauses. Miranda, Gordo, I hate to ask, but has Lizzie been depressed lately?

Miranda: No.

Gordo shakes his head.

Daniella: Gordo, would you like for me to call your parents for you?

Gordo nods.

Daniella: If you want, you can stay home from school tomorrow.

Miranda: No, that's okay.

END FLASHBACK

Your father and I embrace each other for an eternity, it seemed. Our best friend was dead! This was just too awful to be true!