Its Okay, Everyone Leaves in the End

It was too much, too fast.

The tree loomed above her, its thick, burly trunk firm

against her back. The air was cold and brisk against her skin,

her clothes too baggy and the tree bark rough. She couldnt see

anything through the blur of tears. The wind howled next to her

ear, whispering and gloating. Somewhere, a car engine purred

into the night as she sobbed.

Riley hated this feeling. The feeling of loneliness, of

being ignored and being left. She hated it so much that she

wanted to crush it and never experience it again. Perhaps one

day everything would stop hurting, and people would stop leaving

her.

But she knew that it was just a fantasy.

You know I dont want to go.

It didnt matter. Didnt Kamryn see that it didnt matter?

It didnt matter that she didnt want to go. She was leaving.

And that was what mattered.

I know, Kamryn. Rileys voice was barely a whisper, thick

with tears and rough with emotion. Kamryn was leaving her.
 A list of dozens of names flashed through her mind. All of

her friends always left her. Everyone did. In one way or the

other. They moved, or drifted away, or betrayed her. Or they

passed.

Whats so wrong with me that you all leave?

A small whimper made its way out of her mouth as she cried.

Why cant someone just stay?

Riley had never felt so alone in that moment. She wiped the

tears furiously, her breathing ragged. She fisted the grass next

to her, her head dropping against the tree behind her.

The purple and black sky glowed with tiny, twinkling stars.

The sweet scent of violets and dandelions filled her nose. And

Riley just cried harder.

No one ever stayed long.

Her dad left them, leaving her for whatever was up in

heaven. Then her mom remarried, leaving Riley behind. Her mom

completely immersed herself into her new life with her new

husband and new children.

Every best friend Riley had ever had had abandoned her. And

she found her oldest friends drifting away from her, or moving.

No one bothered to stay in contact. They always left.

 The only person Riley had been by her side her whole life,

had been Noah. Noah, her only biological brother had gone off to

the Marines.

Leaving her all alone again.

Riley steadied her breathing, her sobs subsiding with her

panic attack. Kamryn was leaving.

But it was alright. Riley had known that Kamryn was going

to leave. They always did. Even though she had promised.

She had been her best friend for four years, longer than

anyone else had ever been. She had believed her when she

promised her she wouldnt ever leave. And perhaps thats why it

hurt so much.

Because she had trusted her. She had never trusted anyone

like that, other than Noah. Riley had learned to protect

herself, to hide her feelings and squirrel her secrets deep

inside herself.

Promises were meant to be broken and everyone hurt her in

the end. But then Kamryn stalked into her life with funny

t-shirts and cut off jeans. Suddenly, she found herself trusting

her. Riley told her about her fear of everyone leaving her and

told her everything there was to be told.

And they were best friends. No one couldve disputed that.

 But youre going to go anyways.

Loud ringing filled the air and Riley winced. She thumbed

her phone, barely glancing at the screen as she answered the

call.

Yeah? Noah. There was no way shed forget her brothers

voice.

Riley?

What?

Where are you?

The park.

The park? Its past midnight. Why the heck are you there?

And you know Kamryns looking for you, right?

No I didnt. But how do you know? Riley picked at the

grass, scrubbing her face tiredly.

She called me. Did you...block her? Shes worried about

you Ry.

I only blocked her for a few minutes.

Well shes looking for you.

Riley sighed, holding the phone closer to her ear.

Shes back at the house, and moms not really happy. I

guess you blocked our house too, hmm? Come on Riley, its not

healthy to do this.
 Riley didnt saw anything, simply listening to her brother

drone on and on. His voice was deep and husky with sleepiness,

but was familiar and warm at the same time.

Please Riley?

Huh? Riley brushed her short hair out of her face,

turning back to the phone. Her reflection stared back at her.

Red-rimmed green eyes, tear-stained cheeks, and crazy hair.

It would have shocked her, if she hadnt gotten used to seeing

herself like that.

Riley?

Okay, she muttered. Okay, Ill go back to the house.

Tell her to hold on.

Are you okay? Noah sounded half concerned, half sad.

Riley hesitated, weighing her options. Yeah. Im fine.

Thats a lie if I ever heard one, Noah replied softly.

Look, Im sorry, but I have to go. Training begins in four

minutes.

Okay.

Her heart dropped to her stomach. She didnt want Noah to

go. She didnt want to face Kamryn, or go back to the happy

family at home. She just wanted to sit under the stars and cry.
 I love you Ry. And whatever...whatevers going on at home,

and with Kamryn, you can tell me, you know?

No, I dont know. I dont know because youre never around

and I can only call during certain hours when Im asleep. and I

want to cry and scream and tell you everything but I cant. I

cant. Kamryns leaving and theres no one left. You all leave

me in the end. So no, no I cant talk to you and I wont be

talking to you.

I...Im sorry if youre hurt and you miss me. I miss you

too, but...but I gotta go. I love you Ry. Bye.

The phone clicked off.

Bye Noah.

Tears pricked the back of her eyes again as she let out a

loose breath. She laid back, staring at the moon sadly.

The wind whistled again, this time softer, mellower. Almost

as if pleading now, instead of gloating.

I suppose I have to go back now, Riley said into the

night. No one replied.

She pushed herself up, shaking her head. No one ever

answered. Not when they all left her. But it was alright. Riley

was used to it. What was one more?

 Peer Editing Newspaper Checklist

Editors Name: Annika Doeppers Author of article: Angela Ma

Directions: Read your partners paper from beginning to end. Then go back through the paper and
place a check in the blank next to each item listed below if you find that it needs no improvement. If the
item on this list is not present or needs work, place an X in the blank and offer constructive comments to
help your partner correct this item. Avoid negative criticism. Show respect for your partners ideas.

Body
Each body paragraph has a clear topic sentence? Yes/ No
Comments:

The paragraphs give detailed information to support the thesis statement? Yes/ No

Comments:

The paragraphs include relevant quotes to support ideas? Yes/ No

Comments:

Conclusion
The paragraph adequately restates the ideas from the thesis statement? Yes/ No
Comments:

The paragraph wraps up/summarizes main points from the body of paper? Yes/ No
Comments:

Research
All sources are appropriately documented and cited. Parenthetical documentation,
works cited page, and quoted material in correct MLA or APA format? Yes/ No
Comments:

Style, Grammar, Format, and Conventions

Yes/ No The paper is free of run-ons, comma splices, and sentence fragments.
Yes/ No The paper is free of comma splices.

Yes/ No The paper is free of sentence fragments.

Yes/ No The format of the paper follows the formatting guidelines (double-spacing, header, title, font size,
etc.)

Yes/ No The paper contains no spelling errors.

Yes/ No The paper contains no capitalization errors
Yes/ No The paper contains no punctuation errors.

Other suggestions for improvement:

 Peer Editing Newspaper Checklist

Editors Name: Author of article:

Directions: Read your partners paper from beginning to end. Then go back through the paper and
place a check in the blank next to each item listed below if you find that it needs no improvement. If the
item on this list is not present or needs work, place an X in the blank and offer constructive comments to
help your partner correct this item. Avoid negative criticism. Show respect for your partners ideas.

Body
Each body paragraph has a clear topic sentence? Yes/ No
Comments:

The paragraphs give detailed information to support the thesis statement? Yes/ No

Comments:

The paragraphs include relevant quotes to support ideas? Yes/ No

Comments:

Conclusion
The paragraph adequately restates the ideas from the thesis statement? Yes/ No
Comments:

The paragraph wraps up/summarizes main points from the body of paper? Yes/ No
Comments:

Research
All sources are appropriately documented and cited. Parenthetical documentation,
works cited page, and quoted material in correct MLA or APA format? Yes/ No
Comments:

Style, Grammar, Format, and Conventions

Yes/ No The paper is free of run-ons, comma splices, and sentence fragments.
Yes/ No The paper is free of comma splices.

Yes/ No The paper is free of sentence fragments.

Yes/ No The format of the paper follows the formatting guidelines (double-spacing, header, title, font size,
etc.)

Yes/ No The paper contains no spelling errors.

Yes/ No The paper contains no capitalization errors
Yes/ No The paper contains no punctuation errors.

Other suggestions for improvement: