Spring was always the perfect time to go for a walk and take in the sights. It was the time foliage could be seen sprouting from trees. Born and raised in the beautiful city of Little Rock, Arkansas, my very dear friend Paige and I would go for walks during spring as we loved the smell of budding flowers and the most air. We would go down downtown to Riverfront Park and play with the sculptures and listen to the silent Arkansas River glistening in the Arkansas sun radiating certain warmth.
Three years ago, I can remember the day vividly as it was two days before my birthday on the 28 th of April. Paige and I went down to Riverfront Park for our usual strolls. None of us had any siblings and growing up together we had become more like sisters. We shared similar interests and did everything together. On that particular day, Paige asked me “do you think we will remain friends like this forever?” to which I replied, “sure thing, we have come a long way, and despite where the future takes us, we will always be friends.” Paige smiled, and we went on our way.
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At Riverfront Park we usually would sit at the banks of the Arkansas River and chat about life, cars, and boys. On that day, when the sun was going down, I asked Paige to join me on the Junction Bridge which linked North Little Rock and Razorback to watch the sunset. She agreed, and we went up to the high bridge. We stood on the edge of the bridge watching the beautiful evening the wind blowing on our faces. Paige then asked, “the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening, is that not how our lives are? We are born young and bring much joy like the sunrise, and then our lives end leaving a dull and eerie atmosphere like the sunset.” I was lost for words at first contemplating what she had just said. To lighten the mood, I said “this sunset is beautiful though!” as we were turning to leave, the ledge on which Paige was standing on creaked and gave way, and to my dismay, she went tumbling into the icy cold Arkansas river.
I was distressed; I called for help to the few people below and one brave man who had seen Paige fall dove into the river after her. I came down from the bridge just as the man rose from the river with Paige’s lifeless body. The man tried to resuscitate her, but she was a goner. I collapsed in a heap and cried my heart out. I blamed myself for taking Paige up the bridge, and the following months I would recoil from any social contact. It took me four months and a talk from Paige’s mom to come to terms with her passing. Paige’s mom reassured me that she was in a better place and that her sun had set. At this moment I remembered Paige’s take on life that at one point it is beautiful and radiant and the other, dull and bleak.
