My Friend Jes

You know there are events in our lives that change us forever. Sometimes we just do not realize how much until later on in life. I was 14 years old when one of those moments of time happened to me. I will start from the beginning.

I had just started public school after having transferred from being in a private Christian school. It was not an easy transfer. I had a hard time making friends in the beginning. Jes was one of the first girls that I ever became friends with. We weren't like the best of friends, but we usually hung out with a group of girls at lunch.

Jes had the prettiest smile. It kind of lit up a room. She had pretty long brown hair. Plus, she had this sort of grace about her that I remember. She was just nice. She wasn't really outspoken, and had a quiet way about her.

I remember the last time I talked to her. For some reason, she was on my school bus that day. I had been having a tough day at school because a bunch of girls were angry with me because some of the boys they liked happened to like me. These same girls were also picking on Jes. I remember talking to Jes about it. She turned to me and said, "Debi, just be who you are. Don't let anyone stop you from being you." I remember getting off the school bus that Friday, and saying to myself, "She is right. I just need to be myself."

That Monday morning there was tons of press all over our school. Jes had been found dead. Her body was found on Easter morning near the harbor on a bunch of rocks. She had been raped and then murdered. To say that the school/community was rocked with shock would have been an understatement. We weren't that type of community. Our town was after all separated by the terms new money and old money. This just couldn't have happened to one of our own. It just couldn't.

I remember those popular girls getting on the news telling reporters how close they were with Jes, and trying to get as much TV time as possible. I remember rolling my eyes, and saying that they never knew the real Jes. I admit that maybe I didn't either. I would have never thought that Jes would have been the type to have snuck out at night, and cut through the woods behind our local 7 Eleven to meet up with some people. Apparently she had been going to a party.

The part that sticks out to me is the crying. I remember the crying of her best friend. I remember the crying of all the kids who actually knew her. Even the crying of those who didn't, but the tragedy of it all just was too much to handle. I remember how everyone went to the funeral home to say goodbye to Jes.

We were only 14 years old when our lives were changed. At least mine was. I was no longer an innocent. My family used to take me to picnic on the same rocks where they found Jes. I went there only once after she was found dead there. I remember overlooking the water, and sitting on the rocks. I told Jes that it hadn't been her time, and that I would never forget her. I never have either. Every Easter I remember who Jes was, and I cry that she never had the chance to grow up like I did. I cry for the girl who changed my life because no matter where I am in my life I will always remember her final words to me...

"Don't let anyone stop you from being you."