Freeman 1
Cyndi Freeman
Professor Hendrick
Comp 1
2/7/2021
Taken Too Soon
There I stood, frozen in shock and disbelief in my pastor’s living room. I was 13 years
old on that cold winter day. The day will forever be ingrained in my mind; it was Thursday,
November 18, 1993. It is the day that forever changed my view of this world. One moment I was
sitting around my pastor’s coffee table playing games during our youth group game night. Then
out of nowhere, my pastor came rushing in and told me I needed to call this number as soon as
possible. Taking the little piece of paper with torn edges from his hand, I walked with him into
the kitchen to use the phone. My stomach was tied in knots as I dialed the number, and the line
started to ring. My hand began to tremble as I played with the black coils of the long telephone
cord. Only moments before, we were all laughing and giggling, and now, I felt as though I might
faint.
After what seemed like forever, my friend Elizabeth answered with a sniffle and a
choked-up voice. I asked if she was okay and that is when she wailed out that Missy had been
shot and killed by a girl in our school! I yelled into the phone, “This can’t true, it had to be some
cruel joke, but I wasn’t laughing.” I just spoke to Missy before we left school. My heart began to
sink as the tears streamed down my face. I cried out, “Please tell me this is a joke; you have to be
joking!” Elizabeth said, “I would never joke about something like this.” In an instance, reality set
in, and with a heavy heart, I made my way outside into the sharp cold air that stung my face. I
don’t remember walking out to my mom’s car, but as I quietly sobbed the whole ride home, a
Freeman 2
ride that usually only took 15 minutes seemed to last for hours. My mom gently squeezed my
hand from time to time.
Earlier that day, I was in 6th hour with my friend Missy. The bell rang, followed by us
rushing out of class towards our lockers. Missy started telling me how Robin, a girl that had been
bullying her, had apologized. She said Robin had been really nice to her and explained that she
was just a little jealous of Missy. Robin was sorry for being so mean to her. She said Robin
invited her over to her house to hang out and study. I warned her to be careful because Robin had
a bad reputation. I thought it was weird that she would just apologize all of a sudden.
Nevertheless, Missy was a friendly, outgoing, bubbly, and selfless person. She always
saw the best in everyone. She was always smiling and waving at everyone she came into contact
with. Missy was one of the first people I met when I moved to Catoosa. She was so welcoming
and friendly. That morning I almost stayed home because my stomach was swirling with
butterflies. I sat in the gym, dreading having to start the day in this new school. Being the new
kid again was so awful, and she instantly made me feel better. My shoulders relaxed, and my
stomach stopped swirling when she sat next to me and started up a conversation. She introduced
me to everyone and told me the people to watch out for.
Before Missy got on the bus with Robin, I hugged her and said, “See you tomorrow,” as
the smell of her strawberry-scented shampoo surrounded me. I can still see her smiling face as
she eagerly climbed the bus steps. When I got home, I paced back and forth to the window every
few seconds looking for my mom’s old Chrysler to pull into the driveway. I was excited to see
my church friends! I only wish I would have known what would happen so I could have invited
Missy to come with me to game night. Maybe she would still be here, or perhaps I would have
just delayed the horrific event.
Freeman 3
As revealed to me later that evening by my friend Elizabeth, Missy had been shot in the
back by Robin. Robin had only pretended to befriend Missy, so she could lure her to her house.
Robin was trying to get into a gang, and supposedly she would earn membership by killing
someone. Missy was the sort of sweet, forgiving person that Robin zeroed in on. She knew that
Missy would forgive her and be willing to come over.
After that tragic event happened Thursday afternoon in 1993, a beautiful young girl with
her whole life in front of her ended up being taken away from this world by a heinous act. As of
2005, Robin is still trying to get a pardon due to her age at the time of the crime and for good
behavior while in prison. Missy will never get a second chance at life. She will never get an
opportunity to grow up, make mistakes, have a family, or feel the warm sun shining on her face.
It was on that day that I realized how short and precious life is.
Consequently, today, I always say I love you whenever I tell my kids goodbye. You
never know if that might be the last time you get to see them. I am cautious of people, but I also
try to live like Missy, loving, caring and accepting. I learned to cherish the people in my life and
never take them for granted, but I will always trust my instincts. Hopefully, the way I live my
life will honor Missy’s life by being accepting and friendly to everyone I meet.