Prologue
"Nick! Let's go!!" I heard my sister BJ yell from the bottom of the stairs. After a few minutes, she ran up to get me, and she found me in the room that she had shared with my best friend, Caitlin.
"Nick, what are you doing in here?" BJ asked me.
"Nothing. Just thinking....."
"I'm so sorry, Nick," she said, giving me a reasuring hug. Tears filled her eyes. My eyes wandered over to Caitlin's jewelry box. I opened it up, and found what I was looking for.
"BJ, it's not your fault."
Caitlin was killed three days ago in a car accident, caused by a drunk driver. We silently walked out of the room and downstairs into the living room, where my parents, my sisters Leslie and Angel, and my brother Aaron were waiting. My mother saw me and her face washed with concern for me.
"It's time to go," she said to us.
' What a day today is,' I thought to myself. I stared out the window the whole drive to the funeral, not saying a word. The day was cloudy, without an inch of sun in the sky. Caitlin always hated days like these. I sighed, trying not to let my tears get the best of me. All the thoughts of Caitlin clouded my mind.
' How could she do this to me?' I asked myself, a tear dropping onto my lap. 'How could she leave me like this?'
When we pulled into the parking lot, my heart plummeted to my feet. I took out the piece of jewelry that I had taken from Caitlin's jewelry box. I put my head in my hands as I recalled the day that I had given her the Promise Ring.
We were 15 when I gave her the ring. I was leaving to go to Europe, and I had made her promise me that NO MATTER WHAT, we would always stay best friends. Then I boarded the plane.
My family and I climbed out of the car into the gloomy atmosphere. Caitlin's family sobbed quietly. It was mostly immediate family. When Caitlin was 16, her parents went on a trip, and unfortunelty, were killed in a fire. Caitlin ended up staying with us for the last 2 years of her short life. Caitlin's loss only made us become closer together.
Just then I felt a tap on my arm. I turned around and saw my fellow bandmate Brian Littrell, soon followed by AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough. Brian's eyes spoke words to me. They all gave me quick hugs before we went inside. My family had already gotten seats in the front row, right in front of Caitlin. I looked right at her. She was so beautiful. Her casket was covered with flowers and gifts. I looked down at the flower I was holding in my shaking hands. I wasnt giving that up until I absolutely had to. I numbly walked up to her and sat down beside her. I expected her to wake up when I knelt down. I gently placed my hand on top of hers ; a hand that used to be so lively and vibrant. I just looked at her for what seemed like an eternity. I heard Aaron call me over to sit down. I took my seat and waited. I had agreed to saying a few words in honor of Caitlin. I had no speech, just my heart to guide me.
"Now a few words from Nickolas Carter," the man said. I took a deep breath and walked to the podium. I looked at the audience and started my tale.....
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