• I couldn't believe what I had done. Yet the proof; the blood-covered knife that had fallen to the cold ground beside me, remained.My best friend...a few days shy of her sixteenth birthday, was gone...Why had I done this, so close to Christmas, the day of joy and giving? Was it envy, that she still had a family, while I was homeless and alone? There was no time to ponder, the police sirens sounded in the distance. They've found out.
    I quickly made my escape to my shelter deep in the forest. I crawled into my tent and laid down on the sleeping bag. Although I couldn't stop shaking, I took a deep breath. Reassurance washed over me so quickly, it was frightening. She wasn't a real friend anyway...When almost every house on our street was on fire, she didn't even bother to help us, even when she saw me, trapped under the rubble...Thankfully, I had a solid aliby. Everyone thought I was dead.
    The next day, I saw the crime scene tape around her house. Her parents were on the front lawn, near the door. Her mother was crying uncontrollably, her short, black curly hair a mess ontop of her head. Her father had his head in his hands.. His face was covered, but I could clearly tell he was crying, too...I've never seen anyone in that much pain before...
    The next two insufferable weeks passed by slowly, The excruciating weight of guilt hung over me constantly, weighing down my very breath. My best friend, Jennifer...She didn't deserve what had happened to herm no matter how immoral her actions were, nor, did her parents. I could never imagine the impact my actions would have on her surviving family. I knew I couldn't live with this any longer...Before I could move, I heard hurried footsteps outside of the tent, followed by a fierce yell.
    "Get out of the tent!" I obeyed, fear washing over me like a wave. Outside, four police officers waited for me. One of them violently grabbed my arms, handcuffing them behind me.
    "Matthew Johnson," He said, anger lingered in his voice. "You have the right to remain silent...." As he spoke I was escorted to the police car.
    After being shoved into the back seat, realization came over me. What I had done, was wrong. And I must live with that guilt, and try to make amends for that sin. Suicide would be running away...I closed my eyes, and waited to meet my fate.