17 Things To Do Before I Die - Part 2

(Part 1 is lower on the page, or in the archives if you need to be reminded of the story)

I had never felt as much tension as I did that night sitting down to dinner. I had mixed emotions, ranging from a deep depression to an incomprehensible bliss towards the fact that I had finally made a decision that would change my life forever. I finally was about to make my impact on this world, and I couldn’t wait to do it. Nervously, I sat down with my family at the dinner table. That is, for the last time.

I must have seemed out of it, for no more than two minutes into dinner, my mother asked if everything was all right. I told her that things had never been better, and that I was really looking forward to going to see Aunt Karen on the weekend. Little does she know, I’ll be dead by then.

My dad then asked how things were going with Brittany and I. I thanked him for reminding me that I had to call her after dinner. When he asked what about, I made up some sorry excuse about calculus homework, and he seemed to buy it. I don’t even have calculus this semester. Way to pay attention, dad.

After dinner, I went up to my room… just to think. Now I know I said before that I absolutely hated constant thought, but this was the pleasant kind. I went over, step by step, what I was to do for the next three days.

Call Brit. I know she would want to be a part of this… she’s as fed up with life as I am. Or maybe she’s just fed up with me? I really don’t know. I guess that’s why I need to call her. I’m sure she’d help me make the list.

What list?

Well, the list of things I need to do before I die, of course. My analytical mind must plan it all out in advance… and I will follow that plan from beginning to end, with no faults. Right from picking Brit up at school, to my eventual… well, end I guess. It’s scary, exciting, depressing and fun, all in once thinking about it. I get shivers thinking about it. If the thought of it does this to me, the mere excitement of the actual deed will… hm, well… kill me.

My hand was shaking as I picked up the phone to call Brit. I hoped to God that she answered it and not her mother. Her mother would talk to me for twenty minutes before giving the phone to Brit.

Ring….ring….ring
“Hello?”
“Brit?”
“Zack… where have you been? We haven’t seen you at school all week…”
“I’ve been busy, planning stuff”
“Like what?”
“I think it’d be better if I talked to you in person. Can I come over?”
“I guess… but come through my window so my mom doesn’t know”
“Alright, I’ll be over in ten minutes”

What happened next was truly unbelievable. I went over to Brittney’s, and I told her everything. Everything that was on my mind, everything that I wanted to do, and everything I wanted to end. And she listened. She listened to me like she always used to… it was the old Brittany, and she was hanging on to every word. In the end, I told her that I loved her, and that I wanted her to be apart of this.

She agreed.

Almost all of the depressing aspects of this adventure had just gone out the window. I now had Brit with me, and no one or no thing could stop us. I was ecstatic, for only the fact that it was actually happening. Everything was falling into place, and I was about to set out on the biggest thrill of my life. Also, the last thrill of my life.

I went back home, and I didn’t get much sleep that night. Again, like most other nights, all I could do was think. I got up around 3:30 A.M, and went over to my desk. I grabbed a piece of paper, and decided it was time to write it down. The sweet ecstasy of fulfillment flowed from my pen as I wrote it down, word for word. I just kept writing; writing whatever came to my mind… the further the page grew, the bigger my ego became. The more thoughts of greed, evil and lust entered my mind and exited onto the page. By the end, I had created a masterpiece. I had created a list of what I was to do before I died. I sat there, staring at it… and a huge smile crept across my face.

17 Things, 3 Days, 1 Goal.