If I could turn back time...

Once upon a time, there were two smart and pretty girls sitting in the backseat of my car, whispering and giggling. I was on the way to drop them off at Southpointe Mall, in front of Chipotle. After having dinner there, they were planning on walking across the street to the mall. It was a nice summer evening in 2007. One of the girls had to walk with crutches due to some pain in her legs, the other was adjusting her steps to her friend's pace and trying to be as helpful as she could. They both were so full of life, dreams and hopes. At thirteen, there were so many possibilities for them having a bright future. They were two active intelligent girls, both in the gifted program at school, both on the verge of leaving childhood behind, both feeling the changes in their body and mind due to puberty, both interested in makeup and shopping, both trying to enjoy the moment, both oblivious to how their lives would change irreparably in a short few months.

Neither I, nor they, knew in that pleasant summer evening that seven years later, I would be driving that very same car to work on a dark and cold November morning, glancing through the rear mirror at the empty backseat, thinking of the two angels who once sat there, but are no longer with us.

If I could turn back time...

May they be in peace, surrounded by love and happiness for eternity.