35

School was closed on Monday for Founder's Day, and Dakarya arranged a small memorial service for Luisa in the afternoon.

"I don't know what to wear for this. It's not formal is it?" I asked Everly who was sitting in my desk chair braiding her hair.

"I'm just wearing this." She gestured to her navy November Falls State University shirt and jeans. "I think almost everyone is just wearing NFSU stuff. What do you think about what happened?"

I shrugged, deciding on a gray NFSU shirt with navy print. "My dad says it's pretty open and shut - just a simple drowning. It's just so hard to believe."

She finished winding her braid into a bun on the back of her head. "I know. You trust your dad, right? Accidents happen. I'm sad about her dying, too, but I don't think there's anything else to it."

"Of course I trust him. And, I know you're right. I just wish it hadn't happened."

"I know, me too." She took my hands in hers. "Let's go downstairs and celebrate the life that she had. And, maybe regret that we didn't know her better."

Dakarya, Sabrina, Violet, Everly and I stood in a circle outside the dorm. I'd asked Tyler not to come. I thought it would be better, more personal, if it was just girls from the floor.

We went around the circle, each saying what we were going to miss about Luisa or a fun memory with her. Almost all of us struggled to find something to say.

"I was roommates with her, but we didn't really spend time together because she was always so busy," Violet said, looking down at the ground. "The one who knew her the best was probably Lexi."

All eyes turned to me.

"I wouldn't say I knew her that well. I volunteered with her at the animal shelter once but never made it back. She told me that she wanted to be an aquatic therapist and that she hated being an only child. I really don't know what else to say," I finished. "I wish I'd taken the chance to get to know her better."

Dakarya's eyes took a final sweep around the circle, but no one had anything to add. Giving us a small smile, she walked toward the doors, and everyone followed her back inside.