When my best friend died , I felt a side of me die with him. Going to his funeral doesn't help me say my goodbyes. It just helps me pretend that everything is okay. I can't cry no matter how hurt I am because that's all I could do these past few days. At the funeral , I noticed someone staring at me from behind the tree. When I started to approach her , my best friend's dad asked if I can say a few words. When I walked to the front , everyone waited for me to speak. But honestly I was still speechless and couldn't breathe. I was truly broken and empty inside. "James was my best friend. He was the light in my life that I never knew I needed until today. His smile , his laugh , his touch. He was my soul mate. James if you're listening, there's no one else like you. You were....ARE , the most loving and caring human being that has ever been in my life. I love you." Suddenly I felt this cold touch brush against my arm. It was the most horrifying and lifeless touch I've ever experienced. That was not him , that was not James. I ended up running away to quickly get into my car. And then suddenly the lady that was staring at me from behind the tree stopped me."I don't know who you are , but I am not interested. Leave me alone. " I told her as I was getting into my car. She slammed my car door stopping me from getting inside and said "James did not die of a natural cause , he was murdered." I didn't know what to say or how to respond so I just got into my car and drove away. On the way home it started to rain. This wasn't an ordinary storm , it felt different. I started to drive slow because I couldn't see anything. Suddenly the car started to move on its own. I kept pressing my foot on the brake to stop the car but it kept moving. The car then put itself in reverse and started to drive backwards. I was scared but all I could do was scream. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw James sitting in the back seat staring at me. "James..stop it...make it stop..JAMES!" I repeated over and over. But he continued to stare with a blank expression. And then he whispered,"I cant." Suddenly the car drove off of a bridge straight into the water. I started yelling for help while trying to bang on the glass. But I slowly started to become weak and couldn't breathe. I desperately reached my hand out to James and I took my final breath. All of a sudden I appeared into a dream where everything was blurry. I saw a little boy hiding in the corner like he was scared. "Are you okay ?" I asked the little boy. He got up and ran underneath the bed. "No , I promise I won't hurt you." I told the little boy. Then a man walked in and pulled the little boy from underneath the bed and started to choke him. I ran to help but noticed I went through the man. As if I wasn't real , as if I was a ghost. The little boy kicked and screamed and called for help. That's when a lady walked into the room. "Alright enough...he's had enough. You're going to kill him." She said. "And if I did ? Who would cry? Who would care ?" The man said holding a knife up to the lady's neck. "No one...he was a mistake.." She said with tears in her eyes. The man slapped the little boy and then walked out of the room. The lady ran to the little boy's side asking if he was okay. "LET'S GO." The man shouted from down the hall. The lady got up and ran out the room to follow the man. Suddenly the room disappeared and I somehow ended up into a new room. This time the boy is a lot older. He was staring out the window watching the other kids play. The lady from before walked in with boxes in her hands. "Your father told you to get dinner started. Why don't you listen for once?" She said. "I'm only 11 , mom. I want to go outside and play. I want to feel like a child." He said with tears in his eyes. The man that choked him from before walked in with his fists balled up. "I told you before..you will never go outside. You will never feel what it's like to be a child. You're a man now, James." I looked over at the boy in disbelief. "James??" I whispered. "I'm not a man ! "James said while shoving the man to the wall. The man then picked James up by his throat. I fell to my knees crying and feeling helpless because I know that there was nothing I could do. Then I started to hear voices. "She's waking up , she's alive." A man said. I started coughing up water and noticed that someone rescued me. "James...James.." I tried to speak while gasping for air. "It's okay miss. You're safe now." A paramedic said. I started running as soon as I regained my strength. "HEY!! COME BACK !" The cops and paramedics yelled. I kept running and didn't stop. I ended up at the house where it all started. The pain, the tears , the abuse. I stood outside staring at the front door. I had so much rage and sadness clouding my mind. I didn't know how to react or think. "Tessa. What are you doing here ? " James's mother asked opening the door. "Where is he? " I asked crying. "Where is who, Tessa ?" She asked. "He killed him...he killed James. And you....you protected him." I said. She started crying while holding her chest. Then James's father walked out without making eye contact with me. "James...was always different. He wasn't like the other kids..he needed to grow. " he said. "HE WAS A CHILD!!! I shouted. "He needed to grow!! He needed to become a man!! I did what I was supposed to do." He said. "He needed you..and you....you murdered him..you murdered..your own son.." I said while gasping for air. I rushed and pulled the gun that was on him and pointed it to his face. "Do it...pull the trigger. " He said. "He was my best friend. He was my everything and YOU TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME." I said crying. The cops suddenly drove up and demanded that I put the gun on the ground. "He killed him. He killed..He killed James!" I shouted. "Let us do our jobs , and put the gun down. Killing him won't bring your friend back." One of the officers said. And that's when I saw James standing beside me. "Put the gun down Tessa." James said. "NO. He deserves to die." I said. "He deserves to live the rest of his life tortured by my memory. Mentally drowning and rotting in prison." James said. "But he killed you.....he killed you James. And now I'm lost without you. I dont...know..what..to do.." I said. "Tessa..he only killed me physically. BUT I AM HERE. I AM RIGHT HERE. He didn't kill my soul. He didn't kill my spirit. Tessa I will always be apart of you." James said as he touched the side of my cheek. I dropped the gun and fell to the ground crying. The cops rushed and grabbed the gun then arrested James's parents for murder. I will forever feel empty inside knowing that James's life was taken from him. They say that angels come in many forms. But this angel is unlike the others. And this angel has many names. My love , my heart , my soul , my everything....my James.