“Um…hope it’s cool. Spencer told me what happened.”

Ashley looked up at his face at the mention of Spencer’s name, attempting to read it for some piece of vital information, but none emerged, so she directed her attention back to the road kill.

“Sorry, bout the bird…” His voice drifted off into the distance. It sounded older, more mature, but Ashley couldn’t tell.

“Yah…did you come to help me bury it or just gawk at it?”

“Naw, I knew you’d want to give it a proper burial…” His voice softened at the last word, knowing full well the baggage that came with it.

Ashley heard the change in his tone and smiled.

“Um, I brought a little shovel and a box to put it in…well, what’s left of it.”

The two dug a hole off to the side of the path next to a grouping of flowers. They placed what was left of the bird in a box, placed it inside the ground, and then covered up the hole.

The two friends backed away a bit, wiping off the dirt from their hands onto their pant legs.

“I guess I should say something.” Ashley clasped her hands together at her waist and closed her eyes.

“Dear bird, I am so sorry to have ended your life so abruptly…I hope you accomplished all you hoped to in this world, and may you fly again in another life.”

Ashley opened her eyes and glanced over at Aiden, his pudgy stomach hanging over his belt, and his glasses resting at the edge of his nose.

She reached over and took his hand just as Aiden sneezed violently.

“Damn allergies…sucks.” He laughed softly and squeezed ash’s hand.

“Thanks for being here, Aid. Means a lot, k?”

Aiden let go of her hand and began to collect their things.

“Yah, it’s cool. Didn’t want you to be out here all alone…and I kind of wanted to see what damage you did to the bird.”

Ashley smiled quickly, knowing he meant well. She grabbed her bike and the two walked up the hill, silently.

She could see dozens of tiny tire marks embedded in the dirt, the only remnants of her friendship with Madison and Spencer. Hurt filled her chest and she fought hard to push down the tears. She stretched out her hand, letting the breeze flow through her fingers, hoping that the air still harbored tiny fragments and pieces of Spencer, so she wouldn’t feel so alone as she trekked the few miles back.