“A Night to Remember” by Emma Schardt
Illustration by Arts and Literary Journal staff editor Edith Hanlon.
My phone buzzed on the table at around midnight with my friend on the other line telling me about our sick and unconscious friend. Panic raced through my body. I rushed over to the other side of the orange table to check my backpack, thinking my keys were in the front pocket. When I didn’t see them, I rushed to the elevator, raced to my room, grabbed my keys and then sprinted down the stairs. I walked as fast as I ever had towards the CCTC to wait for the Bursley-Baits Line to pick me up and take me to the parking lot with my car. I ran off the bus, hopped in the car and started speeding down the streets of Ann Arbor. I recognized the house due to the crowds of people on the front lawn partying. I parked my car diagonally across the one-way street, facing the wrong direction as well. A girl approached me and questioned who parked so horribly on the street. I explained myself and my reason for showing up and followed her to the basement where I met my three friends. 1 friend standing, the other two sat with one passed out. My body overwhelmed and scared. Chills raced through my body, tears stinging my eyes. I grabbed the coat of my friend and led everyone to my car. What seemed like an eternity later we got my friend in the backseat of my car, with my other two friends on each side of him to keep him upright. I hit the gas and back to Alice Lloyd we returned. During the ride, I called my friends and requested their help upon our return. I pulled over on the side of the road, saw them in the distance, however my friend was eager to get out of the car then and there so my other friend and I took him under our arm and walked him to the building. He needed to go to the bathroom, but I was the only one lending support at this time so my friends unlocked the bathroom for us but I accompanied as well. This wasn’t initially the plan, however the night itself was eventful. Once we exited the bathroom, we were welcomed by the RAs making their rounds.
Emma Schardt is a student at the University of Michigan. Emma is a selenophile who finds joy in looking at the moon and trying to photograph its beauty.
