When I was just fifteen years old, a close friend of mine, also fifteen, passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. Two to three weeks before her passing, she had spent the night at my house. Afterward, she asked repeatedly if she had left her amethyst ring at my house. I told her I hadn't seen it, but that I would return it if I found it.

The last time I saw her, she wasn't feeling well; she had a fever and was thirsty. I gave her a drink of my soda, and told her she should go home if she didn't feel well. A week passed and she wasn't at school. I thought she was just taking some time away from school, but the situation was much more dire.

In the middle of the night, my telephone rang. Normally, when the phone rang in the wee hours, I was the first to answer it, because it was likely for me. But this night, I did not answer it. I heard it but, for some reason, didn't pick it up.

The next morning as I was getting ready to go to school, my dad knocked on my bedroom door and, when I opened it, I received the terrible news. My friend, Jennifer Ogden, had passed away the night before. That was the phone call that I didn't want to answer.

I sat on the end of my bed, stunned. How could this happen? She was so young. Then, I did something that was strange for me. I began to make up my bed. I never was known for being extremely tidy, so this was out of character for me. As I was making my bed, for whatever reason, I lifted the mattress at the top of the bed, and what did I find?

Jennifer's amethyst ring, sparkling there in front of me. I was able to return it to her parents, where I believe Jennifer wanted it to go.

Linda M.
Please respond to john@beyondreligion.com