Last Wednesday, was a day 6 years ago that I will never forget.
It was the day I would never see my best friend ever again.
The thing is, I feel as though I could have done more. I should have done more. We were meant to hang out that week. But a change of family plans meant I went away to the caravan. We exchanged texts that weekend. And I will always remember, my friends at the caravan snatched my phone off me and texted him. So i grabbed it back. And sent " Sorry it was my friends. Text you later, Love Claire x"
Little did I realise that was the last text off me he would receive. I text him the following day, no reply. So I thought I would wait for him to text me back. I never will forget that day. You see people believed we wasn't as close as what we were. Outside of school, on the way to and from school we hung out. At the beginning of registration and end of lunch was prank time. This is where he would play a prank on whoever was unfortunate that day. I remember once he glued our Form tutor chair and he sat on it! haha.
Anyways, I went home and was walking my dog. My neighbour was sat on the step and said hello to me. On the way back she collared me.
"Hey Claire, Do you know anyone called Matthew Ringrose?"
I replied yes. She went on to ask his middle name to which I replied Ian David. She said I have something for you to read in the paper. I must have looked puzzled as I could think of no reason for him to be in the paper. I mean he was extremely mischievous. I looked at Jack, he face displayed mixed emotions. Shock, upset, and annoyance.
I read the following;
BOY, 13, FOUND HANGED
A family is in mourning after a 13-year-old boy was found hanged at his grandparents' house.
An inquest was opened and adjourned today after Matthew Ian David Ringrose was found shortly before midnight on Monday at the home of his grandmother Connie, and grandfather Alfred, in Illingworth Drive, Illingworth, Halifax.
The boy, of Moor Top Gardens, Bradshaw, Halifax was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital but later died.
A post-mortem examination had been carried out but further tests were being carried out. There are no suspicious circumstances.
My body went into shock, and I ran. Instead of running in the direction of my house, I just ran.... after running for what felt like eternity the pain was still there. I ran into my house and up the stairs were I collapsed in the bathroom with the pain. Tears streaming down my face, screaming that seemed as though it was coming from far away but later turned out to be the sound of my voice. I could not gasp for air. I did not want to gasp for air. There must be a mistake! There must be another Matthew Ian David Ringrose that lived at Moor Top Gardens. There must be. He wouldn't have the guts to do something like that. It can't be him. I know him, he wouldn't. I was texting him! He didn't say anything had upset him. He was happy. And then for the sudden realisation as my mum wrapped her arms around me.
It was him.
I texted him. But he didn't text back straight away. In fact he didn't text back at all....
My best friend had a moment of need, and I wasn't there. He died, yet I didn't feel a thing, there was no sign.
The rest of the day was agonising. I was supposed to meet my other best friend Cheyanne. We were going swimming. I didn't feel like I could go. But Cheyanne was somehow related to him. She'd need me now. But why hadn't she told me. I texted Holly, to see if she knew. If Cheyanne had mentioned anything. She did not know. Devastated.
I met Cheyanne. We Went swimming. I was not allow to show tears. Only laughter mum said. We laughed up until the point of crying. No, she must not know. Should I be the person to tell her?
I wasn't sure, but I knew her mum was the best person to tell her so I got her on the bus and took her home. But whilst waiting in the bus stop queue. I saw someone reading the article, then they asked there son if they knew who it was. The conversation was becoming too loud, I had to speak up, do something stupid to distract Cheyanne. So I pretended to fall hitting my head into the glass window. She laughed in hysterics. And that was enough of a distraction.
Her mum told her the news. The funeral was a week later.
We turned up 15 minutes early. But there was no room. We stood outside. I had not seen Cheyanne pass yet. But I saw groups of people from our school. The new head of year, Mrs Tank (who had many runnings with Matthew, yet once had let him choose the music for assembly and he chose Avril Lavigne - Anything but Ordinary. Typical this was him to a tee.) Mr Manning our D&T teacher. Matthew and I were partners in that lesson, and had constructed a bridge that held the most weight before the summer break and won a Mars Bar each. Looking around I saw everyone. And then I saw her. Cheyanne came running up to me. And we both burst into tears. We were crying so loudly that everyone turned to stare. We were looking at each other puffy eyes, runny noses. And then a classic I went to stand back and tripped. We both burst out laughing, crying too as we went. Laughing so hard our parents were concerned as it must have seemed like we were crying still. Then a snort. Which set off more laughter. This is what he would want. Typical prank. :)
Then we said our goodbyes as the coffin had arrived. As it passed, my tears stopped and Cheyanne and Family began to follow behind it. It was small.
Into the church now, yet outside on the grass and the pathways people were still stood. There was no room inside.
The music that played was again a typical Matthew prank. Full blast by accident came on Avril Lavinge- Sk8r Boi until someone jumped up to turn the music down. A smile escaped the corners of my mouth and as I looked around everyone else was smiling too.
Every year I visit his grave. I will never forget him. Or his dad.
Matthew always wanted me to meet his dad and hang out at the gym. I was always too busy. But it was the least I could do now. And we got on like a house on fire, just like Matt knew we would. We shared memories, looked at photo's, laughed together, cried together.
I will never forget you Matt. I have too many good memories. And I have you to thank for making me realise, life really is too short. And to put both my friends and family first.
R.I.P
Love Claire
x
p.s. It was later found out Matt did not hang himself. Just like I knew he wouldn't.
I was on holiday abroad when I read the following article in the Sun newspaper;
LAD KILLED BY ESCAPE STUNT
A schoolboy fascinated by escapology died accidentally after slipping a noose round his neck. Matthew Ringrose, 13, who used to experiment with knots, tied himself up with a dressing gown cord, an inquest heard. It got tighter as he wriggled and it strangled him.
His mum Janet Palfreyman told the hearing in her home to of Halifax, West Yorks, the lad had gone to stay with his grandma.
Janet got a call from her mother during the night to say he had locked himself in the bathroom.
She went to the house, broke down the bathroom door and found him dead. Verdict; ACCIDENT
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