Solaris

Solaris was the wife of my close friend McCoy. She is American-Indian, I forget form which tribe. Her parents moved to Arizona from Nebraska when she was about...14? She almost immediately took a liking to Erik (McCoy). Her parents loved him almost as much as she. And his parents treated her like a prized daughter. Her parents and his parents discussed it, and came to the conclusion that they'd allow Mandy (Solaris) to marry Erik at 17. Seems a little crazy, but you had to know them. It was beautiful. Then something terrible happened.

Mandy and her parents went Wedding Dress shopping in Phoenix. She drove out in her car. After all the excitement of the long day, Mandy was tired. Her dad, a guy as genuine as Erik, insisted on driving them home so she could sleep on the back seat. It was raining that night.

I was living with Erik at the time. I was home to take the call. Mandy was calling from the hospital. She was a bit confused. She'd been in an accident.

The only reason she lived is because she was lying down in the back seat. Her father had been impaled on the steering column. Her mother died on the helicopter.

Solaris took pride in her Native roots. She loved how her dad was so stoic and spiritual. He was tough, not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get dirty. Every one in our congregation loved the venison jerky he'd make after a hunt, especially me.

After burying her parents, she had to fight the remainder of her family for her right to everything. Especially to marry Erik. She prevailed. She had a good teacher.

On the trip to the Pacific for the wedding, I realized my love for Glass. It was a special trip.

Over the years, Solaris never talked about it. Never cried. When they came of age, she and McCoy began hitting the infamous club scene of the Southern California area. Ultimately, Erik regained his senses, opting to commence his pursuit of a more respectable life. Mandy didn't pull out of the spiral. She kept going out alone, coming home drunk at odd hours. Left the job my wife got her at the bank. Lost a few other jobs.

When Erik confronted her about it, she admitted to having an affair. She left after that. He kept the house, and when she was turned out elsewhere, he let her back in. He kept the door open, even in his heart.

The economic slump has been carving chunks out of Erik's business. Recently, his father went in for surgery. Erik caved. He left his business behind, sold his cars, foreclosed the house...

My wife never got to meet Mandy's parents. She moved to Arizona later in the year. But, coincidentally, while I was living with Erik, she was living with Mandy. They were about as close of friend's as Erik and I.

My wife has been devastated by this. Everybody keeps blaming it on Mandy's age. I think that's stupid. That opinion lacks insight. She never dealt with her tragedy. The party scene, an entertaining phase for Erik, was for her a way of coping. An escape.

Last I heard, McCoy's doing alright. He just went scuba diving and spear fishing in Cali. As far as Arizona, we don't talk about it.