Chapter Four

Once upon a time, the boy lay awake. Awake, while the rest of the world was cocooned in warm sheets. Awake, while the sun napped. Awake. Restless and tossing. Awake. More aware of the fact, than any time in his life, that he was uncomfortably and undeniably alone.

For the girl, the weekend flew by on the wings of a jet plane, just like it always did. A blink of an eye and there was Monday. Monday the word, that holds hands with promise. As she stared at the the row of staight A's on the refridegerator, she felt light. I matter to someone, she said to the empty kitchen. I matter, I matter, I matter, I matter, she whispered like a prayer for survivial. Then she picked up her bags and hurried outside to catch her ride.

With the prayer still lingering on her lips like a forgotten kiss, the girl floated through the halls . Looking for the lost boy.

Once upon a time, the boy magically caught her eye, colored a bright and hopeful shade of cerulean today. That magnetic welcoming smile, drew him closer. Will power willingly vanquished. Five steps, four steps, three steps, two steps, one step away. And there she was like a lighthouse, a beacon, pulling him from the ocean. She held a silent strength that no one could ever muster. Invisible threads hung off her,teathers, tying him to her.

He walked into the class that they shared, noticing for the first time how incredibly far away she really was. He watched her raise her hand to answer another impossible question, he watched the teacher smile at her, he watched her write, he watched her, watched her mind whirl. He just stared at his blank paper. They were from two different worlds. Their paths would never cross, however much he wanted them to. He watched her, drift farther and farther away. Just...out...of..his...reach.

The boy debated. He watched her run her hands through her hair. Watched, wanted, let go. It was the hardest, worst, most essential, selfless, rash thing he would ever do. He knew she was going to turn any moment and look up at him so easily so reassuring and he would have to look back. He knew what he had to do; without a doubt he had to do for he what she did for him; she opened his eyes to everything. She whispered into his ears, I hope you know that you're gonna be someone. She believed. He could hold on to that glimmering piece of hope for forever. But he had to do what was best. With the echo of her whisper, replaying in his ears. The boy made up his mind.

The girl smiled at him. Freely.

The boy turned his head slowly, looked down, almost imperceptively. But she saw it; and for her that was always enough. Her secret smile was swept away and hidden under that old dusty rug in her mind. Off to become another relic. Hidden. Safe. Broken.

-Whit