“Are you serious?”

            “Yes.”

            “Why didn’t you tell me?” he angrily spoke.

            “I’m not the kind of person who just tells someone that kind of stuff.” It was true. I wasn’t.

            “That’s ridiculous! It’s been like…ten months since then!”

            “I know.” We were silent then. He still seemed troubled. A sense of pain in his eyes. Like maybe his best friend wasn’t the only reason. But I would not give up on him.

            He began to talk about insignificant things that I added with the occasional ‘wow’ and ‘hahaha’. We were approaching the school again. I knew our walk was coming to an end. I didn’t want it to. For ten minutes I had learned more about this person than I could have ever wanted to. It was satisfying. I sighed and uncrossed my arms. He held the door open for me and we began to make our way back up the stairs.

            “Are you okay?” he asked.

            “Yes.” I replied. It hadn’t yet occurred to me that I was hurt. I felt a surge of pain coming on, but I fought it back to keep from gripping on to my sides in agony. We began to sit back down at the lockers and K.K. pierced me with her questioning eyes. I smiled at her. She didn’t seem to find it a smiling matter. I chuckled slightly.

            I knew this was not the end for me and him. And he knew it too. He had studied me long enough to sense my determination towards him. It was a shame that pain should be caused to such a person with his caring eyes and warm touch. Everything will be different now. I knew it. Either for better or for worse it would be different.

            I was satisfied. Even though I knew pain was yet to come, I finally began to live in the moment. Something I was never quite capable of. But I had done it. Finally not looking towards the future always anticipating what would be coming next. No, I was living right here, right now. It was wonderful.

–Lindsay Simon

5th Period