「 April 23rd 」

"You wouldn't believe what I heard today," Maggie told me walking into my bedroom. I was supposed to be studying for my chemistry exam but I couldn't even focus. I kept zoning out so I welcomed her distraction.

"What might that be?"

"Solar Daniels was asking about you." My ears perked up. That was a name I hadn't heard in a while.

I'd convinced myself you were a figment of my imagination, didn't know why though.

"How do you know him?" Maggie asks.

I shrug, "I don't. Not really. We met at that party you took me to last month."

"Well be careful ok? He doesn't have the best track record."

"What does that mean?"

She didn't respond and that left me to make my own conclusions. Were you a player?

Why were you asking around for me? I wanted to know desperately but Maggie didn't want to talk about you anymore.

She stayed over for a few more hours before heading out.

My father came home 10 minutes after that. Filled the brim with liquor, angered and swearing like a sailor.

"Where the hell are ya' you damn whore?" My body seized up. I hated when he got like this. I wanted to run, hide but there was no way. Every window was sealed shut and from the sound of his voice- he were at the front door.

Like a small injured animal, I slowly trudged all the way downstairs to face him. "You look so much like your damn mother."

That was the last thing he said to me before re-familiarizing me with his fists.

When he passed out, I changed into something to cover my arms and left the house. He wouldn't be up for hours so I was safe.

I don't know which way I ran, I just did. Tears streamed down my face as I carelessly moved around town.

Finally I stopped.
Finding myself at a creek.

I found a place to sit and I reveled in the sound of peace.

Silence.

"What a coincidence." There you were. When I laid eyes on you again, my heart began to thump against my chest.

You were so handsome.
So beautiful.

"What's a girl like you doing out at this time, in a place like this?" I look around.

"A girl like me?" You sat beside me, and I instinctively pulled the sleeves of my shirt down lower. I didn't want you to see.

They leave when they see.

I shouldn't have thought that.

"A sweet girl."

"What makes you think I'm sweet?" I asked.

"Only the sweetest girls look pretty when they're sad."