Beautiful Mask

Dark Nights Beautiful Faces

I sit in my room holding my breath. I occasionally take a breath every minute to survive. I glance at the clock, it's 1:40 I listen and check for any life outside my door. My parents have gone to sleep I stand up as quietly as I can. I wince the bruises still fresh from abuse they call love. I grab my headphones and hoodie and open my window just enough for me to fit through. I slip out feeling the cold summer wind hit my face. It felt good it felt like freedom, I jump onto the ground and start walking down the sidewalk putting in my headphones. I kept walking seeing the normal things, drunks, lively clubs. I kept walking till I reached the park I always go to at this time of night. The children were gone there was nothing there but the trees and the faint whistle of the wind. I sat on a swing and listened to Pittsburgh by The Amity Affliction. I slowly swung back and forth, I looked up at the stars and tried to find the brightest one. My best friend and only friend died about a year ago from a car accident. Before she died she told me that if she ever did to look for the brightest star in the sky. It was like she knew she was going to die. I clenched my teeth from the thought so I wouldn't cry. Without thinking the words of a poem I once wrote a while ago to get my feelings out when she died. "Dearest friend, where have you gone? Why did you run away and leave me? I thought we'd be together forever. I guess I should've known that couldn't be. I miss you though. When are you coming back?" I croaked out the words feeling pathetic as I am but continued. "Until you do, I'll wait for you everyday. I sit up in the twisted branches of that shady tree we used to play. Do you still remember that tree? Oh, we were so young then. We'd make flower crowns from the cherry blossoms. We were princess fairies--at least that's what we'd pretend." The tears start trickling down my cheeks one by one. "Sometimes you'd say the leaves were fairies too because of the way their rustling sounded like a whisper. You said they were delighted to see princesses, and that's why they talked excitedly to each other. Remember when the leaf fairies asked us to dance? We would twirl around till our flower crowns fell. Then we'd find sticks to use as wands. Which we'd wave around to cast a spell. The spells were nothing more then gibberish, but to me they were always magical. I still think maybe they were. I wish I could remember them all if I could just remember the spell that you said would make you my lifelong friend then I'd repeat it a hundred times to bring you so our friendship would never end. Of course I still think we're friends. I'm sure you think so too it would be easier to figure this out if you were here more me to ask you. Alas, you have left me alone as the leaves fall from our tree. The leaf fairies no longer whisper. I always knew they liked you more then me. Please, dear friend, come back so the leaves will speak once more. Why haven't you returned to me? I don't know what your waiting for. Without I can't save the leaf fairies. We are both princesses, after all. I-i shall continue to wait f-for you to come back, but come quick for the l-last leaves will soon fall." I don't realize it but I'm on my hands and knees sobbing. I slowly stand to my feet and wipe my tears but they keep coming. I put my headphones in and walk back to my house and open the window leading to my room. I take off my jacket, lay in my bed and cry myself to sleep like nothing ever happened.