The Line Between You And I

Elizabeth

I just wanted him. I wanted him to just come running back into my arms. Secretly, deep down, I knew that was never going to happen. At the end of the day, how could it be? Once I finally pulled my eyes off the young boy's shadow, I realized that now I had a bigger problem. My dad. Maybe I could play it safe and act like I didn't know what was going on. No. I couldn't so instead I decided to do the thing I love most. Act. As I could hear his thumping feet smashing the floor every moment he came closer, I began to hyperventilate and grab onto the thing closest to me which happened to be a bench. Now, I was going to see how far I could take this... Once he finally made his way over to me, I could feel his heavy breath upon my cold skin. I couldn't see him because my eyes were scrunched up so tight it felt like they were about to pop out. Even though I couldn't see him, I could still feel the heat off his body as his anger began to reach uncertain levels. Before he could even stifle a word out, he let out a cold shaky breath, unlike the last one. And I dropped down to the grass. The last thing I could remember was two rather large, warm hands grasping onto me as I lay upon the grass smoked in the evening's dew.

I shot my eyes open. Suddenly, everything came back to me. Only I must have hit my head on a rock or something on my way down because I wasn't meant to be out for this long. I slowly sat up, my eyes scanning every corner of the room to make sure there was no sign of anyone being there. Within an instant, I noticed my mother's "morning dress" as she liked to call it. My parent's room wasn't exactly the warmest place on the planet, so as I began to crawl out of bed, I grabbed the ivory gown and slipped it on. I shuddered as the silk soothed every lively goose bump on my body. I made my way over to the window, taking my time as my head still hurt, it truly came to me how long I had actually been out for. As I was about to bring my head upon the frosted glass, the door squeaked open. I slowly turned around, only coming to the realization that it wasn't my mother's or father's solemn face glaring at me...

It was Heaven's. Only today she didn't look like such an angel, she looked rather pale and thin. Her hair seemed to have millions of split ends and looked rather frizzy. Her eyes seemed to be the same but somehow duller and now had a glossy finish on them. Below her eyes, mascara was slowly making its way down her face ready to drop to the hardwood below. Her nose was red and inflamed which stopped the freckles from being such a beautiful sight to see. Her cheeks were thinner like an unpainted picture. Her lips were no longer pastel and petite but more cracked and dry with every word that came out of them. She always had layers no matter the weather, but now she looked more transparent than ever. If I had to guess, the poor woman hadn't slept a wink. Nevaeh had always talked about the thing that tired her the most was that she had to do the same thing every day, and I get that it was hard for her but it was hard for us all too. Having to live up to these expectations and whatnot. Nevaeh looked as if she was missing something like she had lost part of her soul.

Sometimes, I do fear that someone will come to her and just completely walk over her. I fear that would break her. Naveah and I are two different people, I mean yes we share some same interests but where I am bold she is likely to be controlled. When I am carefree, she struggles to get free. When I am ambitious, she is always superstitious. She needs me to sometimes be the bigger blade to cut through the tough skin. I need her, to help heal and bandage the wounds. Some things we share in common; is we love the unloved things, the dandelion, the worms, and spiderlings. We sense that the rose needs the thorn and we run into rain-swept days the same way we turn toward the sun. And when we are grown and have to speak for those who have no voice, may we draw upon that wilder bond. Those days of tending tender things, and be our own ones.

Whilst standing there in a few good minutes of dawning silence, she wraps me into a strangeling and tight hug.

"What happened to you?" I said letting out a slight chuckle.

"Lizzie... You've been out for a good month. We're moving onto November now.."

The things I'd do to take back time...