The poet

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September 1987

" His eyes as brown as can be
oh the joy and happiness they brought when he looked at me,
His laugh oh how it brought me joy
Oh how I would of done   anything for that boy
His touch so gentle and free
Oh how I miss the way he told me he loved me..."

Nora Harrington smiled as  she re read her poem over and over , She was pretty satisfied with that she had written down so far given she hasn't written poetry in what felt like a life time . Poetry was  Nora's safe place, it was were she could express her true emotions, where she could say things she could never say in person to anyone.
Nora glances  at the picture right next to her computer, it was a picture of  her beloved Eddie a few months before that tragic night.
She picks up the frame and glides her fingers over Eddie's face.
" god I miss you." She said softly fighting back tears.
She remembers the exact moment she took this picture of him.

Nora's flashback: Eddie had convinced Nora to sneak out that night after she had been grounded for ditching her chemistry classes to spend some alone time with Eddie .
They snuck into reefer ricks boat house and stole his boat or in Eddie's case " borrowed it".
They watched the night sky as the boat gently glided across the water.
" you know if my parents find out about this I'll get one phone call and have to wear an orange jumpsuit. Orange is not my color." Nora says as she smiles and glances up at Eddie.
Eddie kisses Nora's forehead " everything will be fine sweetheart I made sure Steve had a good cover story just in case ."
" oh this I have to hear."
Eddie smiles mischievously.
" Eddie what did you do?!"
" I told him I'm stealing you tonight, and that if there is any form of punishment afterwords  I'll tell the whole school about his little Farrah faucet hairspray secret".
Nora's eyes grew wide " Eddie you didn't! "
" Oh I did! You should of seen the look on his face ! Classic Steve!"
Nora bursts into laughter.
" You are unbelievable!"
"Get used to it sweetheart, no one keeps my girl from me."
Nora felt her heart flutter something about the way Eddie said " my girl" made her all mushy inside.
Eddie kisses Nora's lips  " I need a smoke" he says as he sits up and lights a cigarette.
Nora watched Eddie, admiring everything about him, from the way his curls gently blew in the wind, or maybe it was the way he blew smoke into the calm night sky, or maybe it was how perfectly his strong hands rested on his knees, or maybe it was the way he made her feel inside , loved, appreciated, and most importantly he made her feel safe and comfortable.
Nora had this little voice in her head telling her this was the perfect time to snap a picture of Eddie, she reached underneath the blanket and grabbed her camera, she aimed it right at Eddie " Eddie smile,"
Eddie turned his head looking directly at the camera and  stuck out his tongue.
That was Eddie. A total goofball, a child in a high schoolers body but yet a total sweetheart he would give the shirt off his back for you if he knew you, but the thing that really drew Nora to him was the way he embraced being different . That's what Nora loved the most about him.
She kisses the picture frame and sets it back down next to her computer.

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