For You (DISCONTINUED)

Eight

The moonlight peaked through the window. The air was cool and crisp. I rubbed my hands over my arms as I walked over to the hook near the latch door. I grabbed my sweater, pushing my arms through the sleeves and making my way towards the desk in the corner.

It was pushed far into the corner, hidden away in the shadows. I pulled out the wooden stool that was set underneath the desk and sat down.

The drawer creaked as I slid it open. I rummaged through what was left inside.

A stack of post it notes.

Leftover tacs.

Scissors.

A pack of gum. Howlonghasthatbeeninhere?

An eraser.

A green permanent marker.

And a note card.

I picked the note card up, flipping it over to find his handwriting.

'As long as you're here with me, I know I'll be okay.'

I love you Dani

~Austin

A sob escaped my throat as a tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away with the sleeve of my sweater.

I took a deep breath and set the note card back inside the drawer. Then I slid the drawer shut and turned to the other side of the desk. I pulled on the handle, hearing only the sound of creaking wood. I tugged on it again. It screeched as it slid open, revealing the contents.

A couple of pencils.

A few blue and black pens.

A pencil sharpener.

A folded piece of lined paper.

A tangle toy. Iwaslookingforthat.

An old camera.

A piece of stained glass.

A chocolate bar. Um..

And a notebook.

I reached in and grabbed the notebook, shaking off the other contents that sat on top of it, then set it on top of the desk. Then I pushed the drawer in a bit and returned my focus on the notebook in front of me.

The cover of the notebook was white. The black ink of the graffiti-like handwriting covered the white, like the dark shadows that lurk behind figures on a bright day.

The shadows spelled out our names.

Dani and Austin.

I flipped open the cover. One the first page was a drawing. A pencil sketch of me. I was wearing a dark patterned crop top, a pair of shorts, and my vans. I was standing in the field outside the treehouse, throwing leaves into the air. The sun was shining behind me, my shadow bent with my movements. I let out a small gasp when I saw his signature on the bottom of the page.

I flipped the page, being gentle with the paper between my finger tips.

There was a pen sketch on the next page. This one was of me too. I was sitting, with my knees tucked close to my chest. My eyes were locked on the ground and my hair fell from my shoulders. A white flower was set behind my ear. A small smile covered my lips. It was breathtaking. His signature sat at the bottom of the page.

I smiled to myself, closing the notebook. My mind was flooded with thoughts of Austin's hidden talent.

He never showed me any of his work before he left. He had a talent, a gift. But he kept it to himself, for whatever reason that I don't have the ability of ever finding out.

We all have something we keep to ourselves. Kendra keeps quiet about her family life. I don't talk about Austin or what happened. Austin kept his talent hidden from the world.

For whatever reason we may keep something to ourselves, maybe there is a better reason as to why we should open up about them.