Girl with the White Shadow

Next Time I'll See You

As I sit at my grandma's funeral with no tears streaming down my face I realize that she deserved better. My grandma was strong. She is the best woman I'll ever meet. My dark brown and light blonde hair up in a ball of curls with a tight black dress hugging my skinny, yet curvy body. I look to see nothing, but complete strangers crying for the only family I knew I had.

Grandmother was the only person who took care of me for years after my parents death. When my parents died I was twelve. I was the happiest girl anybody would have ever met. I always had a smile on my face. My laugh bursting and echoing in my house or the hallways at school. I had everything I needed, except friends. I was never good at making friends. I did have people that I socialized with once in a while at school, but I knew there's nothing more. I had my family though Grandmother, Mother, Father. They were always there for me.

I became less happy and smiling when they died. I felt so empty, weightless, weak. I can remember the day so clearly. Too clearly that I cringe at the sight in mind.

Radio up loud, singing way too loud, way too bad. Windows down with crazy wind blowing our hair all over. I grin at my grandma as she sings to the 80's radio station. Her eyes glowing from the sun, her smile bright with confidence.

"Are we close?" I ask as I peer at her, checking to see her watching the road.

"Yes, Hun, hold your horses." She smiles and glances at me.

I smile more and lean back on the seat as we round the corner. A firetruck rushes past us and down our street towards, what looks like, our house.

My eyes widen.

Grandma notices and drives faster up to the street. As we drive up to our house we gasp in shock. The house was burnt down, burning flames everywhere. I choke on a sob as my eyes wide in fear and confusion. My grandma stares at the house burning with her mouth open a gape and her eyes wide open. I jump out quickly and run to the front of the house and fall on my knees.

The front door hugging the ashy ground. Flames glistering from the roof. Smoke drifting out the cracked windows. The house drowning in a color, darker then black. The sirens blare as it mutes my screams.

I cry and I never stop. I feel them run down my cheeks like a leak in a pipe. Last thing I felt was Grandma squeeze my shoulder and hug me from behind, telling me, "It's okay."

After that everything changed. Grandmother had to take me in because there was nobody else who could. She said it was the least she could do, but I think she was just trying to be nice. A week after I graduated, she passed away. This brings me to here.

A tap on the shoulder brings me back to reality. I turn my head to see a friend of hers smile at me and nod.

"Your grandma was a wonderful woman you know." She waves her husband over and they share a hug. I put a smile on and nod.

"I do know."

"I hope things get better for you, Nicole." We shake hands and they walk off while sniffling. I look back at my grandma in her coffin and can't help, but feel broken. Slowly, I walk up to her coffin and kiss her forehead. Resting my warm reassuring lips on her cold skin. Swiftly, I turn and leave the church. As I walk I watch the ground, making my steps move in a perfect rhythm. The sky matching my gray darken mood. Breathing had my focus while walking.

I just needed to go home.

The next morning I stayed in bed and stared at my ceiling for maybe an hour before actually getting up. Taking a deep breath, I got up and showered, dressed, ate, and was ready for work.

Since I have no ride of my own, one of my co-workers was nice enough to bring me with them. Happy I could make somewhat of friends.

"I hear we have a new one, Nic." Josh says while smiling.

"Why are you smiling?" I ask dully, looking out the window.

"Because you get to show him how the office and building works."

Eyes widen and I turn my head to gasp at him. "No you did not. Why!" I hid my face with my long black sweatshirt sleeve with playful agony.

My time has come too early...

He lightheartedly punches my arm and laughs as we park in the lot. The blue and red glow up sign hanging above the entrance door seems duller than usual. Josh, my co-worker, turns and his green eyes meet my deep sea blue ones and we smile. Before I open the door to the car something catches my eye. Slowly I turn and match eyes with the most handsome man I've ever seen in my life.

His pale skin shining in the light while his black hair dangles and hangs just barely over his, what looks like, green eyes. I stop completely and watch him. He watches me, his brown eyes taking in, my now, straight dark brown and light blonde hair. I see his eyes trail to my exposed chest and neck. Rushing heat fills my cheeks and I break the stare. I breathe quietly, but fast and notice him walk into the restaurant.

Quiet breathing makes me turn and I see Josh glare at the Gorgeous Man with his hand tightened around the steering wheel.

"The look he was giving you-"

"-is not the first time." I finish for him and he looks at me. His beauty of green nature eyes gaze at my face, searching for something. For what though?

Walking into Purple Pig sent chills down my spine. The atmosphere is colder, more dread. My hyper, goth looking co-worker hops over to me while grinning brightly.

She grabs my arm and pulls me away from everyone else. "Dude, he's perfect.." She rolls the R, like a cat purring in pleasure.

"Who?" I furrow my eyebrows.

"The new employee!" She squeals then recovers and pulls me into the back, behind the counter and away from the other customers. The restaurant is a nice neat little place until night hours, then parties come and stay and get a little too comfy. I wrench from of her grip and look at her, squinting.

"Don't," She says sternly before I open my mouth to speak. "he is the one, okay? I'm not crazy."

"Only crazy people say they're not crazy, Jen." I say while rolling my eyes. She smiles, taking my teasing insult as a compliment.

Jen looks behind me and her eyes sparkle. Gradually I turn to see him.

It's the guy from the parking lot.

Dumbfounded, I stare at him as he speaks to the manger of the restaurant. Why is he here? And why is he talking to my manger?

As if heard me he turned and, for the second time, his stare bored into what felt like my soul. In the next second he turns back to Gregg, my manager, and shakes hands with him and walks out the door. I then realize I was holding my breath the whole time.