When We Were Young

She's not the same..but I'll fix her

Weeks after the attack I still couldn't shake the feeling, I had felt someone else's hands on me. My arms still felt sore and like they were bruised. My ribs cracked and moved funny when I breathed. "Hey honey, you want to come outside? Get some fresh air?" Memaw asked from behind me. I haven't left my spot in my window seat in my room in a few hours. "Huh? Oh sorry yeah I guess going outside will help." Slowly I got up and immediately almost fell. "Have you been eating lately?" She asked as she held onto me to stabilize. "Yeah, I have, just not a lot, sorry." She looked at me with a look of sorrow. "Okay let's get you outside and I'll get you something to eat okay?" I just nodded as she helped me outside.

Once I was outside and sitting in a chair on the deck I just looked over at the empty field. No boys to do the chores, no other kids running around, just me and my grandparents lately. "Hey there kiddo, I have some old farm hands coming out in a few hours to help tend things. You can stay out here and watch them if you want. But I'm worried about you." I looked over at Papa as he was holding a cup of coffee and a plate of cut apples.

"I'll be fine papa don't worry, I'm still trying to come to terms with everything." I cracked a small smile as he handed me the plate. "Here eat this, tonight why don't we all go into town and go to dinner." I just smiled and slowly ate the apples.

Time began to pass and people came and gone as the sun rose and fell. I got lost staring into the field ahead of me.

"She's not the same anymore, you can tell by her eyes, they were once a prominent gold now just black orbs." I heard Papa talking to Memaw in the kitchen through the window. "Why don't you have Dalton come out and talk with her, he seems to break her wall down, where has he been?" Memaw said with slight agitation in her voice.

"He's been getting ready for school and football coming up, but I'll talk to his mom about having him come out to spend time with her." I hung my head and began to silently cry. I was scared I was pushing him away, I never answered my phone when he called anymore. I got up and brought my plate inside. "There you are kiddo, why don't you go change we're going out to dinner." I just nodded and ran to my room.

Looking around the room I found where I through my phone, quickly I opened my text messages and saw the newest one. 'Hey princess, I know you've been down lately but I promise I'll always be here. Call me when you're ready.' Quickly I hit the call button. "Hey, Alex I was worried you landed in the hospital again." I felt myself smiling as I heard his voice. "Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?" I was shocked at the sound of my own voice, I sounded happy and like myself again. I heard him shuffling some papers around. "Ummm football in the morning but I'm free at about noon, why princess?" I was dancing around my room. "Want to go to the pond?" I heard him chuckle. "You mean the lake by the house?" I felt myself nodding but stopped because he couldn't see me. "Yes the one on the property, I want to spend some time with you, if not it's okay." I felt my smile fade before he answered with of course and he'll call me when he's done with what he was doing later tonight. "You know, I'd like that, why don't we video call tonight?" I heard him chuckle and agree. I hung up the phone and started to get dressed.

"Papa I'm ready to go!" I called as I ran to the front room, fighting to get my shoes on. "Yeah that works, I'll meet you there, yes the arcade, okay thank you again." I was confused and he just hugged me. "We're meeting some friends okay? Go get in the truck." I nodded and ran outside.

The ride wasn't that exciting, I managed to slip in a headphone and listen to something that wasn't country for a change. I was lost in thought as we pulled in. "Alex, if you get uncomfortable at any point tell us and we'll go home." I nodded and got out of the truck and started walking towards the doors. Midstep I was picked up and spun around, I started flailing and hitting whomever picked me up when I heard a familiar chuckle. "Darling it's me." I got a good look at him, my boy with the baby blues. "OH my fucking god no way!" Wrapping my arms around his neck as he put me down. "How did you know, you said you had chores or some shit to do." He just chuckled and kissed my forehead. "I have my ways now lets go play some games."

Hours passed and we played every game the arcade had to offer, the clock was hitting eight when we decided to cash in the tickets. "So what do we get?" I asked as Dalton was talking to the person at the counter. "Yeah, the pink one, please. Thank you." I was lost staring at the pink dinosaur and felt my hopes and dreams come crashing when it was taken off the shelf, I really wanted that. "Have a good night you too." I heard from beside me and then an arm wrapped around my waist. "Hey, you go, princess, a pretty pink dinosaur." I felt the soft fabric brush against my arms and finger. "No fucking way! Thank you I'll treasure her forever." I leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Thank you thank you thank you." Was all I could say as a smile crept across my face. "Of course anything for the best girlfriend in the world." I stopped in my tracks. "Are you asking me out? Like for real?" Dalton nodded and just stood there, I felt my face heat up like the room was suddenly as hot as hell. "So what do you say?" I didn't think I just hugged him tightly and nodded against his chest. "Of course." I heard a chuckle and then his hand was under my chin tilting my head up softly. "Thank you." I felt his lips on mine and the world slowed.

"Okay, you two love birds, let's go get some food before it's too late." I looked over at Papa who was chuckling and holding a paper coffee cup. "Papa, what are you going to do when the world runs out of coffee?" I asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Well that's a sick joke, and it'll have to be a cold day in hell if that happens." I just laughed and walked to the truck. "We'll meet you there." I looked over and he was talking to a middle-aged woman who was with Dalton. Oh, that's his mom I was wondering how he got here. I thought to myself as I looked out of the window.

The rest of the night was uneventful we went to dinner, and then at the end of the night I remember falling asleep with the pretty boy on the other side of a computer screen.