I Am Here

I Never Left You

Like always as soon as the bell rang signaling the end of the school day, I was the first one out if class. Unlike most of my peers I don't have an after-school club to go to, no sports, and no girlfriend to hang out with. Most of them call me boring, but I have anything else to do. I'm not what I would call a people person, I have very few close friends and like me they have their sights on other things. Or so I thought. Once I'd arrived at the gym that was connected to the otherwise of campus (which meant I had to drive) I got my things from my gym locker. Of course, they're first come first serve but I always take this one, it's an unspoken rule at this point. With my jeans changed to sweatpants and t-shirt to a sleeveless I was ready. It was leg day, and I wasn't skimping out. Midway through my first couple of sets I feel a tap on my shoulder. It was Aiden.

"Hey, you going to prom?" Aiden asked as if he hadn't just interrupted.

"No, it's a waste of time." I reply coldly so he'd get the hint.

"C'mon dude! You got to go! It's senior year! I know you're not a party person but at least go for the experience! Plus, I'll be third wheeling James all night if you don't show," He rambles.

"I'll think about it," I say to get him to leave me alone, and he does. Prom, what a weird concept. It'll just be people with tons of potential get wasted and do dumb things. Why should I associate myself? I've got higher moral standards than wanting to go to a party and watch girls twerk on their boyfriends. I know that's not why Aiden was going, I shouldn't have been so harsh, I just hate crowds. Maybe I should try new things? Even if I'm not the life of the party, I can still have a chill time with my friends. With my set now finished my decision was made. I'm going to prom. Normally I'd panic about finding a suit, money for the ticket, and all that stressful jazz. This time I had a suit laying around due to a church event I went to a month back, I'll wear that. I have enough money for the ticket saved already and I have a car.

Without a word to Aiden (mainly because he was in the middle of a set) I left for the locker room. After placing my stuff in my locker and grabbing my keys I head for school again. I needed to sign up before they took the forms down for the night. Once I finally find a parking space and find the sign-up form I sign up. That's when I hear a couple argue from down the hall. The voices were familiar. I take a peek and I understood immediately. Who it was even though I only saw his back. It was the star couple of the school. Logan and Emerald. I say star couple sarcastically, they are anything but.

I as well as anyone in the school knew about every fight, break up, and toxic interaction. Not because I wanted to but because apparently, it's everyone's business. Things sounded a little more heated than normal. Is this it? Is this finally going to be the end to such a toxic cycle? I was hoping they'd calm down and just settle things calmly, that dream died when I'd witnessed Logan lose it and slap Emerald.

She fell backwards in utter shock. Soon she hit the ground and sat there. Logan showed no remorse, no regret. He just looked at her with hatred. She stared right back eyes welling up with tears and her mouth slightly turned to speak.

"Y-you hit me...you really are such a bastard." Emerald mumbled.

"You're the bastard, after all I've done for you. I helped you when no one else did, I loved you when no one else would, and you failed me. I had such high hopes for you, turns out you're just a disappointment. You should keep your big mouth shut next time, then maybe if anyone will date you again you won't become such a pain," Logan bent down and said while looking her in the eyes. 

Not long after a couple of Emerald's friends rushed in and helped her. Logan was quickly reported and his smug smile faded fast. The issue was being resolved quickly, thank God. I turned to leave the school through the front office when I saw a line. It wasn't an issue with the students but the office lady. Instead of helping students check out to get ready for prom she was gossiping about the fight that had just happened. I guess rumors really do travel fast. It wasn't any normal gossip session; I overheard every word.

"That girl really should've kept her mouth shut. I say, if I talked back to my father or even my boyfriend like that, I'd deserve the beating. In fact, I don't think that slap was enough. Women should really hold their tongue." She finished.

Once I got to the front of the line I spoke, "I don't mean to intrude on your conversation, but I don't think hitting someone is the right way to go. It also sounds like he might've been abusive. So she probably didn't deserve what happened-" 

"The big mouth is always at fault. Nothing more to it," She interrupted. 

"Why do you think that way-" Right as I was about to continue it seems as if I was seeing things. I saw a little girl, subconsciously I knew it was the office lady.  She was being yelled at and beaten by what seemed to be her father. Later on, she is a teenager like me, being beaten by her boyfriend and told not to speak at all. This was her life. She was shaped into those thoughts. A tear was brought to my eye. The sights are horrible. "Could you please show me your forearm?" I say calmly, I needed to check my theory.

With an eyeroll and much more begging from me she rolled up her sleeve. I was right, there was a large bruise from my vision. "It's just from me bumping into this counter," she lied.

"No, no it's not. I know how you got this."

"How could you know?"

"I know you." I was sprouting nonsense; the words weren't mine. All I knew was I had an instinct telling me to say these things, and so I did.

"You don't even know my name kid,"

"Lorainne," I say without looking for a name tag. Just her eyes.

"How could you know that...I go by Cindy now..." 

"I know you. I call you by name. You are mine." I knew that it was a verse I've heard. God's words made real, like something straight from the Bible. Her eyes filled with tears, she understood I wasn't talking, it was God himself. 

"I thought you left me. Why would you ever want someone like me?" She asked now crying.

"I never left you; I've always been here. You are my daughter, and I love you." 

"I'm sorry, thank you child. I need to go now," With that she got up and called another lady to take her place. She then rushed out and I pulled out too. I knew the route she was going. The church. What was this feeling? I feel so relieved I could help her, so happy to have been used by God. I want to keep being used. It reminds me of another reason I love God and came to him in the first place. Maybe this is what I'm meant to do. Possibly the world can be changed again.