What is Love

Chapter 3

"Hey, are you okay?" I was so awestruck by his warm voice that I forgot how to talk.

"I... I'm... fine," I stuttered. For some reason I couldn't get the words out of my mouth. He left me feeling tongue tied.

"My name is Will. I used to live in the suburbs but now I stick to the streets. And you are?" It took a few minutes for the words to form in my mouth.

"I'm Kara. I've lived all over the suburbs in many different houses. That was until I decided to hit the city streets. I've been homeless ever since and I'm only 13. How old are you?"

"I'm 14 and used to have a family. Then my mother died of cancer and my dad became very angry and blamed me for her death. I fled the family, leaving my poor brother and sister in the hands of a monster. I regretted leaving them there every day I was gone. When I tried to go back for them it was too late, my dad had took them and they disappeared." His story was so sad I could barely keep from crying.

"I used to have parents too. They died in a car accident when I was only 5 years old. I barely knew them but I miss them so much. I even have a picture of them in my bag." Will was so easy to talk to. Even though I had just met him, I felt like I could tell him my entire life story. I think he felt the same way.

"Well, I better get going. I'm sorry for running into you and I hope you're okay. Well, I guess this is good-bye." And just like that, he walked away, gone forever. Or so I thought.

As I walked down the block, I couldn't get his face out of my head. His eyes sparkled brighter the more I thought of him. I wasn't looking where I was going and ran straight into a small boy. He looked oddly familiar, like I had seen him before. Wait a minute.

"Kara?" I know that warm voice anywhere.

"Will? I thought I would never run into you again!" Wow, way to play it cool Kara. Now he probably thinks I'm crazy and needy. "I mean, hey, you're back." Yeah, that totally worked.

"Well, since we found each other again, maybe you want to have a chat at the coffee shop down the street?" My mouth was too dry to say anything. Luckily, I found the words.

"Sure, I'd love to." He took my arm and it instantly felt tingly, like it was on fire. I had to hold back from screaming out loud. He even held the door for me as I walked inside. By that time my whole body was on fire. He ordered his coffee, black unsweetened in case you were wondering, and sat down next to me. As he sipped his coffee, I couldn't help staring at his eyes. They are my favorite part of him, besides his kind and caring personality.

"So, Kara, tell me more about yourself. I want to know the real and truthful Kara." He wants to know the real me?! I'm freaking out! Okay, breathe Kara. Just be cool.

"Well, I've been to eight different houses since I was four and they were all just...well..."

"It's okay, you can tell me anything. I won't judge."

"Okay, here it goes. I never felt loved by any of them. Every day I would wake up in the orphanage thinking "today is the day, I will find a home and someone to love me." And every time it was the same; they all tried but none of them truly loved me at all. It was all fake. So, I finally left the orphanage and hit the streets. And that pretty much sums up my life. Pretty pathetic dream huh?" This was the part where I expected him to laugh at me and leave, forgetting all about me and thinking I'm stupid.

"No, I think you're amazing, and I know you will find love. You are not pathetic." Those were the best words anyone had ever said to me.