Company - campingdolphin

chapter three

book one - ryan

"W-What? But I don't want to go up there!"

"C'mon, Ryan! Quit being a scared, 8 year old!"

"B-But-"

"Nope! You're coming with me. After all, you did say you would always protect me. What if something happened?"

"F-Fine, Brayden."

-=+=-

I always spent my time after school in the courtyard until it closed. There was a little, fancy oak gazebo that I always liked sitting at. It brought good memories from my first year here.

It always reminded me of the principal before, Principal Hartley. She was nice, especially to me, and everyone loved her. They built the little gazebo for her. She was one of the few reasons why I still attended this school.

But the place always smelled like magnolias to me for some reason. Yet I knew why at the same time : Brayden's favorite flower was magnolias.

This place reminded me of the better times, times where I had nothing to worry about and all I did was be a kid. It reminded me of the time when Brayden and I would always be found together all the time, causing mayhem.

At the same time, it reminded me of the bleak future.

I was a lonely child, living a sad life. But in this day and age, it was always about ourselves. People don't pity anymore or provide help; they just look at you for a moment then leave. They'll be sad for you for a moment before you just become a fleeting memory.

In this world that used to be filled with happiness and kindness for me, was now depressing and dark.

Everyone else seemed to be so happy, so content with their lives, but I'm one who has to suffer. But then there are those who truly work to get to where the are today.

Those are the people that I envy. They managed to raise themselves from where they were to what they have becomed now. They are the ones who get everything. The ones who deserve everything. The ones that will survive and continue on.

"Survival of the fittest," they always say.

Then I'm suprised I'm still surviving, in all honesty.