PIECES OF A HARMLESS LIFE

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CHAPTER 4:

I held the rose in my hand, gazing at it intently remembering all the memories that it held. A tale was behind this specific pink rose. It untamed beauty held an untold tale behind it. A history worth your time, I hope. My eyes slowly cruise over to the grave in front of me. Fresh flowers lay there. I didn't not know who they were from, I knew everyone she associated with. At least I think I did. It couldn't have been Gavin or mother. If they had gone, they would have told me as they always do. Why change that now? And it couldn't have been me.

I would remember that. So, who could it be?

I jerk in surprise when I hear the rustling of leaves in a nearby bush, just in time to see a retreating figure. Before I react, its gone, leaving me bewildered.

An hour earlier...

The world carried on, not caring about me and my life. To it, I was just a speck of dust among the other billions of people on earth. Why should it even care about me? I guess my problems are just not good thought for some sympathy. I stand near the bench, a few metres form the building I just come out of, waiting for Gavin. I did not see him when I came out and I did not hotter to ask the receptionist who was immersed in a magazine. My legs felt feeble and weak, so I quickly took refuge to the bench.

As soon as I sat down, a child ran by giggling. Behind him a boy about sixteen years old followed in pursuit. He called the child's name in a bid to make hike stop, but clearly they were both having fun.

I sigh.

I gaze at them until they come to stop near an ice cream shop. This dilemma brought back happy memories about me and Jasmine. I quickly erase them from my mind and focused on why I was feeling so weak. A wave of exhaustion overwhelmed me. In a matter of seconds, I could not see the world as I once knew it.

It is happening again. Why now? Why today?

I got up, trying to get a away from the bench; away from the chastising eyes of the public. It did not work. I fell with a thud and let out a cry of pain. Not only because of the grazed and cuts that now covered my arms as my skin came into contact with the ground and I rolled before I came to a stop but also because of the sounds that ran through my mind. They were everywhere, I felt as if I was being taken through an escapade of gruesome taunts. Then the images came, and for a moment some bright light filled my line of sight.

This is it. I am finally dying.

It was so bright I shut my eyes. Darkness engulfed me. I opened my eyes once.more and the light was gone. In its place was a mirror. I could see a man, tall and fairly dark skin, about my age. His hair glistening in the sunlight, his hands were tucked in the pockets of his jeans. He gazed at the field he was standing in, his eyes cruising the sight before him. He was wearing a dark blue shirt that fit him perfectly, showing his well-built body and black jeans with a pair of black sneakers with white laces.

Abruptly, his eyes met mine. My heart beat a mile a minute.

Is this real?

A figure appeared out of the corner of the mirror, just in the direction he was gazing at. It was girl about my age with long tresses of brown hair cascading down her long neck down to her back. She wore a white dress covered with lace at the bottom. On her feet were black sandals. She gazed back.

It was me! Thousands.of questions rushed into my mind begging for.answers; answers I did not have.

She then looked back at him. They held hands and gazed deeply into each others eyes as if they were communicating a silent message.

The scene around them grew warm and buttery. The sunseemed to shine brighter. The roses around them burst with more colour than a year of sunsets and the flowers could be seen gossiping in the breeze by them. It was like they had an unbreakable connection.

In the wink of an eye, the scene changed and the boy faded away and the girl remained. Right there and then, I felt as if was in her body. Like I was actually there in the cemetery looking at Jasmine's grave, holding a pink flower. I lay it on the grave next to the others after seeing the fleeting figure behind the bushes. I did not feel sad. I could not fathom my emotions.

Suddenly, I was pulled away from the reverie and hurtled into darkness.