Ruby

7

There was one day I saw her. It was raining only slightly once again. She was standing on the side of the bleachers, where no one was in sight. She had a pair of white headphones in her ears, her black hair hung loosely around her face with a smooth shine. Her hips swayed to the song playing and she had the biggest smile I had ever seen her give. She looked so happy. Her face glowed, her cheeks rosy. Her whole face scrunched up as the cold raindrops landed on her pale face. She turned in slow circles, still swaying her hips to the slow beat. Her contentment was radiating off of her, reaching me. Watching her dance made me want to join her. A smile stretched across my face, the energy she had right then was amazing.

The song assumingly ended and she slowly came out of her happy state, pulling her earphones out gently. She seemed to have forgotten she wasn't alone and was out in the open. She gazed around the area to see if anyone had seen her. I turned my head the other way as her eyes inched closer to where I had been standing. After a few moments, when I thought she wouldn't be looking anymore, I looked back in her direction. Her grey eyes looked back at my brown ones. She had been staring at me. I froze for a few seconds unsure of what to do. I gave her a small, genuine smile and she returned it. Her eyes lit up as they always seemed to do. Her eyes enveloped my mind, it felt like I was floating when I looked into her eyes. We both stared a little while longer. It wasn't an awkward atmosphere, more comfortable. We connected best through silent gazes.

After a few moments, she waved her small hand goodbye as she turned and began to walk the opposite way. Her grey backpack that hung loosely on her shoulders had a small orange flower that had been poking out of a small opening between two zippers.

The orange flower. I had always seen her with one. The day I had put my poem in her backpack, I had seen one. But the flower I had seen the two days were each different shades. This one was more vibrant and healthier. It was longer in length because the flower from the other day could fit perfectly and the backpack could zip up over it. But this one didn't fit in her small, grey backpack like the other one had. Why did she always have an orange flower?

I had so many questions about her. Why was she gone for so long? Why did she love the sky so much? Why did she love the rain so much? Why did she always carry an orange flower on her? Was she happy with how she interacted at school? I felt as if the time I had to ask her these questions was running out. I felt limited with the time I had with her, but I wanted all of eternity with Ruby.