The Emails

Day 1 Part 2

Eli,

Like I said, there isn't much to say. I'm boring. There is one thing special thing about me. I'm in Drama class, but I'm not an actress. I do lights; I get to sit up high and twist the spotlights.

But that is just one thing; and it's not even that special. You seem to have a lot of special things; two different colored eyes; purple fringe; and you have your People Theories.

How old are you, for the record? When's your birthday? What grade are you in? Tell me about yourself.

~Lauren

A smile flickered across my face as I read the email. Then I started typing.

Lauren Smith,

Let's see...

I have heterochromia; that's the technical term for two different colored eyes. I'm also left-handed, which can be a pain. I'm seventeen; I take Art class and I mostly draw birds and flowers; my birthday is February 29th, which may be a reason I'm so obsessed with my People Theories.

They are as follows:

1. Every Person has a Dark Side

2. Every Person has a Weird Side

3. Every person has a Light Side

4. Every Person is born with equal Light and Darkness inside them

6. Every Person acts differently around different People

7. Every Person has one Fatal Flaw

I have a Dark Side; I choose to not listen to it, so it lies dormant, waiting, waiting, until I cannot hold back the Demon within me; waiting until I drown in fears and Darkness; waiting.

I have a Weird Side; I flaunt it flamboyantly; I have accepted and embraced my Weird Side; I have become it.

I have a Light Side; it is harder to listen to than the Dark Side; it tells me to help up that kid who just fell; it is about sacrifice; honor; goodness; it is difficult; I often wonder what would happen if I went Dark.

I was born with equal Dark and Light within me; I lean towards the Light and shy from the Dark; for the Light keeps me alive; the Darkness drowns me.

I act differently around different People. I am polite to my parents; jokey with my friends; shy around girls; sassy towards my teachers; I learn to chameleon my actions.

I have one Fatal Flaw. I find it hard to forgive; I hold grudges; I plot silently; I do not act upon my plots.

My mind is a terrifying place. It is Dark and Weird and Light and broken and changing.

I have also been told that I am rather poetic.

Sincerely,
Eli

For a moment, I hesitate, my mouse hovering over the Send button, afraid I might scare Lauren Smith off.

But I push the button anyways, and then I go back to my English paper, typing out a short story about a suicidal spoon.

I'm halfway through the first draft when I see that Lauren Smith has replied to me.

I'm overly happy about this, then I chide myself for being so happy. You just met her, and not even in person, idiot.

But I click my email tab anyways.

It is not Lauren who has emailed me; it is my friend, Alex. I respond to him, and then continue writing.

Then I see someone has emailed me.

Eli,

Wow. I'm speechless; whoever told you that you are a poet was right.

I guess I owe you some information about me.

I'm sixteen, and my birthday is June 28th.

I feel so boring; you seem so vibrant and poetic. I feel kinda bleh compared to you.

You said I was your project; how are you supposed to unlock my Weird Side?

~Lauren

***

Lauren Smith,

Honestly, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to unlock your Weird Side. But you know what they say. Where there's a will, there's a way.

I have a will.

Do you know anybody named Way?

Sincerely,
Eli