Ruby

11

"It was really dark. The moon barely had any light to offer, being covered by layers of thick clouds. I was walking, no where in particular, just walking to anywhere. I began to hear heavy footsteps, following too close behind me. I walked past a store window whose reflection showed of a man behind me, no one I knew. He was so close, like a kid following their mother through a grocery store. I could hear his heavy breath, I never knew how scary the sound of someone just breathing could be. I took bigger, longer steps. I sped up to a speed very close to running. I turned down every corner, not bothering to see where I was turning. Right, left, right, left; anywhere to lose the stranger trailing behind me. I took another turn, but for some reason, that time he seemed to hesitate before following me. That time I turned and slid through some bushes, waiting to stumble past. I kept going further and further back, holding my breath, and as he neared me I could hear his loud, shaky breath.."

She stopped abruptly, bringing me out of her story.

"That's how you found here." I studied her face.

She stayed silent for a while before meeting my eyes, "Yea. I've come here everyday since. Pretty odd that my most favorite place came from a bad memory. But I guess that's how everything good comes to be, right?," She tilts her head at me, "Something bad or slightly not right has to happen in order for there to be good and happiness. It's how we learn to appreciate the people and places in our life." Her voice came out soft and tender.

"Did the man.."

"No."

Things will change. Sometimes within the time of only a few seconds. Sometime slowly over a long span of time. Friendships will grow and some will vanish or break, love is found, love is lost, and memories are made.

It's times like that moment that need to be treasured, carried always in the back of your head to smile and remember. But will pass, memories will fade and all of those moments will go away, lost.

And even though it is hard to believe, Ruby gave me something I will treasure forever. She gave me my happiest moment. She taught me so much. She changed me to enjoy more of life.

For a while, Ruby and I were perfectly invincible. It was as if no one existed in all of those moments we spent together. No one could touch us. We were an unbreakable force. We connected in ways I never imagined to with someone. She understood my soul, and I knew hers. Such a bond is something held onto for forever. Ruby gave me forever. I could never repay her for the joy and happiness she gave me every moment I spent with her. I felt unimaginable, indescribable feelings for and with her. She was all I ever needed to be happy. One human being gave me an eternity of happiness and even though I didn't get eternity with her, I was left with a contentedness and with the unbreakable bond we created.

It's said nothing lasts forever and maybe that is true for the people out there who don't believe in forever. But Ruby taught me to believe. She gave to me so much that I carry with me.

And at first, I lost faith. The unbearable pain of losing someone like her took away everything from me. It felt as if I wasn't even existing. I don't remember how I lived every day up until the moment I found her journal. It was given to me. Reading of our times together brought tears and smiles. I believed forever had to come to an end eventually, but that's what all of the memories we created were for. I could relive them for forever.