The Ice Rink & Him

I often think about him, where he is, what he could be doing. Everything that happened between us. It has been a while since I last saw him, though that memory is quite blurred from all my tears. It was amazing, while it lasted at least. I don't really do much these days, just sit around my dusty house and think about what my life could have been like if it had gone this way, or something different had happened. Sometimes a particular smell or song triggers a memory, such as candy floss or Fall Out Boy. It takes me all back to that one fateful day at the ice rink, the day it all began.

It started out with me just casually skating round the rink, not even knowing why I was there. I never go ice skating, so why was I doing just that, in this crowded rink, filled with mostly children and parents. A Fall Out Boy song blasted through the loud speakers just as he bumped into me. He said he didn't see me there, as he smiled down at me. A guy around my age, but much taller than I am, peering down at me. His hair a short, blond mess. I tell him it's alright, he thinks I look familiar.

He stays by my side for a while, never leaving. Making me laugh like never before, he tells the worst jokes, but I still smile. It's surprising to me that he can do this, I haven't heard my laugh in quite a while, it almost sounds foreign to me. As his warm hand touches my shoulder, I involuntarily flinch, reminded of a horrible memory. He looks at me, concerned, and asks if I'm alright, if my shoulder is okay. He thinks that he hurt me, but he only uncovered a memory I thought was under lock and key, in the deep dark depths of my brain. I tell him I'm fine, that he just startled me, I couldn't tell him what he actually did, well, what he uncovered.

We stayed at the rink for ages, a lot longer than I usually would, but there's something about him. Something that makes me want to be around him. My brain is still hesitant because of past experiences but my heart is already sold. He makes me laugh in ways no one has before, he's so charasmatic, yet goofy at the same time. He makes my heart sing. I was in the middle of laughing at one of his silly jokes when I got a glimpse of someone. Someone who had hurt me, who I thought, hoped, to never see again. My heart was telling me to stay, he'll protect me, wouldn't he? But my brain was telling me to run. And that's what my body listened to. I super speeded out of the rink, ripped my skates off and ran. I ran as fast as my body could carry me, yet he still caught up. He made me stop, I tried to keep running but I melted into his warm embrace. The look on his face was filled with worry and confusion. I shake my head into his chest as he asks if I'm okay, what happened. After a little while of him telling me it's alright and me, just standing there in his embrace, he offers to walk me home.

I hesitantly opened the door, secretly hoping no one would be home. When I realised they would be out, I let out a sigh of relief. If they were here it would be endless teasing and questions, I don't think I would be able to handle that at the moment. I almost forgot he was still there until he shut the door and followed me into the lounge. He flops down next to me on the couch, making me bounce and earning a laugh. As he gets comfortable, I study his features, hoping I will get more chances to do so, hoping whatever this is won't end badly. I feel comfortable around him, his warmth conquers my cold. My last thought as I drift off, resting on him, is I really hope this goes well. I can't take another person hurting me, it would be too much.