the art of

ten » human nature

The roaring noise of feet coming in contact with soccer balls didn't surpass the blaring sound of a heartbreaking, crashing, tearing into half.

"Wow." Alice's voice settled down into the abyss of her mouth, not daring or knowing what to say after the nightmare of his life waltzed over into her memory cabinet.

"Mhm."

"I want to say I'm sorry but I know that those words don't change a single thing. I don't know. I'm just"

"It's o-okay. I know w-what you're t-trying to say."

"Is there anything I can do? Maybe, you can move in with me for a little while?"

"No, th-th-they'll get an-angrier. Th-hey'll co-come after me."

"We should call someone, talk to a teacher, and the authorities. This is completely illegal."

"No, it do-doesn't m-m-matter." He bit into a sandwich and took a sip of Snapple.

"Alex, it completely matters. There's not an inch of this that doesn't matter. You know how when you tell someone a story filled with past memories of laughter, or a cherishable moment, the moment you tell them, they, too, are filled with happiness? They feel your memory inside of them, and they understand that the moment was a beautiful one. Once you told me, my heart physically hurt. It still hurts. I can't explain the feeling but it feels like my heart is scrunching up, and it stings. I think this is a way our bodies tell us that what we just heard, and took in, is something that brings pain. It's like the art of our own inner human nature; the basis of understanding between one body to another. We feel each other's remorse, and the first thing we do is say that we're sorry and that we want the other person to feel happy. Our lives are already burdened with suffering from the wars on the planet and the natural disasters that kill hundreds and the destructive capabilities of people who let their darkest nature take hold of reality. Those are external harms, but once it becomes internal, it can cause your soul to disintegrate. There's always some hope that wars will end, but there seems to be this common stigma that once it becomes internal, you're gone for sure. I don't want that stigma to become a reality for you. Please, let me help you."

"Like w-what are you g-g-oing to do that will hel-p-p me?"

"Just stay at my place for a week; just a week, and then by the end of the week, let me

know how you feel."

"But...m-my pare-e-nts will c-come aft-t-er m-me."

"No, they won't."

"How d-do yo-u-u know?"

Alice pulled a robotic baby out of her backpack. "Health class said we needed to find a partner. You're officially my partner. So, you have to take care of this baby for a week, so it happens."

"Why couldn't w-we just not h-have to take c-care of the b-ba-baby and still u-use it as the e-ex-excuse for me to st-st-ay for a w-w-eek?"

"Excuse me, because I know how great of a friend you are to not let me suffer taking care of this baby while you sleep calmly in the guest room. Right?" She raised her eyebrow with a smirk dancing on her lips.

"Why are we fr-fr-friends ag-ag-ain?'

"Because you totally love me."

"Mhm." He rolled his eyes and fell back onto the fake grass.