Promise I Will

23

I scribble down in my notes. My hand gliding across the page, inking the page as I went. The word I wrote were sincere and true.

Pain demands to be felt.

The project was in the novel, we choose. I choose 'The fault in our stars' by John Green. I had read the book about four times over. Each time it got better and better. I wish I was Hazel. Maybe I don't. But her passion and strength is in empowering. I wish I had that.

Pain demands to be felt.

I used this as a base. It was the topic on which I was speaking of. Well writing about every bit of pain we feel demands to be felt. Whether it's emotional or physical. In 'The fault in our stars' it's both. I realized that most of what I was writing onto the page, was more related to me than the book. I stared down at the page that lay on the rubbish school table and sigh. I grab my eraser and rub along the freshly written words. I get halfway through the page and decide to quit. I grab another piece of paper and start again.

* * *

"Anna." My name is called from behind me. The halls were a cluttered mess of students and I was just another ant in the colony.

"Anna, wait up." I would have stopped for him, but this was another world. We were in school, and as long as I was here, I was to go from A to B and that's it. No wandering. Not when Olivia and Aiden are back today.

A hand touches my back and I jump from contact. I swing my body around and relax when I see it's just Carson.

"You scared me." I sigh.

"I've been calling your name?" He chuckles.

I notice a paper in his hand. He shrugs his shoulder and uses his hand to adjust the strap to his book bag. I couldn't help but wonder what the paper was for?

"We are skipping the rest of the day. Get your stuff and meet me in the lot."

He doesn't wait for my reply instead he turns around and races down the hall to where I assume is his locker to gather his things.

* * *

Once I had my bag packed, and my jacket on I swung the small metal door closed and hooked the lock through the hoops that stuck out. I made my way down the deserted halls of the school. My feet scraping the floor below me making a sound echo through the halls.

I pass the washroom and cringe at the memories that it holds. I pass the multiple classrooms on my way and hold the same cringey memories. I pass the library and the picture of my books scattered on the floor flashes through my brain. I pass the cafeteria and I see another picture of myself wearing the food I had just bought. I pass the janitors closet that Carson confronted me and I cringe turns into a smile. I smile because I remember how scared I was. How he comforted me.

I push the doors open and the wind rushes against my cheeks and the familiar burn feels reassuring. The gravel under my feet crunches as I walk to the other side of the school to the lot where Carson told me to meet him.

"Took you long enough." Carson says as I see him standing beside his car. His hair was styled up perfectly and his clothing ruffled making him perfectly imperfect.

I roll my eyes, "Shut up, and tell me where you're taking me."

"That doesn't make sense."

I narrow my eyes at him playfully and let our an exasperated sigh. "Let's go already."

I walk around the car and get in. Carson does the same and we are soon pulling out of the school lot. My head rests against the window and I my forehead gets cold right away. I shiver from the cold caused by the winter weather.

It's silent for almost the whole ride. The car glides on the pavement down the roads. I still didn't know where we were headed.

My heart almost stops when I hear Carsons words, "Pain demands to be felt, happiness does too, but happiness is stronger."