Somewhere In Brooklyn

12 - November 6

Do you ever wonder how I knew what exactly your school uniform was even if it was under your trenchcoat?

Of course, not because I never actually told you in person that I knew that.

The thing is I knew that because there are four sets of that uniform hidden in my sister's closet. She used to go to that pretentious, private all-girl high school you are attending to until she got expelled and had to study her senior year in a public high school.

Anyway, I'm not sure if you've heard of what she did considering you were probably a freshman that time. But I'm telling you, it was legendary.

She destroyed a school property by writing comments on library books. Not just any comments, but she also gave constructive criticisms on every fiction books there. Using a red ballpen and a neon green highlighter. The school had to kick her out because god forbid a sixteen-year-old girl gave the dead writers a few writing tips.

Don't get her wrong, my sister loved books. As a matter of fact, I got my passion for literature from her. She loved reading but she also had a bad habit of destroying them. I mean, sure, writing on pages is one way of owning a book. But not ripping every page and turning words into another form of art. Which was what she kind of always did, especially when the books hurt her so much.

Once, she gave my room a makeover by ripping the pages of my copy of The Perks of Being A Wallflower from its spine and taping them to the wall above my headboard. I was furious for one, she went into my room without permission, let alone go through my stuffs; and two, she ruined my book. I was so mad that I didn't speak to her for weeks. Until she apologized and surprised me with a new copy of that book. The first edition too, not the regular one that's plastered on my wall.

That night, after rereading my new copy, I highlighted my favorite lines on the pages on the wall. The book became more special to me because of that.

I saw you reading it earlier, I hope it's also special to you.