Stephen and Sharpies ~ Watty Awards 2012

Chapter Thirteen

    Ma walks into my room with a sunken face and tears falling down her face. “You should get some sleep, it‘s been a long day.” She turns around and walks out of my room. I can hear her bedroom door shut with a silent click.

    I look at the paper in my hand, the next letter. I take a quick look at the title and smile. I can’t go to sleep, not yet. I look out the window one more time, hoping that maybe Stephen would be outside; she wasn’t. I manage to pull my eyes away. I begin to read the thirteenth letter.

-Alec

    Your smile is the thirteenth Sharpie. I chose the color yellow, like the sun because when I see your smile it lights up my day. Every time I see your smile, I get a jolt through my body. Your smile brightens up my mood and I am always happier when you smile at me. The best smiles I have ever seen you give are in the halls. You direct the smiles at me and not just to be nice. You smile at me because you’re happy to see me.

    With your smile my heart speeds up into a rush of fluttering, butterflies shoot through my stomach quicker than sound can reach my ears. The sight of your sweet smile makes my heat jump, my eyes sparkle, and my cheeks redden. I want to spin around in circles and laugh out loud when you smile at me. My finger twirls my hair at just a glance at your lips turned upward. My lips have small indents from the times we talked and you smile at me, your dimples deeper than ever.

    Have you ever gotten that feeling when I smile at you? You know the one. I-am-in-love-with-you-and-your-smile-makes-me-giddy kind of feeling. I have gotten it so many times. Actually it happens every time you smile at me. I wonder if you like my smile as much as mine. I’ve dreamt of your smile. I day dream about your smile. Alec,  your smile has more of an affect on me than you could ever know.

-Stephen

    I could never forget the smile I know by heart. If I saw it in a crowd, I’d know it was Stephen without any doubt or hesitation. I got that feeling she talked about when I saw her smile. She had the smile that shined brighter than the sun, one that took your breath away, and the only smile that could make sigh. Never before have I met a girl that with one smile made me want to be friends with them immediately. She had me at a smile, just took three years for the reaction to hit me. Her hello had less than impressing, that smile was what tied the knot.

    Stephen would smile at me and her eyes would light up. Her teeth show and usually her smile would include biting her bottom lip. When she smiled at me to would not look at me through me. I could stare her in the eye and never feel like she was staring back. It was more like I was staring at her and she was searching for me, somewhere in a far off place. I found it rather strange the way she smiled at me, but I liked it.

    I loved it.

    Thinking about her smile makes me smile, a sad smile, but a smile no matter. I’ve had many chances to see that smile, but nothing will be equal to the next time I see her smile. The moment she’s safe, the smile that’ll creep across her face when she sees me. It will be a moment I’ll never forget. I will take her in my arms and kiss her, I’ll be able to feel her smile underneath my lips. Stephen and I will pull away just slightly, we’ll stare into each other eyes, and see the smiles plastered on each other’s faces. There will be one of those moments, as soon as I get her back.

    I set the yellow Sharpie and the thirteenth Sharpie back into the box. I set the box on the floor and turn off my lights. I lie down in my bed and grab my iPod. I scan through the songs until I find “Lullaby” by Shawn Mullins. I press play and then turn to the volume to the highest it will go. I then close my eyes listening to the song over and over until I fall into a deep, unwanted sleep.