One Small Step | ✔

We Meet Again

Lost in thought,
I wander the
small town
full of life.

Annoyed by the small talk,
I return to the trail
and head up.
I can't deny that I want to see him again.

The past few days
hasn't changed
the lonely trail
in the slightest.

Maybe another twig has fallen,
another leaf has grown,
but it seems like
nothing has changed.

Up and down the trail again
to the peak.
this time,
with my camera.

I take one picture of the view
and sit as close
as I dare
to the edge.

No one's here,
just me.
A glance to the right and left
comfirm it.

I bring out my spiral-bound notebook
black, white and blue.
and my pen.
I begin to write.

Dear Adam,
How's the world in your perspective?
Everything is different now.
You've left and Carina's gone too.

Why?
Why did you both have to leave me in this
lonely, lonely
world?

"Should I be worried
that I'm interested in
a girl writing to another guy?"
A voice says teasingly.

I jump up,
startled.
It's Soren.
"Oh, hi."

He grins at me,
"We meet again, Tallulah.
See? I even remember your name.
Though you are the only new person."

He sits down next to me.
"I hope I'm not coming off jealous or anything,
and if you don't mind me asking,
but, who's Adam?"

His bluntness shocks me.
But it's refreshing from
the whispers and pitying looks
that go wherever I go.

One person
who doesn't
know my
story.

"A friend from my past,"
I tell him.
I'm grateful for how vague my answer is,
how vague my letter seems.

"Back where you used to live?"
he says.
"Sorry, I just say whatever comes to mind first."
He smiles sheepishly.

"It's fine.
I'm used to it."
Jacob is good for something apparently.
"So I didn't see you in school."

"You looked for me?"
his grin widened.
"Unfortunately,
I had other stuff to attend to."

I shake my head mockingly,
trying to copy his free demeanor
"Leading a girl on, Soren?
I'm disappointed in you."

"Someone's cheered up since last time,"
he comments gleefully.
The smile fades from my lips.
Despite what he says, I feel like I'm playing "pretend'.

The smile was still forced,
the joke was painful.
All that I just said
screams Adam.

Although when he said it,
it was always,
"Leading the poor guy on, Tal?
I'm ashamed of you!"

Soren notices my silence
and says,
"Hey, Tallulah, I swear, I'm not trying to be creepy,
and I know we just met, but..."

He trails off and says,
"I feel like there's a lot going on in your life.
Any time you need to talk,
I'm here."

Suddenly, it's all too much like
school before the move.
I brush him off,
"Thanks, but I'm fine."

I thought Soren would be different
but like everyone else,
He's trying to come in
but he shouldn't be able to.

"I gotta go,"
I tell him,
only lingering long enough
to see the hurt look on his face.

I dart through the trees back down
the trail
and bump into another person.
He's the guy who looks like Soren.