Wordless Conversations // Phan (sequel to Bring Me Home)

10

I flinched away from the touch, scared.

My head tilting upwards to the corridor in front of me, my eyes scanned the figure I saw.

Dressed in dark, torn clothing, with a hood concealing their hair.

I could just about make out their face if I squinted.

Small features, feminine and smooth.

Their shoes were covered in a layer of thick mud that had dried long ago, and their laces were a plethora of colours.

I aspire to have those laces.

On their back sat a bag that was almost bulging with what I assumed to be their things.

Why were they carrying their life around with them?

They were looking at me with compassion, understanding, and concern.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise I hadn't shut the front door." I mumbled, standing up quickly and brushing myself off.

They stood there still, staring at me.

"A-are... you okay?" I asked, unsure of what to do.

In response, they moved to retrieve something from their backpack.

A whiteboard and pen.

I watched carefully as they wrote.

My name is Emma. I'm mute.

I read the board as she turned it towards me.

"Oh, Hi, Emma. W-what's with the backpack?"

She wrote a reply on her board.

My Dad kicked me out of my house, and I was looking for a place to stay. My friend who lives upstairs in this building can't help me.

"I'm sorry about your situation - that must really suck. Hey, um. If you want you can stay here for a bit?"

She nodded, smiling.

Thank you so much! You're so kind!

And as she smiled, the light caught her eyes. They were a bright blue.

This blue reminded me of only one thing.

And I missed him.