Aylnn Reed

I

It was her first few weeks of her senior year. New school, new town. Old friends, old life. Usually people start their story by saying "same old, same old," but not Alynn Reed. It is not common for someone to move their senior year, or have their whole life to turn upside down in front of them. She loved to read and write. Sometimes you would catch her with a camera, off in the distance, away from everyone else. Other times, she would be in the corner of the library, somehow drawing exactly what the photo reads. Staying in that same spot, same position for hours. Making sure she had art and study halls in her schedule.

One day, I was walking past the gymnasium and could not help but look in the windows, hoping to see Alynn Reed pass by. She was never like any other girl, any other women out there, and she never tried to be. She walked laps instead of participating in the unit. With her, was no human being, just a book. A book of poetry. Milk and Honey As she inched closer, I slowly moved back just enough where she could not see me, but I still could not keep my eyes off her. She looked down, and walked almost a foot from the door. I placed my hands on the ledge, wanting to push. Push away everything that just might come between us, every thought or tear and just reach for her. When reality came back, I saw a tear inching down her cheek and into the spin of the book.

"Hey!" I heard down the hall. I quickly looked up, noticing I was being directed to my class if I had not had a hall pass, "Got a hall pass for me?"

I quickly glanced in the window, noticing a familiar face. I struggled to reach into my pocket, just to find out I left it in class. I sighed loudly as I threw my head back and watched as a teacher pointed at me with his strict finger, and arched it just in a way to make me come.

I ended up with an after school detention, or two. I could not help but get up out of that office chair. It was as if my feet and brain were in the same daze. I walked as the secretary called me by my last name and told me to come back, that I still had to talk to the principle. Almost triggering that daze, or that button of my own, my feet just picked up the pace. Nearly running, I made my way down the hall, watching as she marched into the girl's restroom. Once again, I wanted to reach for her, hold her tight, and tell her something. Something that shows her everything would turn out to be, but unfortunately my reach was too soon, and too far away. My feet slowed down as I gone back to walking, then to a stop. My whole body was in pain, someone so beautiful, so different, but so far from reality; I wanted to love. I was to the point, instead of hugging her, I hugged the ground.