Stars Above You

thirteen

The next day was bright.
Yet my mind always flew back to the events of the previous night.

I got the hand of writing verses, and he sent me a friend request.

I was undecided.

It's hard to trust another man when you're broken.
I know it's strange. But it happens.

I ran out of my room and glided down the steps.
Hoping to still have some good breakfast left.
I sat down silently once I've reached the dining hall.
Everyone else had gone, so I was alone.

I took a deep breath and ate.

"Buenos Dias."

I looked up.

It was him again.

"Buenos... dias?" I tried to comprehend.
"It means good morning, right?"
He nodded "Yes."

He pulled back a chair and sat in front of me.
"You woke earlier than I did?" I asked, wondering.
"Well, yes. Though I had to force myself to get up and leave my bed."

I nodded and continued to consume the food.
It was rice and fish, both already cold.
I could still feel Emilio staring at me.
So I looked up. "You know it's not good to stare at someone who's eating."

He shook his head, and smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry, miss. I was just... thinking about something."
I became interested. "What would that be?"

"The fish reminds me of life, you see."
I continued listening.
"The fish. It swims in both calm and harsh waters."
"Just like how we have the calm and harsh parts of our lives."
"We cannot change the fact that the fish still swims in water. All it has to do is get through the harsh ones in order to find the calm."

"Bitterness, sadness and being broken is just part of everyone's lives. It is up to us whether we choose to learn and move on, or stay trapped beneath the cruel, roaring waves."

I stayed silent, stunned.

It made a lot of sense.

I want to be free, to run from the memories.

I want to forget.

"Being stuck in this enclosure of grief and brokenness is suffocating. I feel the need to breath, but just can't." I muttered. Softly. Like a whisper to the wind.

And when my eyes tried to meet his, he was already standing. Hand outstretched.

"Where are we going?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, I felt his palm rest atop mine, his fingers slowly clasping my own.
"Wait---"
But we were already running outside.

He turned to me.
"You said you wanted to breath, right?"