When I Awakened

"Life Memory"

     The life that I used to know was pretty easy. I had family, friends, and pets. I just took it all for granted. I thought I didn't have to deal with any bad thing. I thought I had it all, but maybe not.

     I walk into the classroom with a grin on my face. I have studied so hard for this test. I sit down in my seat and am given my test. After about ten minutes I finish my test and hand it in, but the anticipation is killing me. I want to know if my studying had payed off.

      I flip my dirty blonde hair out of my freckled face as the teacher hands back the tests. The teacher passes a test back to everyone, and I turn my paper over to see a sixty-five percent. I frown and slam my paper on my desk. Sometimes studying doesn't work. I just proved that theory.

     I look around at everyone. Silly Billy, Jumpy Jillian, Marker Sage--those are my friends, and they always sit around me. We created silly nicknames for eachother. Mine is Sky Skylar.

     I frown and look down, embarrassed to show anyone my grade. I feel as if I have failed the class. I am a complete failure.

     "Hey, Sky, are you okay?" a voice asks.

     I look up and see Billy sitting near my desk. I can tell he is concerned.

     "I failed my test, but I studied so hard! I don't know how this could have happened," I answer.

     He smiles at me.

     "You'll do better next time," he pauses, "I believe in you."

     I smile at him, and I can tell I'm blushing. I didn't think anyone ever believed in me. I stare into his eyes, and I can see that he cares about me. I wonder if he knows I also care about him. I hope he knows.

     "Thank you, Billy, I appreciate it. Maybe we can start studying together after school," I offer.

     Just then, the code red bell blares. My heart is beating as fast as a cheetah. I realize I am breathing heavily and I can hear footsteps coming down the hallway. I rush to get to the wall everyone is hiding in, and I sit next to Billy. Just as I sit down, I can see the terror on his face. I take his hand in mine, and I see his face calm a little.

     "Everything is going to be okay. I promise," I reassure him.

     He smiles up at me, and we are staring at each other, but just a moment later, the door is kicked down. I look up to see a tall man standing high. He strokes his brown beard, as if he was petting a cat. I then hear the sound of my classmates screaming.

     I can see the man staring at me specifically. His green eyes can tell me everything. He is not doing this out of anger, or revenge, or because it was fun. He is hurt. I know right then how to make him not hurt us with the mallet in his hand.

     "I know why you are doing this," I say, standing up.

     Just that second, he freezes as if he had been struck by a freeze ray. He stares at me, listening to what I was going to say next.

     "You aren't angry. You're not a bad person," I pause, "You are hurt. Something in your life has gone bad, and instead of releasing your sadness in a healthy way, you decide to take it out on innocent children! Did you ever think about what you could possibly do? What if you killed one of us? What would you do? You would end up in jail, and never come out, that's what would have happened."

     After my speech, his eyes started to water, and tears drop out of his eyes. I can hear complete silence behind me. Looking around, everyone's mouths are opened as wide as they can get. I look back at the guy and he is crying. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                            "You know nothing about me, little girl!" he yells.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             "You're not the only one hurting! Everybody has their bad days and their better ones. We can help you. Nobody has to get hurt. I think you don't want to do this, is that right? Aren't you just looking for someone who might understand and thinking this is the best solution?"