Incandescent

Chapter 1~ Please Smile, Blythe

Blythe. Passionate and brilliant. She walks down the hall crying so often and I don't understand it. Why isn't she happy? Why wont she smile or even calm down just enough to see anything but her tears.

It's defeaning, her silence. She's still walking to her next class. People are trying to talk to her, but she is ignoring them. They don't understand either. I can see the confusion in their eyes as she walks on. They know she heard them because they saw her look at them. I know they did.

Didn't they?

I try to talk to Blythe but she doesn't see me. Nobody sees me so it isn't shocking that she doesn't. I find her interesting none the less.

Her copper and blonde hair is loose today. That's different. It's usually up in either a bun or a pigtail. Maybe she's gotten too tired to manage it. I understand. She's been wilting and sooner or later I figured she would give in.

I can see her bones through her shirt. That is also different, because she is entirely too self-conscious. I can see her ribs indented through her tee and her legs shine light through like an open door in the afternoon. Maybe It's worse than I thought. Maybe she has given up. I hope not. She's gone on so long.

She's in Home Economics now. Her first period class. She wanders toward her desk in the back corner of the class. She collapses into the cold plastic chair. I see her shiver.

She must not find interest in the lesson or she's too tired to keep awake because I see her set her head on the hard surface of the desk. She is looking at the etchings carved in by previous students. She runs her pale fingers along the indents.

I don't want her to sleep because I'm scared that she won't wake up. I don't want that for her. She is so strong.

"Blythe? Blythe. Please wake up and join the class" Her teacher Ms. Carter says to her from across the room. "Blythe!" Blythe snaps upward.

The students around us laugh. I can see the expresion on her face and let me tell you. It is not pleased. Quite the opposite. I hope she doesn't cry. Please don't cry, B. Please smile. You're beautiful when you smile.