What Strength Is

What Strength Is - Part II

Matt did a double-take. That girl did look familiar. He realized he knew this girl, and rushed over to catch her.

"Hey!" He said.

Sherri turned around, noticing a familiar face that seemed to call out to her. "Oh, hey. You're Matt, right?"

"Yeah. You're Sara's roommate, Sherri, right?"

"That's right." She said nodding.

"Hey, is Sara okay? She hasn't responded to the message I sent her last night, usually she does right away. She's not sick again, is she?"

"No, she's not sick. I think she was upset because her phone died last night. Maybe she forgot it today."

"Oh, okay. Thanks."

"I'd talk more, but I have to get to my next class." Sherri told him.

"Of course. Sorry for stopping you."

"It's fine." Sherri said. She waved bye, and continued on her path.

In class, Sherri thought over her problem... Sara's problem. Even though they'd had a date, Sara still refused to admit that the two of them were a couple. Sara did like Matt, so as far as Sherri could tell there wasn't any reason they shouldn't be together.

A small smile crept up on her face as she had an idea.

- - - - -

"Hey, Matt!" Sherri called out. She grabbed his attention. "You're hard to find."

"Oh, Sherri. What's up?"

"I have something for you." She pulled a hard-paperback book from her bag, handing it to Matt. "Sara told me you could have that for a while."

He opened to a random page. "What is it?" The handwriting was Sara's, and the entry he opened to was dated. It was over a year ago.

"It's her journal. She wanted you to have it to get to know her better."

"Oh." Matt said. That was unlike her. But he appreciated the opportunity. "Tell her I said thanks."

"I will. I gotta go though. I'll tell her later."

"Sure. Bye." Matt waved to her as she jogged away. He flipped the journal in his hands over, and then back to the front. An illustration of a flower was wrapped around the outside, with butterflies around them.

He placed the journal in his bag. He'd look at it when he had some free time, he told himself.

- - - - -

Homework done, Matt finally grabbed Sara's journal to take a read of it. If Sara wanted him to have it to get to know her better, shouldn't he read it?

The first entry was over 5 years ago, in April. It read as follows:

So my doctor said I should keep a journal to note any changes in my health. My mom bought me this book. Sure, whatever.

I feel fine. I'm not too hot, not too cold, I don't feel sick

UGGGHH, this is so STUPID! WHY am I doing this! Forget it!

The handwriting at the end was angry, like the pen had been pressed hard against the page. Matt flipped to the next page, where the next entry began. It was in April, but a few weeks later.

Mom says I should keep writing in this. How maybe it'd help with my feelings. I guess so...

I got yelled at in class yesterday. A whole bunch of pencils rolled off my desk and made a loud sound while the teacher was talking, and he told me off in front of the entire class. It's not like it's my fault the desks are tilted!