40 miles
Ten years old. Inside I'm secretly jumping up and down. I don't ask for a lot but I hope mom saved up enough to buy that new action figure. Later when I go home she will be passed out, and her money will be gone, taken by one of her many men that walk in and out of her life like people passing you by.
I'm trying to hide today because I know if I see Trey he's going to give me birthday beats. I eat my lunch behind a garbage can, that's in the middle of the playground. When the bell rings I forget to look around to see where Trey is. I don't hear or see him running up behind me. I can feel it though. I feel my arms being held tight by two of Trey's friends. They all laugh as Trey punches me, in the stomach. Hard. The ten times feels like fifty. And when they are done they walk away laughing and giving each other high fives.
It's hot today and lunch is over. I lay there trembling on the asphalted. I know I should be strong and not cry but I have never been like the other boys here. I have never been like Trey. Deep down I'm not afraid to feel.
I lay in the middle of the playground, looking up at the sky. As my eyes start burning from the hot sun I hope to god there is someone out there who is going to save me sometime soon.
40 miles away from ordinary.
Sometimes I wish I didn't have curly hair. When it's hot, like it is today it makes me all sweaty. The cool place to hang out at lunch is the grassy area. It's where the infamous Marissa Cooper and her crew hang out. Sometimes I catch myself not wanting anything more to be friends with them.
Today I fell in love with a girl. Her name is Summer and she is beautiful. She doesn't know I'm alive, I don't think any way. I think I know what it feels like to be in love. And I think this is it. At lunch when everyone is surrounded by Marissa Cooper, commenting on how beautiful she is. I wonder if she is happy.
Yesterday, Luke, this kid who I think may be in love with Marissa, pushed me and I scraped my elbow. Today he leaves me alone though, because I think he is going to ask Marissa out. Summer has Marissa by the hand and she's dragging her to the other side of the playground where Luke is. She looks happy today. When the bell rings, Marissa and Luke go back into the school holding hands. Summer follows close behind giggling.
Everyone is gone now. There is no wind. Everything is still. I'm sitting in the middle of the playground made out of asphalt. I'm too scared to move and I don't know why. I slowly lay down making sure my skinned elbow doesn't touch the ground. My breathing becomes relaxed as I am the only one out here. I close my eyes and when I open them again looking to the sky. I hope to god there is anyone or maybe just something out there that is going to save me sometime soon.