Day 21 - A letter to someone you judged by their first impression
Dear Jordan,
Hey dude. How've you been? Well...you've been getting better. I've seen your improvement ever since you got here a few weeks ago. Now that you're getting ready to go...it's saddening in a way.
This letter's to someone I judged at first impression. As sad it sounds now, I did judge you at first. And in a way, I could tell you did the same for me, with my scars and all. But with you... you looked scary. You had a five o'clock shadow and long scruffy hair. The white they have us wear didn't seem to fit you well, and your body looked unhealthily thin. I couldn't think of anything you could be in there for besides some sort of death related accident. Like maybe what Kenny did to me. After being released from prison, though.
You didn't talk for about the first week. You just mumbled incoherently. All I knew was that your name was Jordan. And that you were just 17. It made me feel old, quite honestly. Like 23 was the new 73. Anyways, you just sat, and rocked ever so slightly on your bed. I didn't get a look into your eyes until day 5, and I saw an unbearable blankness in them. The blue grey held a cloud, like you were half dead. It was terrifying, so I started talking to you, not expecting much of an answer. I told you about the book I'm writing, and I liked the way you listened. It had you stop rocking and stop mumbling at you intently listened to the plot.
The ninth day, as I was explaining what was happening in the basement with the four guys, you asked a question.
"What's going on with Amy?"
I looked up when I heard your voice. You asked it as if nothing spectacular was happening. You just held your blanket and waited for me to answer. I slowly answered that you don't find out until a few chapters later. You smiled, which was a sight to remember. I then continued on, with more questions surfacing. When I got up to the point I was at, I then asked you a few questions about yourself.
"Where are you from?"
"Denver"
"Can I ask why you're here?"
"Well...you know that school shooting that happened a few months back?"
I froze for a second before retracing my memory. I think I had overheard someone speak of it, but I couldn't be sure.
"Well, either way, I was caught in it. It was my high school. I'm in here for trauma from being held at gunpoint. Plus...witnessing all the death."
I was heartbroken from the few words you spoke. I didn't want to embrace you, though. People with trauma, I've heard, typically don't like touches. I assumed that as you went on and asked about me.
Our conversation lasted for a while, and into the night, before you fell asleep. It was the first night you slept though the night since you arrived. You even seemed better in the morning. And ever since then, you've been so sociable around the place. You've befriended nearly everyone in here, and you always encourage to throw parties when people are allowed to leave. I've never seen a friendlier guy.
It gave me a feeling of pride to know that I helped you.
Now, since I haven't seen you all day today, here's what's going down in the novel. Gerard needs to think of a way to get his eternal life bracelet so he can assure that he's gonna stay with Amy forever. They brainstormed and tooled around on the xylophone for hours, trying to think of anything he could do. Gerard's mind eventually wandered to Amy's zigzagged leg and Kenji - the man who locked all of them up weeks prior. Gerard asked where he lived, and Amy decided to simply show him instead of telling. With a quick kiss, they dressed in presentable clothing and went out in search of the dreaded Kenji.
I can't wait to watch your facial expression for this one.
Especially since I know now you have more than one.
~Stanley
A/N: Konnichiwa x3 I've been writing school shootings more often :O maybe it's from listening to "Pumped up Kicks" (by Foster the People) too much XD Please review!