The back door creaked as I opened it. It was a little windy outside. Heather turned

her head towards me. "Hi…" she said quietly. The wind was tossing her hair. She had

been crying, I could tell by her red eyes. She wasn't looking directly at me. I sat down

right beside her, and slid a cigarette from the pack into my mouth. Heather looked at the

pack and slowly reached for it. I held it out to her. She looked at the pack uncertainly.

She took a cigarette from it, and I lit it for her, and then mine. She took a puff, closing her

eyes and exhaling the smoke slowly. I took in some smoke and exhaled it. "I love

moments like this, nothing to bother us, just peace and quiet. Still, I figured I'd better ask

her." "How's your dad?" Heather blew out some smoke, staring off in space. "He's still

pretty quiet, but he's ok now." She stared down at the cigarette in her fingers as she

spoke. "I just can't figure out why he's changed recently." I blew out a cloud of smoke.

"Maybe he's just stressed out from work?" Heather sniffed. " I wish it were that easy…"

I glanced at her, she was staring at the ashes on the ground in front of her." I'm sure it's

nothing." As usual I fumbled out the words nervously. "I don't know what the hell's

wrong with him. Before I can even walk to my room, he bombards me with questions.

Did you see anyone suspicious? Did Kyle do anything weird? Why didn't you come

home sooner! Before I…." Heather took a puff, and then stared at the ground. She spoke

slower. "Before I can even answer, he starts yelling at me, telling me I should stay home

more often. Heather turned towards me, almost looking directly at me. "He even said I

should stop hanging around with you…." I couldn't believe any of this. This isn't the Mr.

Morris I know. Heather sniffed. "I leave my room, and he won't even look at me! He

won't say anything…I…" Her voice started to crack. I noticed tears form in her eyes. "I

don't know…what…to do…" She took one last puff, snuffed the cigarette on the

concrete, and flicked it away. "I just don't know what to do…" I snuffed out my cigarette

and tossed it aside. I should have said something, but my mind was blank. "Why can't I

think of anything to say!?" Heather needed me, but I didn't know what to say. We both

stood up. I didn't look at her, I felt like such a jerk, listening to her and not having

anything to say. Regardless, she walked over and hugged me weakly, sniffing and wiping

her eyes. She still looked upset, and there was nothing I could do. "Thanks for

listening…" It hurt me to see her like this; and she's actually glad that I listened! I didn't

say anything to help her! I felt terrible. I just want her to be happy, but I don't know how.

She looked so desperate, and I don't know why I did what I did next. Perhaps it was the

tears in her eyes, or the sorrow. Before she let go, I kissed her on her lips.

Heather felt tense at first, but loosened up. She must not have been expecting it.

She felt warm, soft. After a while, I clumsily drew back. She didn't look at me. I strained

to think of something to say. "It'll be ok…." I said softly. Heather looked up at me, her

eyes a little shiny. She suddenly hugged me tight, throwing her arms around me.

Confused, I awkwardly put my arms around her. She leaned her head back a little, still

holding me tight. Her eyes were wet as I looked into them. "H…Heather… it's ok…" It

was so strange. There I was looking into her eyes, and I could see all her sadness was

gone. It was as if I was looking deep into her, so calm, and quiet, so peaceful. She

managed a smile amid tears falling, her eyes seeing right into me. She never looked more

beautiful. I kissed her again, this time it seemed like an eternity.



We walked together to her apartment; neither of us spoke a word. I gave her one

last hug before I walked off. I could tell she didn't want to let go. When I got to the stairs,

I turned around. Heather was still standing there, watching me. She smiled at me and

walked into her house.



I walked into my house, closing the door behind me. My mom walked over to me.

"Dinner's ready, c'mon, sit down." I held up my hand. "Not now, I'm not hungry…" I

walked towards my room. She walked towards me, and stepped in front of me. "Did

something happen?" I walked past her. "Please mom, not now…" I walked into my room.



I felt light headed as I fell onto my bed. I stared at the ceiling fan, watching the

shadows. So many thoughts were racing through my head; I couldn't stop thinking about

Heather. I eyed the photo on my desk, of Heather and me. I had always thought that she

never looked so happy, but tonight, when I kissed her, she looked so peaceful, so much

happier. I stood up from my bed and picked up the photo, and looked at it closer.

Heather's smile in it looked kind of fake. Was tonight her first real smile? Was it tonight

that I really saw Heather truly happy? I put the photo back down and sat on my bed.

Heather has cried before in the past, but they were trivial things. A boyfriend dumping

her, being mocked at school, her dad losing a job. I pretty much grew used to comforting

her. Lean head on shoulder, cry, repeat. I'm not saying it wasn't sad, that it didn't also

hurt me, but she was a wreck tonight, and deep down, I knew just being there wasn't

enough, and words can only go so far. I care so much about Heather, I couldn't think of

any other way to show her how much I do. I lied on the bed and closed my eyes. "I hope

she's ok now…" I opened my eyes and stared at the photo as I drifted off into sleep.