The Healer
Chapter One
We were afraid of them and admired them. With every heartbeat we followed them with our eyes. They were the air and poison around us. They were everything and nothing.
We were eager to please, for their approval, help, but as we could be the little birds they saved, we were afraid.
Always afraid that they will hit the bird down with stones, before saving it. We were afraid of being killed and saved.
They had something special they weren't supposed to have at their age – power.
They were different from us; the normal rules applied to us didn't suit them. They were all gods and goddesses. They were all tall, slim, … long hair. Boys along girls thought long hair to be cool or an indicator of power.
Vera was one of them, their leader; her dark mane of hair falling behind her, just below her hips. Her eyes were violet, something I never understood. They changed colour to silver when she was angry or excited. They were willing to give away their lives for her, and we all for all of them.
Julie wasn't one of them, but she captured my attention from the first movement of her head.
To me she was probably even more daring than them. They beautiful as models, but shinier than their comparisons. They were untouchable, cold, not like Julie.
Julie smiled, cried, joked with us. She despised them. She didn't belong to anyone, just Julie, plain Julie.
She wasn't one of them.
She wasn't one of us.
Her long, slim figure, with short blonde daring hair. She said she liked it that way – boy's style.
When she laughed her white teeth were for everyone to see. Her cheeks flushed pink and freckles played on her face, while her nose had a funny habit of rising a few inches. When she laughed her face filled with joy, and her hair became messy.
Teachers used to joke, even when she was counted a young lady: "here comes our Julie, messy but happy."
So the opposite of them, their cold laughs freezing the air, their faces the ice masks. When Julie laughed her little giggles carried around the room, captivating everyone.
Once I saw her crying, and I didn't have a heart to leave her alone there. So I came towards her and asked what did upset her, it was a way with her – she never became upset by people.
"I'm crying for everybody else. Who lost someone they loved. Who had problems."
I remember sitting next to her as we cried, both of us, for the ones we couldn't return…
When Julie thought she always put her index finger on her nose.
We didn't accept her, but we always respected her, her colourful personality. One day she'd dress all in white, another in orange. One day she smiled and another she cried.
I loved her. I think I still do.
Strekoza: Thanks for people who reviewed.