10/29/1999

The icy November air rushed across the yellow tinted grass, making a baby tornado out of fallen burgundy and golden leaves. The park stayed empty and silent until I had interrupted the silence with my tears. I had run away from home that night, knowing that if I hadn't, my mother's yelling and blaming me for everything, would be the end of me. Yes, she blamed all of her problems on me a 9 year old girl only, because of the fact that dad had left; because he couldn't take anymore either.

I had run to the only place I knew I could run too. Tears still trickling down my face I drifted over to the set of swings, sitting dead center of the only place that made me safe, not noticing that I had missed the seat to the swing and had fallen to the ground. I sat there for a moment, I can't quite remember how long I had been there but by telling how the sky above lost all of its color leaving only black, I must have been there for more than an hour.

I tried to pull myself up but, found that it was easier just to sit on the ground and listen. Listen to the surroundings around me, to find out that the cold made me calm, and dried my tears. But, the cold still didn't take away the pain in my heart. The pain of feeling alone. Useless.

I tried to stand up once again, and again, and each time I had fallen despondently. I had tried over and over to get up but, it was like my legs weren't working; like they where paralyzed. I sat there alone, numb. My eyes where slowly closing, prepared for a black out. But before I had shut my eyes I saw a faint silhouette. It came close, then into view. It was a boy.

"Hello there! Are you alright?" He looked intently at me, his eyes ice blue. He had hair dark as brown could obtain. His complexion vaguely tanned. He looked about a year older than me, a very cute year older. After five minutes or so, I figured out that I had been gawking at him in awe.

No words had come out of my mouth at first, only a diminutive nod and a "Uh-Huh" answered his question. The fact that I was being gazed upon by this boy made me quiver. I saw how people had always looked at me always called me some type of odd or rather rude name. I was used too it, used to being the girl in the background, but this boy gave me a new feeling, a different one, a feeling that I have never noticed by another boy, or for that matter, anyone, before.

"Are you sure you're alright? You don't look well to me. Positive you don't need any help?" He, again, intently set his eyes on me, his eyes filled to the brim with alarm. Leaving me to answer his question.

This time I didn't answer at all, I continued staying silent. This boy gave me an unfamiliar feeling and I didn't like it. I couldn't even meet his stare. That's how unordinary he was.

He sat down next too me and looked to the sky. I slightly tilted my head in curiosity to his direction of what he was doing.

"What? You don't like the bright spotted sky above us?" He said, motioning me to look at the stars along with him.

I tried to think of something smart-alecky, "Depends. Does one of them take you to some distanced land that no person like me has ever seen before? Where there is no time, just you and what you want for eternity?" I slyly darted back. I've always wished for a place where no person has seen; only me, just me, a place where I could be myself but, be seen differently, normally. Obviously I knew that silly things like that weren't real. But, it didn't mean I couldn't dream.

He was quiet for awhile, staring at an unknown object, then thinking deeply as he spoke. "Well, you never know. There could be another world out there. Maybe, you will see it someday." He spoke his words very strongly and intent, almost as if he meant what he said.

But I had taken no notice as of how serious he was. Even so, I thought about how completely different he was acting towards me. On why he was even here, sitting next to me now. I was having a conversation with this boy that I don't even know the name of. Instead of asking the obvious, I only replied with a simple "maybe."

I knew I was being short with him. But, what was I to do? I wasn't used to different; I had no other way to act. And, plus he was being quite persistent, trying to converse with me.

I suddenly gave into his stipulated demand of wanting to chat with me. "I am Rose Cornelia." See, short and sweet. That's about as close I was going to get. He was taken aback that I in fact tried to start the topic after minutes of him trying to do the same with me.

"I'm Eden Lyle. You have a really pretty name. It suits you." No one ever said I had a pretty name except for my grandmother or when I first meet a new grown-up. But, for the fact that he, a boy, my age said I had a pretty name that says something, and, on top of that he also said that it suits me, is he meaning that I'm like a rose?

"It's short for my real name, Rosaline." For some unknown reason this boy made me talk. It's odd because I barely ever speak, I do as I'm told, with out an inch of back talk. So, this may not seem like a lot of talking to you, but to me, it is a lot.

"Well, I don't have a shortened version of my name it's just Eden, nothing special. Lucky, I want to have a name that can be nicknamed." He pouted for a moment. For, a mere second a tiny smile crawled across my face. He was essentially trying to cheer me up. For once, it was working, and it felt good.

"You're Different." I said abruptly. He was unusual, from the way he talked to me, to the way he looks at me. He gave off a totally different vibe.

He changed all of a sudden like I had just caught him with some hidden secret that I knew nothing about. "In what way?" He let an edgy chuckle flee his lips.

"Well, I don't really know. It's just that there's something different about you. People don't usually like to talk to me and here we are chatting it up like its nobodies business." It was the honest truth no one liked to talk to me. They strayed off when I was around. Always whispering when I walk by, like I was some kind of infestation.

"I don't understand. I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to talk to you. You're a cool person when you open up." He sighed with relief. Then looked confused as to why I was an outcast. "I mean, I'm usually the one no one talks too. I don't get why anyone wouldn't talk to you."

That's when I became confused. "Why would you be an outcast? I mean, heck your personality's great. You even got me talking, that's saying something." I firmly spoke.

He stayed silent, shadowing his face from me to see. But, then out of the blue, he looked up and smiled sweetly at me. "That's what I thought!" We both laughed at his egocentric comment. Then he got serious, "So, are you gonna tell me what's wrong and why your sitting on the ground Rose?"

Should I, I mean I just met him and he's really sweat and all but like I said, I just met him. "Uh, well it's kind of a long story."

Eden stood up swiftly, turned to me and held out his hand. "Let me help you up." He said gingerly. It was as if he didn't here what I had said before.

I rested my hand in his, as he gently pulled me up. His hand was warm and felt so right with mine in his. I wish it could stay there forever, but wishes never come true, do they?

When I stood fully, and looked into Eden's eyes they held only the utmost sincerity. "So what? I have time, I'll listen, besides I like stories." He tried to brighten the mood, then his dazzling smile tried to, I smiled back knowing I was defeated.

"Well, I came here because my mom was yelling, like she does most of the time now, and today, well tonight, I just couldn't take it anymore, I had run away. I've probably been here for a few hours and she's probably worried about me, but I just could not stand it anymore. There is only so much I can take, and on top of that—." I stopped mid sentence for the reason that I had started to cry again.

Suddenly, comforting arms wrapped around me. "Don't cry. You're ok now. There's nothing to worry about here alright? Just smile ok?" I looked up to see him smiling, a calm smile, at me. I quickly rubbed the droplets of tears from my face and joined him smiling.

"Thank you Eden. For everything, I would probably still be here questioning why everyone has a difficulty with me. And why I have no friends. But, you really cheered me up. Seriously, I haven't felt this good since the first time I saw my favorite movie." No other person has ever made me feel so… so blissful, before, and it astonishes me to no end.

"I'm happy I made you feel this way Rose. You really are a cool girl. And personally, you really made me happy too." He said smoothly, smiling once again at me. "I hope to see you again and let's be friends, ok?" He and questioned.

"I definitely hope so, and, yeah sure." I said hopefully.

He suddenly kissed me on the lips and then whispered into my ear "Bye Rose, and don't worry we'll see each other again for sure." Then he started to walk away probably going home.

"Bye Eden." I whispered to myself, not being sure if he had heard me or not. My fingers slightly touching my lips, I was in total and complete shock for three reasons. For one, a boy actually talked to me. Two, I actually liked him. And three, he just kissed me. That would make him the boy that gave me my first kiss.

I was utterly dazed. I couldn't believe what had occurred tonight. It was amazing.

When I came back home Mom was furious with me. She asked the same questions repeatedly. "Where did you go? Why where you gone so long?" She sighed. "I was really worried something bad had happened to you."

Did I just imagine that she was worrying about me? "Mom I—." I was interrupted with arms that suddenly embraced me.

"Honey, I am so sorry. I've realized that I have been atrocious too you. I bet you hate me. I'm gonna be a better mother too you, I swear, starting now." She said still crying into my shoulder.

"Mom I, I'm sorry for being gone for so long. I won't ever do it again." I said kind of shocked that this turn of events had happened.

"Honey, don't worry. I believe you. It was my fault in the first place. It's my whole entire fault." I was sure that she was talking about not only this situation. Then suddenly she said abruptly "I love so much Rose."

"Mom." I was confused more than anything but didn't think to bring it up at the moment. "I love you too."