A Smile Crossing my Mind...

Sedated...

My eyes stared upon the clock, sedated with memories of my life. How many swings had I jumped from? How many times had I kicked up sand in the lot? How many times did the ball bounce to my own beat? All those questions could never be answered, for I did not know them. All I remember is when those times enveloped my entire life, cradling me like a possesive mother. I could not see the light, for she held my face firmly against her bousom. What life passed over my eyes was only temporary...

The test was over.

My eyes woke up, blinking as everyone around me stood up. These figures like shadows as they left the room, and me along with it. I was the very last to leave that room, even after the teacher. She didn't pay any mind to me, for I could not see her face, nor the faces of anyone else in that room. Were they really human? Yes, they had to be. None of them paid me any mind, after all...

I left the room, and the building, and the school, entering into the grand lot. Funny - I don't remember it being that large. However, I stepped into it and watched as everyone was leaving. It was time to go, of this I was most certain. And surely enough, I had to go as well. But no sooner than I stepped out the door, a call came from afar, asking for my assistance.

Her... yes, I recognized her. She was my teacher, but not my teacher. She was calling out to me, asking if I could help her with her broken zipper. The teeth were misaligned. Of course, I'd fixed that problem many times before; I was an expert on zipper-fixing. Without hesitation, I moved over and lowered the zipper to her suit, watching the teeth break apart, then I rose it again, only find the teeth still apart. No... no, it had to be fixed. I pulled it to the very top, then waited. I waited and waited... only for a moment. A quick tug and the zipper fixed for her suit. I received a thanks before turning away and allowing her to leave my presence.

That girl...

My eyes blinked, noticing a young woman walking only a few feet away from me. I couldn't help but stare, as she too was very familiar. I knew who she was... and I felt my heart race as the name passed through my mind... Mi-

Another voice. I turned around and found my friends laughing, waving to me with careless visages. They looked so happy to see me - and they should be. I was happy to see them as well. Those two had strong, powerful faces upon them. I smiled and waved back, allowed them to come up and talk with me. Something about a monster... I wondered about that for a while as they disappeared. What were they really talking about? And why was I in that building now?

Everything was crowded, and everyone was carrying around many trinkets. Was I in a museum? No, it looked more like an airport... so many terminals. I was standing around more people, and only one of them I recognized. How strange... but I didn't mind. He was an acquaintance of mine and I enjoyed his company. We were very much alike, yet entirely different. Everyone could say that... yes everyone did say that. I am me and you are you... But he spoke to me now, and I saw he missed his glasses. His eyes were darker than usual, but it was still him. Yes, he was he. The young man told me of the creature I heard about earlier. I knew this many to have a fantasy life, so I scarcely believed him.

But then... I saw them.

But not just one print of feet. Many - many - many foot prints of different sizes and shapes, and they were all glowing blue. How strange it was that they all led away from me, as if running. No, they were hopping away; I knew enough about science to tell this little fact. Both feet were together, jumping on and on. It was strange... but they kept changing and changing as I followed them, never looking up ahead of me. The ground was very grainy to the touch, but it never changed as I kept running after these feet. When I finally looked up, they disappeared.. Were they really ever there to begin with? I can't remember... Maybe I just imagined that.

Focused eyes...

I trekked back up the long lot, exhausted from my bizarre journey, and sat down against the curve. Everyone was still leaving, and I was almost the last one again. This habit of mine was getting annoying. However... I once again saw that young woman again. She was staring down into her hands with a lost mind. She was rather tall, compared to other girls I knew, and she wasn't the most beautiful girl I've ever seen before either. Still... she had some strange charm about her that I could never get out of my mind. What was it about her, hmm? The last time I saw her was... back then. It wasn't too many years, that I know.

Slowly, I walked over to her and stopped nearby. Not close enough to converse, but not far enough to lay unnoticed. As I stood there, her eyes - those gorgeous brown eyes... - looked up at me. She was stunned, to say the least, to gaze upon me once more. Her smile - that beautiful smile - crept up along her face, making a very shy gesture. I could see the blush upon her cheeks rise as she looked down, still smiling. It'd been a long while since the other girl told me about her feelings, and I was surprised that she felt that way about me at the time too... Ha.. maybe I was just imagining that as well.

It honestly didn't matter. That was in the past, I'm sure of it, and she girl had definately moved on. However, her cheeks said otherwise.

I smiled back and turned away, letting her go where she needed to go. Silently, she disappeared as well, moving down the lot at a slow pace. But... this time, I turned back towards her and looked to where she was going. The hospital? Strange day to ahve an appointment. But, it was convenient, seeing how the medical center was right across the street from us. Down she went, and I followed.

Into the hospital we went, she into the doctor's office, and I waited outside. There was a crowd around, as if they were following my every footsteps. Was I the monster? I hope not... but we're all a little monster, at some point. So, I sat... and sat... and sat... sitting away. It felt like forever, but... I don't recall. All I remember is that those two friends of mine came around again. I looked over at them and greeted with a cheery demeanor. We all stood and walked around the place, moving around the emrgency rooms and the different wards. We talked away about school and about what happened that day, and I asked them how they were doing. John recovered from his recent injury, and Mike's love life was going fine. We all smiled and laughed for some reason. I don't know why but... we were content.

They left the hospital as I waited, sitting around again and watching the children. Everyone was happy...

"You waited for me this whole time?" came the voice of the girl once again, gazing upon me with rosy cheeks. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a pony-tail, as she was accustomed to doing, and she wore a nice, modest dress upon her. Something about her...

"Yeah," I replied quite frankly, standing up and looking into her eyes, "I guess I wanted to, you know?"

"Mmm..." she looked down again, shy as always, and smiled, closing her eyes and folding her hands upon each other.

"I appreciate it, James."