Memories,+by+Oom

Oom Mar. 10. 2009  __ Memories __ The girl in the half broken glass gazed back at her; pure grief and sadness visible to anyone who bothered to look. She was so pale that the blinding white light reflected off her barren face through the school’s female bathroom mirror. She was getting ready for ‘the event of the year,’ which was prom. It was held every year in the gym where students played basketball. It was also the location of physical education classes. In other words, prom was just the gym ‘magically transformed’ into a ballroom. There were no other places in the school big enough and full enough of possibilities to have such a makeover. It was in this very gym where her tedious school schedule became even more stressful; she wasn’t an athlete, despite the fact that she transferred from a town where the sun typically shone everyday and a great deal of the population were all jocks. It was in this very gym that, at the end of each school year (and the main subject of every teen’s conversation) was the spring prom dance. She adjusted the spaghetti straps on her white, trimmed with red, dress and looked at her reflection in the broken school mirror. //Okay…// she thought. //You’re ready to go. Why bother looking at yourself when you couldn’t look any worse? Besides that, you’re going to be late…// Complying with her own orders, she stood straight, head held high, straightened her dress, and got ready to go. Before she walked out the door, she looked at herself one last time. She pushed open the door and walked out with fake confidence, hoping to fool the population of the school that she would have to confront later. So why would, why //should// she attend the dance anyway? She could have stayed home, read a book, and watched boring, monotonous TV shows rather than staying up all night dancing with people she didn’t even know? She was going to the prom because it reminded her of Drew, her boyfriend. Or ex-boyfriend, as the others thought, since he moved back to Australia. She always hated that that particular rumor. Who dreamed up that juicy gossip? Just because someone you love moves away to another country, that doesn’t mean the relationship between you and that person is gone. Naturally, it may form a little gap between you because it’s harder to communicate, but the relationship is most definitely **//not//** gone. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a tall, dark figure. The person looked very much like someone she knew, but she didn’t dare to speak his name aloud or she would end up being embarrassed. Again. But she couldn’t help hoping for the possibility that it could be Drew. //Her Drew//. Then, without any warning, he was there at her side, the moonlight shining off his face. It was //him//. But before she could form a word out of her lips, already open into a slight “O” from shock and disbelief, he spoke with the calm, soft tone she missed so much (partially because no other boy in her year group had time to be soft and calm; they were jocks - why would they care about a girl’s feelings when they could be playing soccer)? “//Aubrey//…” “Drew?” // “Yes! I’ve missed you so much.” // He chuckled; his musical voice echoed out into the night sky. She reached out towards him. Knowingly, he pulled her into his embrace, warm and inviting. She pressed her cheek against his broad chest. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, as she suppressed a sob. She was determined not to cry during this precious moment. Her body betrayed her though; a tiny sniff escaped her, followed by a single drop of moisture in her eyes. He noticed and sighed. His hand pressed against the top of her head, he tightened his hold around her, and spoke in gentle whispers. // “I haven’t been far. I came here to dance with you. I wanted to celebrate our year together. Remember, we first met this very day a year ago, right here? “ // She could feel him smile at the memory. “I remember.” All the sadness and negative feelings she felt disappeared, and the corners of her lips pulled up into a tiny smile. “The prom is almost over. Let’s dance, ” she urged, as she pulled back gently, reached out to his hand, held it, and then pulled him along with her towards the gym. When they walked onto the dance floor, a new song began to play. It was their song; hers and Drew’s. It was the song they first danced to together a year ago. His hand on hers gradually bought her back to reality as he led her to the middle of the dance floor. Once their feet and bodies were spaced and proportioned at the right angle, they started to dance to the slow, subtle melody that glided out of the speakers. The lights dimmed and circled around them, and them only, as if this night was always meant to be. She laid her head gently on his muscular shoulder and sighed softly. “Who does that insane girl think she is? She must be demented, dancing there all by herself.” “How pitiful; a girl whose boyfriend dumped her and has to dream one up!” “Leave her alone, you guys. She’s having a good time, and we shouldn’t stop her.” “She’s right, Amber. Let the girl be. Besides, how could you get her to stop without embarrassing her?” //“The music’s stopped. I’d better get going; my mom allowed me to stay for only half an hour, and its five past eleven already.”// Drew said with a sad smile. “You’re going already?” “//I have to. I’ll come back one day soon. Promise to wait for me?”// “I promise.” // “Okay. Until then…goodbye Aubrey. I love you.” // He held her chin and brought her face up to his, and leaned down to kiss her lips very briefly. He hugged her one last time and walked away. Aubrey stood there, motionless, watching him as he walked slowly away from her until he disappeared into the night. She smiled forlornly; she promised herself that she wouldn’t cry. // Take care of my heart, Drew. You took it with you when you left. //