Hear Me Now

Chapter 6-Savior

Chapter 6-Savior

(By:Whispering)

I sat at home and ate a cheap excuse for lucky charms for breakfast. As I stared into the bowl, I started

to think about Ashley and feel like a fool. Why was I so interested in her? She was just come chick I saw

one day. She didn't mean anything.

Nothing meant anything. What did I do every day? Nothing. Every second of every minute of every hour

of every day, terrible things happened. Things nobody could stop. I'd just gotten mugged the day before.

Is this what we exist for?

I went out for a walk as I was thinking this. Again, I saw the same places I saw every single day. The same

people, the gangsters, the addicts, it was all the same. And would never change-never. Why did I live in

this messed-up place?

After a while, I stopped thinking. I stared blankly at what was happening around me. It was better not to

think. But again, Ashley came to my mind.

Ashley. Who was she? What was her story? I started to imagine ideas in my mind. I thought of her eyes,

so full of pain. Were my eyes like that? After a while, I stopped feeling it. I stopped remembering. My

past was filled with gaps-the countless times of being drunk, stoned. If you knew my life, you wouldn't

blame me.

Ashley. Wasn't she the same as every other girl out there? What about her was so different? Why

was she still on my mind? I knew what people were like, what human nature was. People didn't care.

She was one of them. No matter what she'd gone through, she couldn't understand me. I didn't even

understand myself. Ashley was the same as anyone else, I decided. I didn't even know her last name.

And I'd chased her. I started to regret that. What must have I looked like? Like just a person on the

street. I probably creeped her out.

I saw that I'd walked all the way out to the river; I was right on the bridge. I looked over the rusted

railing at the murky water below. The stuff was filthy.

The idea of drowning myself in it crossed my mind, but I didn't seriously consider it. In the first place, I'm

not dumb enough for suicide. Secondly, the gray-green color of the water made me sick. If I wanted to

die, there were better ways.

Looking back, I find that funny. My mind works in strange ways.

Later, at night, I was walking down the street to 'work'. When I can, I DJ for some of those wild BYOB

parties in shady locations. I don't enjoy it, but it's the best I can do right now.

I was heading over there when I saw Ashley again. She was on the opposite side of the street, walking

slowly with her head down. I looked over, contemplating going to talk to her and apologizing for chasing

after her and acting stupid.

I knew I didn't have a lot of time, but on impulse I ran across the street, barely missing being hit by a

truck.

"Hey," I said to her. She looked up but didn't say anything, and stared at the ground again. She started

walking faster. I hurried to keep up.

"I'm sorry for chasing after you this morning. I just really wanted to talk to you," I said.

She slowed down a bit and turned to look at me, but she had a sort of nervous look in her eyes. I

couldn't really blame her. Most of the guys around here are creeps.

"Why?" she said. I was surprised to hear her speak for the first time. For some reason I'd expected

her to be silent. I didn't directly think it, but in the back of my mind was the idea that she was mute or

something. Dumb, I know. But I was surprised to hear her voice. It was a beautiful voice-soft, full of

expression. I didn't pick that up from just the one word, but gradually.

"I don't know. I honestly don't know; I just wanted to talk you." She kept silent. "I... You just seem...

interesting. I really wanted to know you," I said. She still didn't respond.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine," she said quickly, but choked over the words. I could see tears in her eyes.

I'm not usually the most comforting guy, but I started to really wonder what was up. I desperately

wanted to help her. There was just something about her that was... mesmerizing.

I touched her shoulder. "What's wrong? You can tell me."

"Just leave me alone," she whispered, and suddenly turned and darted behind a building. She was out of

sight in a split second.

I looked at my watch. I was late. Why bother going anyway?

I followed her.