Only You

It's My Life

"Hi, my name is Perla and I'm illegal. I jumped the Mexican border before I could walk."

It was Perla's first day of her college experience. She was going on the tour of the campus and the guide had asked the group to introduce themselves. She obviously was joking, but it was a tough crowd. The rest of the group introduced themselves and then they were off to explore the campus.

"This is the cafeteria, and that's the courtyard."

By halfway through the tour, Perla started getting bored. She didn't really care for anything in the school.

"Okay, this is the library."

But, the word 'library' sounded like music to Perla's ears. She'd always been the one to read several books in a day and she always won awards for her reading. Finally finding something that interests her, Perla decides to wander off into the library.

Upon entering the library, Perla was welcomed by the familiar scent of ink on pages. Perla saw a 'help wanted' sign and she really wanted a job in the library, so she took an application, filled it out, then proceeded to turn it in.

In the library, there was several tables with empty chairs. She then decided to grab a few books about her major and the proceeded to sit down and read. Perla sat there for hours, indulging into the information on the pages.

Eventually, everyone was out of the library, but Perla had not noticed. A boy with messy hair and glasses approached Perla.

"Uhm, excuse me, uh, miss, but uh, it's after hours."

Perla looked up and examined the boy. As he approached her, she couldn't help but notice certain details that stood out amongst the rest. He was strikingly handsome, with a chin such as you'd expect to find on a sculpture. His broad shoulders perfected his frame, giving her a sense of safety. He had arms that seemed as if they were made to be wrapped around her and her alone.

"If you don't mind what I ask, what are you reading?"

Perla sat there unfazed and in awe. She'd never want to protect someone as much as she wanted to protect him, and she doesn't even know his name.

Eventually, Perla snapped out of her daze to find the boy staring at her.

"Oh, what did you say?"

"The book, uh, I see you are interested in those books."

"Yeah, I hope to be a college professor someday."

"Oh, really! Please mind my excitement, not many people I know want to major in the same thing."

"That's really cool! I'm Perla by the way."

Perla extended her arm to shake his hand.

"My name is Damon, Damon Johnson, and I'm a sophomore. I also work in the library. You must be a freshman since I've met you only today."

"I turned in an application to work in the library, we can be partners! Wait.. can you tell me the time?"

"Oh yeah it's 10:23.. HOLD UP!! We have to hurry before the dorms close at 10:30!"

Damon grabbed Perla by the wrist and ran with her. Perla felt as if she was in a movie. Hair flowing, quick breaths that followed the sound of her heartbeat, tuning everything out--that way Damon was the only thing in existence.

Eventually, they got to the female freshman section of the dorms. Both Perla and Damon are panting at this point. Between breaths, Damon finally spoke.

"Here.. you.. go.. this is.. your.. complex."

"Thank you.. hopefully I can.. see you tomorrow."

"I'd.. like that."

Both Damon and Perla smiled at each other, the Damon realized he had two minutes left to get to his own dorm.

"Oh! I have to.. go!! See you.. later!"

And just like that, Damon was off, with two minutes to spare. Perla hoped he would make it to his dorm in time. She went into her complex to go find her dorm room.

Perla eventually found her dorm, and then entered. Since she was one of the last to enroll, Perla got a dorm to herself. She decided to check her phone. It had been sitting on her table all day.

39 missed calls

"Oh. Crap."

Perla hurried to call back her mom. Perla's family decided to move back to Mexico, but Perla didn't want to go. She really wanted to study at a certain college and have a certain life that she didn't want to be interfered with.

Perla called her mom, only to be yelling at for not picking up.

After a long conversation with her mother, Perla decided to lie down and try to sleep. School didn't start for another week, so Perla was gonna spend everyday of it in the library, with Damon. Damon. Damon. The name 'Damon' sat in her head for the rest of the nigh until she finally dozed off.