Ariella

Preface

December, 2004

Voice:

Hello, you may not know me but I know you.

I have been observing you for a while now.

No, please don't shy away, I have not been stalking.

I have just been noticing you more lately.

Well to get to my purpose, I have been meaning to ask you, why do you cry?

Why do you cry when it seems you are happy?

Why do you cry when you are not poor?

Why do you cry when you have a family?

Why do you cry when you have faith?

Why do you cry?

Now, before you answer let me remind you I will not judge you. You will have my undivided attention, and I will empathize the best to your emotions.

Girl:

Yes, you are right. I do not know who you are and why you have watched me.

It's not the thought of being observed that bothers me, it is the knowing someone has seen me at my weakest.

But because you have kindly presented your concern for my pain, I will answer why I cry.

I cry because I am not completely happy and in life no one will ever be.

I cry because although I am well stable there are still others who have more or less than I.

I cry because I hope for a stronger family bond.

I cry because the lord has shown his unhappiness through the loss of human tragedies.

I cry because life is not perfect no matter how much you try.

This is why I cry.

Now, before we part may I ask where did you come from and why you have come to observe me?

Voice:

Well, to be honest I have always watched you and have been near.

I am your soul and conscience.

And I am appearing to let you know that crying in pain will only bring you more suffering.

The lord created happiness and sorrow for you to grow.

It was created to help balance out the emotions people endure.

Without it you would not be who you are.

You must not allow yourself to worry over the things you cannot control.

There is a plan for everything in life to be done.

-Ariella

One

March, 2015

Ariella

I can't believe I made it. I can't believe I actually did it. I take a glance around the room and take in my surroundings. It is so surreal but I am actually standing among the fifteen chosen for the Peterson's Industries Colligate Internship program. An opportunity only offered to graduating seniors with stellar GPA's. And I worked my ass off to make sure I didn't skip a beat for this spot right here. I quickly register grabbing my name badge and packet.

I enter the grand ballroom to search for a table to settle into. Ah, over by the corner near the ceiling to floor window. It's the perfect spot. To be away from it all, yet close enough to see it all. Not knowing anyone, I chose a table and sit across from a girl who looks roughly the same age as me. Her hair is short with goldish high and low tones amongst her brown hair in one of those A-line cuts with a swooped bang. She is wearing light make up, a white cowls neck shirt, black pencil skirt, and black kitten heels. Loving everything fashion, I would have the eye for details.

"Hi, I'm Ariella Vasquez!"as I extend my hand to hers.

"I'm Samantha Ulster, Sam for short."

"Cool, you can call me Arie. Nice to meet you. Do you mind if I join you here? I don't like sitting too close to the front."

"Sure, I completely understand," she's says as she begins to blush. We sit in some awkward silence at first and then, when I can longer take it, I stand to grab some of the free breakfast before our orientation begins.

"I'm gonna grab some food, did you want anything? Or did you want to come up with me?" I ask her.

"Oh, God yes! Thank you, I hate walking up to those lines by myself." I smile and see that she's been waiting to have someone to cling to. Even though I was born and raised in New York, I never fit the bill for being an abrasive New Yorker. I guess it's just the human in me. I figured she needed someone to cling to for courage. Hence why you found her sitting by herself.

I smile back at her and say, "No prob, I completely understand," as I throw her words back at her. She giggles showing that she feels comfortable around me. I blot my lips with some lip gloss before heading up to the buffet line. As I finish placing my lip gloss back into my purse and stand straight, I look past Sam and there he is. Is it the guy from last night? But only this time it's not the guy from last night. I mean, he looks like him and walks like him. But he is more poised and dressed so debonair compared to the guy I spent last night talking to. I become immobile. All the sounds around me become faint as I stare like a deer in headlights.

I stand frozen as I notice his eyes meet mine. Oh God, oh God, what do I do? Do I pretend I don't know who he is to keep up appearances? Do I walk up to him and act like there's nothing? Stay cool, have him come to you. Breathe.

"Arie? You there?" Sam pulls me out of my trance. I look down at her realizing how I hover over her small frame even with her in heels.

"Yea, I thought I saw someone I knew," I say as I glance back to see if he is still starring. He is no longer standing there. I turn to walk to the buffet lines with Sam. Maybe, I'm just imagining things. There's no way it's the same person.

Sam and I reach back to our table with our plates in hand and start a light conversation as others join our table. Sam is from Maryland, graduating from University of Massachusetts this coming May 2015. Before I can open my mouth to share a little about myself, I can feel his warmth against my back as he leans in to whisper in my ear, "Hey, there. Can I steal you for a moment?" 

The heat from his breath sends chills up and down my spine. Yes! It really is him. But how? I turn to look back and meet his gaze and he is already standing upright with his hand out to help me out of my seat. I take him all in, with his sandy blond hair combed neatly to the right side. He is wearing a dark gray tapered Calvin Klein suit with a turquoise dress shirt and navy iridescent tie to pick up the hues of the turquoise in his shirt. All paired with black shoes and belt. What can I say, my mind sees fashion above everything else.

I must have been staring rather hard, because by the time I look back up to his eyes, he holds his head tilted to the side with a devilish smile. Not wanting him to wait any longer with his hand out, I slowly place my hand in his and pull myself out of my seat. I follow him out of the ballroom and into a corner of the foyer.

"What a nice surprise," he says with his lips tilted to a half smile.

Still in shock all I can muster up to say is, "What are you doing here? "

He lets out a small chuckle and clears his throat before talking, "I told you, I'm here on business. I am one of the executives mentoring in the program. Hopefully seeking one of our next employees once they have completed the internship and graduate."

"Wh... wait what?" Is that even English? Girl open your mouth and enunciate. "I'm sorry. What exactly are you saying here?"

"My father is the owner of Peterson's Industries. I am one of the CFO's."

The last thing I remember is hearing the thud of my heart beating in my ears.