The wind danced that through the treetops that morning was welcomed with open arms by all who roamed the streets. As I walked, I watched my reflection in shop windows as I passed them. My hair ,pastel pink at the time ,resembled a cluster of cotton candy upon my head. My eyes were pools of water whose color made me look pure and innocent like a baby. Much also like a baby ,I had a port-wine stain on my right cheek. The doctors told my mother when I was born that it would go away, but it never did. Over the years i’ve grown to accept it, like it even. I smoothed out my paint splattered overalls, running my hands over the explosions of yellow, pink, and purple.It was at this point i walked right into a short fellow who appeared in a rush. He carried a briefcase and his shoes reflected the sunlight. We hastily exchanged apologies and parted ways.
When I arrived at the campus gates I flashed my I.D to Steven, the campus guard. Steven had these glasses two time the size of his face and he donned his neon orange vest over a plaid button down and grey khakis.His face reminded me of an orange. He was always flustered over something, be it a lost pen or a late report, so he always had a slightly orange hue and his facial features were abnormally round. I remember he once told me he was attending night college classes to get a degree in engineering. He swore up and down that he was gonna get a better job, but i think he was merely trying to convince himself . After I got through the gate I made my way to the school library ,where i worked weekday mornings with my two best and only friends Hex and Addie. They greeted me anticipatorily as they had every morning this year, however something seemed off. They clutched each others hands tightly ,as if I might tear them to bits right there, and Addie’s free had was draped over her stomach gripping the seam of her shirt as if her letting go would result in the destruction of what she loved most. Hex and Addie had been dating for two months at the time and they were both 19. It was then, in the middle of the school library at 7:50 in the morning that Addie hesitantly confessed that Hex had gotten her pregnant. I didn't react well, to say the least .”Are you stupid!” I yelled “Why cant you be happy for us? “ they retorted. Maybe it was because I thought they were being irresponsible or maybe I was just jealous that I would never have what they have; either way i couldn't forgive them. I couldn't be happy for them. That day I lost my two best and only friends.
With spring break only a week away and me not wanting to spend it alone I did what all kids do when they fuck up. I went to my parents. I made plans the next day to return home to Michigan. That week was the slowest week of my life.School became nothing but lectures on the history of an art piece or the hidden meanings in an artists work. Normally I’d just eat up anything remotely related to art,but Hex and Addie ceased showing up to the library and I had to start doing three times my normal workload.When I got home in the evenings I collapsed onto the couch,which was the only piece of furniture I owned, and slept through the night. By the end of the week I was dreading returning home ,but I knew anything would be better than staying I the mountains of boxes within my apartment. I never did get around to unpacking .
So that Saturday I caught a 7:30 flight to Michigan . The plane was long and tedious . when I arrived my father greeted me with the enthusiasm of a six year old who got exactly what they asked for for their birthday.”Charlie!” my father yelled my name as he ran up to greet me. My parents were the type of people who dress up to go to the airport. My father wore a business type suit and shoes that reminded me of the short fellow on the street. His grey hair was slicked back and it made me wonder if he used all of mom’s hair spray to get it to stay that way, he looked nice. My mother,on the other hand, wore a god-awful dress in a hideous shade of green and she had a large floppy hat to match. She stood to the left of my father tapping her foot. She reminded me of a large bush that had planted itself in the middle of the airport. I couldn’t help but laugh. She shot me a stern glare as if to scold me and I just lost it. I broke out hysterically laughing in the middle of the baggage claim area. My father turned a deep red and it was clear that he was embarrassed, and my mother turned a hue of purple that contrasted with the green of her dress and I laughed even harder. At this time, my father grabbed my arm and led me to the parking lot as if I were a naughty child . As we walked to the car he whispered in my ear, “don't terrorize your mother ,you know how she gets.” The car ride home was worse than the plane, we all sat in awkward silence for the three hour drive. I knew most of my trip would be this way.
When we reached the house I at first thought nothing had changed. This was my first visit home in two years. The house was still painted a deep orange color, it still had eleven window on the front, but as I got closer I realized the door had been painted to match mothers unprepossessing dress. As my father and I began unloading the car my mother went ahead and went inside. I lugged my two suitcases through the narrow hallways of the six bedroom house and realized that in the two years I was gone no one had touched my bedroom. Dust sat on my bookshelf lazily and my posters from 12th grade still hung on the wall. Nostalgia hit me hard as I recalled all the late nights I snuck out my window to watch the stars and the sessions of. R.P.G games that were played in this room. I still miss those nights. I remember thinking that maybe my stay there wouldn't be so bad. All hope was lost when I exited the room and my mother asked “So, why are you here?” It wasn't the words themself but rather the look in her eye that worried me. She had the same gaze as a hunter looking through a scope at their prey. I lied “I simply missed my hometown.” She then revealed the ace up her sleeve “Really? Because Addie’s mother called the other day.” I stared at her in shock “I never did like that girl” she sneered”Anyways, I called up Darian and Teren.” My face perked up, maybe there was hope for this trip after all. Darian and Teren were once the only two other members of my high school astronomy club. “I gave them your phone number.” She smiled as if doing this resolved her of the treachery of her last statement .
That night Darian texted me . “Wanna hang out tonight?” I responded promptly with “of course, I'll meet you outside at 10.” I knew my parents wouldn't approve of me going out so late so I snuck out of my window . Darian and Teren showed up riding old bicycles that were coated in rust. Darian’s bike was once yellow but had appeared to had been left out in the rain too many times. I jumped on the back pegs of Darians bike and I ,for the first time, thought to ask “where are we going?” “An old haunt.” he replied.
The wind danced that through the treetops that evening and I realized I had no clue what Darian meant. As we rode past I watched my reflection in the lake. My hair ruffled in the wind and my eyes looked like galaxies, it was as if I had a whole universe in my head and it was seeping from my eyes. I felt like I was floating down the empty streets. Then we took a corner too fast and it all ended.
I remember the headlights of an eighteen wheeler and the sound of my skull hitting the concrete. I woke up here, in a field of stars . It's always night here and the stars shine so bright that I can just forget being trapped and I can get lost in them. Sometimes I hear the voices of Hex and Addie calling for me to come back to them ,but they tapered off.I used to hear my parents, but then they stopped suddenly. Sometimes I hear the voices of strangers and the beeping if machines but most of the time it's silent. I like the quiet because I can just lay here get lost in the stars.
