Remembering Something Better

The school bell still rang in my ears as I stepped outside the building, the midafternoon sun showering warmth and light on myself and my surroundings. A slight breeze waltzed past, playing with my hair as it went. I checked my watch and sighed. We'd be going to fourth period right now. I'd walk with Angelica to my science class and she'd depart for her own classroom. Sora would be there, too. And Michelle. They had the classroom right across from mine. We'd all part ways, knowing we'd see eachother at lunch, after school, and for many days to come.

But no, not anymore. It was over now, and it was much too early.

I walked through the waste of a previous celebration; makeshift confetti of torn-up papers and student planners littering the ground. The breeze returned to tug at my sleeve and challenge me to a race. I couldn't stop myself. I ran.

There hadn't been many people around before, but as I reached the other side of the school building, I saw that it was beginning to fill up. I looked around, searching for someone I knew.

It was Sora that approached me. Words were exchanged, but they were few and meaningless. She returned to whatever business she'd been dealing with prior. I tried to do the same, but was left standing, unable to move, students milling around me. The teachers were ushering everyone off the grounds. I tried to leave, but found that I couldn't. Instead, my mind instinctively secluded itself in happy memories; memories of those “together” days, when there was no one but us and our own joy to keep us company. And we were fine that way, in those long hours we spent. We were happy that way.

The breeze told me to be strong. I couldn't.

I cried.