Tree Branches and Stones.

The sun was beginning to set. It was getting late. It would be dark soon. I probably shouldn’t have still been out. Maybe I should have gone home. But I didn’t. Instead, there I was, making my way through the trees and brush of thedarkening woods.

I picked my way through a thicket of trees. I pushed aside a branch that had been sticking out sideways. Of course, lucky me, I let go of it too soon and it flung back and hit me in the head. Right smack above my left eyebrow.

“Damn it!” I hissed to no one in particular. I reached up and touched the spot, wincing as it stung. I pulled my hand away and looked at my fingers. Even better, blood. That was going to leave a mark.

Giving the branch an evil glare, I continued to work my way through the maze of branches and twigs, stumbling here and there on random sticks and such poking out of the ground from various places.

Finally I reached a clearing. Where I was standing was set a little higher off then the rest of the ground. Like a bank or mini cliff. I wandered over to the edge and sat, dangling my feet over it. I glanced down at my swinging feet, then paused at what else I saw below.

I saw a girl. I think I used to know her, but that was a long time ago. She looked different now. Changed. She was also staring right back at me. Piercing me with her cold eyes. From my seat, I could see her clearly. Perfect detail, even in the fading light.

Her hair hung in her face. It was dark, almost black. It wasn’t natural. I could tell. You could see her light brown roots poking through the dark ink masking her locks. It was an attempt to hide her identity.

Her skin was pale. A ghostly white. The ruby colouring on her lips only made her look more fair. She wasn’t smiling.

The girl’s eyes were a dull gray, save for the flecks of the vibrant blue that had once filled them. They were completely outlined in thick black and rimmed in a mass of dark lashes. Tears were beginning to smudge her make-up as she stared back up at me. She pushed a piece of hair back from her face, as if to get a better look at me.

She was wearing simple clothes. A pair of dark wash jeans that tapered at her ankles. A loose black sweater zipped almost completely up. You could only see a bit of her gray shirt peeking from underneath. Her only jewelery was a simple chain with a tiny pendent hanging from her neck.

Looking at this girl I could see everything she wanted the world to see, but also I saw everything she was trying so hard to hide with clothes and hair dye. I saw past her blank, almost emotionless face. I could see the tears finally falling slowly down her cheek.

I saw fear. Sadness. Anger. Bitterness. I saw how much she wanted to fade into the background. Out of the reality f her life. Yet, I could also see her eyes, begging for someone to help her out of her own fears. Out of the hole she had dug herself into.

I watched her for a moment. I hated this girl. Seeing this girl brought me back to the reality of who she was. A reality I wanted to avoid. She represented all the things I didn’t want to think about. All the things I was running from.

Gingerly, I picked up a stone from the ground beside me, momentarily avoiding the girl’s gaze. I turned it over slowly in my hands. I glanced down at the girl again. Taking the stone, I threw it as hard as I could, straight down at the girl.

There was a splash. The image of the girl distorted as the water was sent rippling through it. A shock ran through my spine. As the image of the girl began to come back into focus, I noticed something. Something I had missed before.

There was a little cut, red from fresh blood. It was right smack above her left eyebrow.