she loved the ocean.
she loved the salty taste of it
the sound of waves crashing
the coldness biting at her skin

she enjoyed the way water pushed her down

then brought her back up
the rhythm flowing
calming...
soothing...

s a f e

so she thought of that
as the boy she loved
and the boy she hated
sat next to her.

the boy who bullied
and scarred.

the boy who
looked at her
and gave her
one of those stupid
damned
smiles.

where your one cheek is up higher than the other.
and there are small wrinkles near the edge.
and their eyes shine.

those smiles,
that make everything,
d i s s a p e a r