-Anthony Williams

Wind. Sand. The sea. 

I'm here again. All alone.

It's dark. Suffocating. Cold. I turned around and I saw crying shadows. Then I hear sudden rings. It's annoying. Reaching for it, those rings finally stopped.

"A dream.", I whispered.

Birds. Trees along the sidewalk. It's too hot outside. I pull my hood towards me even more, covering almost all of my face.

"Good morning Anthony."

"Morning, Leah.", I greeted back, that's you, right?"

"Yeah. It's me, Anthony."

"Good. Don't we have gym today?", I asked.

"Yes we do. In fact, we have a new classmate this semester."

"We do?", I asked while shutting my locker.

"I heard she's a cute girl though." I didn't even bother replying. Walking towards the door of my classroom, I was greeted by my friends.

"Yo! How was spring break?", Lee asked.

"Don't even bother asking.", I replied.

"Same as usual, huh?", said Sam with his cocky attitude.

"Locked up in your room, just drowned in grudge. So vengeful of the person who made you almost blind."

"Sam!", Leah yelled.

"It's okay Leah. I'm used to this jerk mocking me all the time."

Yes, I am eighty percent blind. Let's say almost blind. All because of an accident she caused when we were back in elementary. After that incident, I never ever forgot what she did to me. I am full of anger and vengance.

"Celine Garcia", I whispered while seated on my desk and looking down on the table. Suprisingly, that transfer student and I uttered that name together... Hold on... Did we just say that name together?! I looked towards the board and I saw a silouhette. It was a shadow I could not clearly see. How...

"Nice to meet you all."

"Alright, kindly sit on that empty desk near the window.", the teacher instructed. Slowly as she walked on the isle I was in, my heart pounded so hard. I could not define how much anger I am feeling right now.

Breathing heavily. Footsteps. I could hear them getting louder as she drew near. Then she stopped beside me. She faced me and I never looked at her. I remained looking down.

"I'm sorry.", she whispered, walking away as if she never said anything.
Dammit!!! Everyone looked at me. Perhaps I unintentionally slammed my desk. I looked at them and then I looked down, full of frustration. She just sits a row behind me.

Lunch break finally came. Sam, Leah, and I ate at the school's park. I had a sandwhich. Soft. Greasy. Sweet yet sour. The grass was making me ticklish, itchy at the same time. But it was comforting just lying on it.

"So what are you going to do now?", Sam asked. Leah looking worried.

"Beats me. But as she approached the isle I was in, she whispered an apology.", I sat up," I just don't get it. Why is she here?!", I got frustrated.

"Calm down Anthony.", Leah said.

"Planning on revenge I might ask?"

"Yes. Now that she is here, I can finally get revenge on what she did to me eight years ago."

Smell of the sea. It was just me and her.

"Anthony look! I was able to build a sand castle. Isn't it neat?", she asked.

"Yeah. It looks awesome!", I complimented her. Her smile was the best thing ever. As long as she smiles, my days were as blissful as ever. I never ever even thought of hating her.

"Look! I found a fish but it's hurt.", she showed me an injured fish lying on top of her palm.

"What can we do? We don't know how to help it. We should just send it back to the sea.", I told her. She was so saddned by this but she agreed. While we were walking back to the sandcastle, a dog suddenly came running towards us. Cowardly as I was, I was stiff. She screamed and an adult heard us. The dog jumped and suddenly she pushed me towards the dog. The dog's claw scratched my eyes. She gasped and I screamed in pain. I held my eyes, hoping for a bit of pain to go away. I could not see. It was dark. Blood everywhere. After that, I blacked out.

"Yes, they moved out. Yes. Yeah, I know. Understood. Talk to you soon."

I could not see. I could not fathom my surroundings by sight. The smell of alcohol. Airconditioner was cold. I figured I was in the hospital. How long has it been? One day? Five days? A week or two? Beats me.

"You're awake already, Anthony.", my mother approached me.

"I am. How long has it been?"

"Almost two months. You had to go through five surgeries. You should rest up a bit more."

"Celine. Where is she?" I could feel the hesitance in my mother to respond.

"Well she-"

"Yooo Anthony!! Are you planning to have a sleep over here in school? Class is over already.", Sam woke me up.

"A dream?", I whispered to myself.

"I'll be by the vending machine downstairs. Catch up you two!"

"Two? Leah? Are you still here?", I asked.

"Yeah. I was just - " I cut her off.

"Thanks but I don't need your sympathy." I walked away leaving her behind. I could faintly see my way through though. It's all blurry but I could picture out every edge of the entire campus. I grew up here. From elementary up to senior high school, I stayed here. I met Sam downstairs and Leah followed along.

"I have something to do. You guys go on ahead.", I walked away.

Oil. Paper. Rust. Chemicals. I finally arrived home. In my room, I switched on the lights and finished my set up. A few hours later, I was done. I felt this pain in my chest whenever I made this. It was a person that I longed for a long time.

Golden brown hair. Dark brown eyes. A frail little girl I once loved eight years ago. Dark yet my tears never stopped every time I painted you - Celine.