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By Melissa, Age 17

Inspired by the December '09 Fiction Workshop, "Around My Neighborhood" 

I stared out my window into the night. It was dark in comparison to the ivory snow that blanketed the ground and that was falling softly, silently. Elisa came close, her hands warm and light on my shoulders. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Her almond shaped brown eyes closed as she spoke. I turned and stared silently. "Why?", I finally asked. With her eyes still closed she responded, her lips quivering, "for leaving you." Her eyes opened and she stared at me. I stared back longingly. I wanted to assure her that I'd be okay, that we'd be okay. I wanted to assure her that I'd be here when she returned from her trip to Spain. Arms open and ready to listen to a month's worth of stories. But I couldn't. Our closeted romance had become so hard to cope with and despite the love that welled up and overflowed within me I feared we wouldn't be able to go on. I looked at her and absorbed her image. Long brown hair, straight. Almond shaped cafe con leche eyes. Glowing carmel skin. Her form voluptuos and curvy. Her beauty was startling and I feared that once she left she'd realize she doesn't need me, love me. The experience would change her but would that change include me? Our eyes connect and I could feel a  fire burning within me. Warm and orange. I loved her with all of me and she loved me. Could I cope if that changed? My silence wreaked of insecurity and she could smell it. Elisa bowed her head and closed her eyes for a moment longer than a standard blink. Tears fell from her closed eyes. I reached up and kissed her. Holding her close. Tasting her, touching her, smelling her deeply. Because this could be the last time.