I reach out
And touch his arm
His shoulders tighten
A barricade against danger
We both know
It won't last
I try to turn him around
But he refuses to face me
He is afraid
But I am not hurt
He closes his eyes
As I walk around him
I hold his face
In my hands
His hands clench into fists
I get him to open his eyes
He is no longer afraid
I am not hurt
That side of him failed
We won

Stiffly he sits
Beside me
Tense, silent and aware.
I sit
Beside him
Uncomfortable, rejected and confused.
My first day,
New student.
His reaction an attempt
To push me away.
But why?
I am new.
I have no friends.
Why isolate me
To a land of me, myself and I?
Today, he sits beside me
Without regret or negative remark
For I
Reached out to him
When he
Would not reach out
To me

Walking in
Early morning
Simple
Quiet
Walking in
Late morning
Murmors
Talking
Walking in
Early afternoon
Conversation
Noisy
Walking in
Late afternoon
Empty
Silent
Walking in
Early evening
Excitement
Shouting
Walking in
Late evening
Tired
Hushed

My hand
In yours
My heart
Touching yours
My pulse
Beating yours
My life
Missing yours
My dreams
Fulfilling yours

Your hand
In mine
Your heart
Fitting hers
Your pulse
Racing hers
Your life
Protecting hers
Your dreams
Being hers

Her hand
Is free
Her heart
Is distant
Her pulse
Is strong
Her life
Is bright
Her dream
Is home

One
Pretty and kind
Startlingly considerate
But
He is afraid

Two
Athletic and funny
Strikingly aware
But
He is beloved

Three
Purposeful and hardworking
Peculiarly tolerating
But
He is away

Our eyes meet
My heart trips
My brain freezes,
Saving this moment

Someone laughs

Our eyes met
Your heartbeat continues
Your brain erases
This moment,
Unimportant
To you

You shake your head

Ping!
What is that?
Ping!
What is that sound?
Ping!
My facebook?

I have a message?
I have a message!
Is it from him?
No,
It's from that guy.
That guy I "met"
While we were at camp

Why would he message me?
It was nice.
It was thoughtful.
It was kind.
Thank you,
For the pleasant surprise.