LXXXIII | Heavens

❦

I open the note
that appears
on my desk halfway through the day.

I'M EXCITED FOR OUR DATE.

Rowan stares at me
with her expressionless expression
across the room.

I can't help smiling.
I wink at her.

She looks away,
the tips of her ears
turning red.

She bends over her desk,
trying to look more focused
on her worksheet.

I balance my head
on one palm,
elbow on the table.

For some reason,

Rowan is more amusing
day after day.

I give up on
concentrating
on school

for the rest of the day.

We're
in the same class,

but Rowan says
not to make a big fuss

even though
I tell her
everyone already knows
we're together.

She waits for me
under the rowan tree,

an expressionless expression
on her face.

I meet her,
after talking
to my other friends in class.

'Why don't you
'talk to other people in class?'
I ask.

We're holding hands now,
crossing the road.

She makes a
noncommittal
sound.

'I will, when the time comes.'

'You're not avoiding anyone on purpose,
'are you?'
I joke.

Her coal-black eyes
fixate on me.

'No.'

And I think
that it's more likely
that other people

are avoiding her.

I squeeze her hand.

'It doesn't bother me anymore,'
she says.

'Anymore?' I ask.

She tells me
about secondary school,

how she was from a girls' school
where students were very

liberal,
vocal.

'I was open about my beliefs
'and became someone they picked on

'whenever they could.'

She shrugs.

'I'm used to it.'

I remember
how I also

mocked her
for being

conservative.

Ah, embarrassing times.

'It's easier to judge
'those who are trying to be good
'for not being good enough

'than it is to try yourself, huh?'
I comment.

A faint smile
breaks the serenity
on her face.

'You're unexpectedly wise
'sometimes.'

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