Prologue
Kathleen wasn’t Simon’s first crush, but she wasn’t like the others. For starters, she was taller than him, lithe and graceful as a goddess. Her long, red hair shone brilliantly in the sun and her voice was like honey flowing smoothly over freshly made waffles. Best of all though, she was unattached and Simon just happened to know a guy who could fix that.In truth, Simon was not very confidant. He had been rejected by the other girls he had become infatuated with and was not a naturally confidant person to start with. His body at sixteen had not figured out what shape it wanted to be, and so left him awkward and uncomfortable.
More awkward though was how Simon dealt with those around him. There weren’t that many other teenagers in the small town of Allora, but none would readily call him ‘friend’. It’s not that he was a bad sort, just that Simon was a little shy and the other teenagers thought him a little strange.
In any case, Simon had plucked up what little courage he had and cornered Kathleen near the edge of the forest one day, as she was picking flowers growing along the walkway. Like everyone knows, it is best to not prolong any pain and just do what needs to be done. So it was with most unseemly haste that Simon blurted out his feelings for Kathleen.
First there was stunned silence. Then she started to laugh.
“You think I’d be interested in you?” Kathleen’s voice was not so honey-sweet when dripping with sarcasm. Simon was mortified. “Why would I be interested in a scrawny, weak and pathetic little boy such as you?”
Simon’s face turned bright red, and he tried to stammer a response. Kathleen sniggered, waiting for him to say something. It was then that something snapped inside of him. The romantic would say that she broke his heart. Whatever it was, it left Simon stony-faced and set his jaw in defiance. His normally gentle eyes were now hard as agates, and the change shocked Kathleen into taking a backward step.
Simon stared intently at her for a few moments. “Remember Simon this day, for you are the last to see him live,” he whispered before turning away. The world was deathly silent as his rigid form headed towards the forest.
posted by Son @ 02:22
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