salty rainwater

*

she stared at the blades of grass moving helpessly with the wind outside the window that was beside her. she stared so closely, her view was interrupted ever so faithfully by blurry round objects that were the beads of the pulls of the window blinds.

it was a windy sunny day after a storm. and she had prayed that the boy she only sees in her dreams would love her back. but she was awake. and she was not loved back. she continued to stare blankly not knowing she would be meeting him at school the day after.

he was a slender boy. with an old man's eyes. he walked in her class gracefully determined. he seated himself in a chair where she would need to turn her head left very obviously.

they shared the same class every wednesday during that semester. she saw him and loved him more. she wasn't dreaming. loving him in her class was more liberating than loving him in her dreams. her eyes grew brighter each day, despite her years.

"i love you all my life." she said to the boy one stormy night. they were stuck in school because a storm hit their town without prior notice. he was looking at her. his eyes grew dimmer, light fading. he pitied her, that's all. he opened his mouth way too late. her time ran out. unrequited love. she became a pillar of salt. the rain washed what remained of her away.