Heartbreak

I stared at the chocolate brown eyes of the bushy haired, brown skinned girl in front of me. Ceaseless tears leaked out from my own eyes, as I stared at my (in my view) deformed reflection. Is this why? I thought. Is this why he lied to me? A raw yell of pain and anger, sadness, and grief at what I had lost clawed its way up my chest and into my throat. I drew back my clenched fist and shoved it into the mirror, and screamed as it broke, shards flying everywhere.1

This is what I deserve, I thought. This will bring me back to reality. He never liked me. He never loved me.2

Then the memories came.3

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April Vacation, 5th grade4

Sweating in the unusually hot April weather, my sisters and I surveyed our work. Welcome Tyler Rozmio and Garrison Rozmio, the chalked driveway said. Rushing into the garage to grab the six-pack of lemonade, I splashed some cool water on my face and wondered if these boys would be like the ones that we saw in the summer, who were wild and always challenged us to race. I accepted the challenge, of course, because how could I let a boy win? But still. That doesn’t mean it was fun.5

Rrrrr vrrrrrm! I dashed back out side, and then stood there, arms folded. To tell the truth, I was a little curious – maybe he would be nice…6

***7

“Hello,” said the brown haired boy, after our parent s greeted each other wholeheartedly. “I’m Tyler!”8

“Umm, hi,” I said, a little bewildered. He was more outright than I’d expected. Leaving him to greet my sisters, I ran inside, unknowingly vowing to impress him. And he was… What was the word? Cute? Handsome?9

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“Wow, she has really long hair!” I heard Mrs. Rozmio say cheerfully.11

“I know, Sofia just got it done yesterday,” replied Mom.12

I grinned to myself, and peeked at Tyler. He was staring at a statue of Paul Revere as we walked down the trail old Revere himself took that fateful night. The hat was near flying of off the iron man’s head, and his coat trailing out behind him. Bird perched on his head, chirping into his ears, making the statue seem even more still than before. Disappointed, I kept walking. I began to imagine what it would be like if I had lived that night when Paul Revere rode.13

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Summer Vacation, Going into 6th Grade15

Plucking a tune on the Rozmios’ electric piano, I hummed to myself and heard a strange noise coming from their basement.16

We’d arrived in Savannah late yesterday afternoon, and we’d settled in right away. Delighted to meet their dog, Yo-yo, Carol wasn’t homesick at all. She also started talking to Garrison, Tyler’s younger brother. Since Garrison was the same age as Carol, the two were a perfect match, both talked all day and night. They became close friends.17

Anyways, I took the stairs two at a time into their basement, and saw Tyler practicing his electric guitar. I sat on the edge of the sagging black and gray couch, every hair standing on end with tension, and he looked up and said, “Oh, I’m not that good.”18

“No!” I said. “You’re great! Well, I wouldn’t really know, but you’re good compared to this boy in my grade. With him, we had to endure a full five minutes of random bells and whistles.” I laughed.
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad…”19

“Oh believe me, it was. Truly, you’re great.”20

From then one, we were good friends.21

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“Race you!” yelled Tyler.23

We had hopped into their glistening blue-green pool outside of their house. Arm after arm. Turn, and breathe. Get to the end of the pool.24

Tyler won. Oh well.25

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“This is for you,” I said. I handed my friend a present in an emerald-green bag, and smiled widely. “I think you’ll like it.”27

Digging into the bottom of the bag, Tyler chuckled as he saw the title: Random Facts That No One Wants to Know.28

“Tolja,” I said.29

Settling down on the couch, we started to read about something about McDonalds, none of which I can remember now. Slowly and hesitantly, Tyler put his arm over my head on the couch.30

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Fall of 7th Grade32

“Carol?” I asked with certainty.33

The fall weather must have gone to my head, its fallen, colored leaves influencing me. I’’d made the decision a few moments before.34

“Yeahuh?”35

“Umm… I like Tyler Rozmio, I think,” I said in a rushed voice.36

“Oh,” she said. “Ummm, Sofia… Tyler likes a girl named Marissa! Garrison told me… Oh, I’m so sorry!” she added when she saw my face turn pale.37

Running away so she wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes, I ran inside and locked myself in my bathroom.38

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Finally the memories ended, and I blacked out in extreme pain.40

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“Aaaghowwweee,” I heard. Stop making that sound, I thought. Opening my eyes, I realized that I had made the sound. Everything burned, especially my left hand. Shoot, I thought. My left hand was my writing hand.42

“Sofia! You’re up!” Carol screamed.43

“Ow!” My ears burned. “Where am I?”44

“Uhhh… Sofia, you’re in the hospital. Mum found you in the bathroom. We- we though you were dead, you’d lost so much blood.” She burst into tears.45

“Where’s Mom?” I asked somberly.46

“I’m right here. We need to talk,” she said sternly. I bowed my head.47

“But first-” a sudden smile lit up her face “- we’re going to the Rozmio’s.”48

My heart pumped so fast I thought that it would surely leap out of my chest. I smiled because I’d forgiven him. He hadn’t betrayed me. He never had done anything to suggest love. But now – Oooh! Chances, chances!