Slowly the sun set and the faeries seemed to give away into the shadowing water, fading once more into nothingness until the next summer would come. The fireflies slowly hummed their way back to their home and the green leaves alive and bright faded into darker colors announcing that fall would arrive. Many things had changed over the 5 years it had been since Kiriana had sat at the water, watching the faeries do their dances but the memory of the 15 year old girl with the silver hair and grey eyes lived on unchanged in Ben’s heart. 1
She had been his first love and that summer was more then he could have ever asked for. Her smile and laugh had rang through his mind many a time after she was gone. He smiled a half smile as the lights faded once more into nothingness. He stood up, brushing his jeans off slowly as he did, he calloused hands worn and tired from working. He was 23 years old now, time for him to “forget his long due crushes and go on with his life” as his mother had so well put it. But he didn’t want to forget or move on. He Began walking away from the lake and the red and white roses which surrounded it and never seemed to not be in bloom. 2
Ben had known Kiriana since they were in 5th grade at Greenview Elementary School and she had always worn the same smile through everything. He remembered the way she had aced every exam administered to them and how she had always carried a pencil and pad of paper. Now Ben couldn’t hardly imagine that she was gone now. She had been his best friend all his life and he just wouldn’t let go. The image of the 15 year old girl with the bright dancing eyes and the long silver hair coming towards him lived in his very soul and seemed never to die...Not like she had. 3
A glimmer of light made Ben stop in his tracks from leaving home after a hard nights work on the lake. He took a step closer to the shadowed water and saw that it was a locket. Slowly, Ben reached over taking the locket in his rough hands and stood back up. It was Kiriana’s locket. The one she had received as an early birthday gift from him. She had loved that locket very much, and he could remember the way her entire face lit up. Ben pocketed the silver ornament and leaving a lone tear down his cheek he turned once more and left for home. 4
It was midnight and the clock hanging on the dull flowered wallpapered wall struck a high note, snapping Ben from his fantasy. He had been sitting in his overstuffed recliner, the silver locket in his hands just staring at it since he had gotten home. His green eyes were half glazed in sleep but still he never moved from the spot. Slowly his finger turned the lock in the necklace and he opened it up, seeing the smiling face of his long lost friend looking at him with her bright eyes and dancing smile which never left her face, not even in death. He felt wet tears slide down his cheek as he remembered, not really wanting to remember. He half wanted to walk away from it all, make it leave his mind so he could finally go a day without the heavy heart weighing him down. Half of him never wanted to forget the happiness he had felt just knowing that Kiriana was in his heart. Now, he knew what he wanted, but what he wanted wasn’t possible. Try as he might he couldn't’t bring that little girl back to him. 5
Ben lifted his hand wiping away the wetness from his face as he leaned back into his chair and closed the dull almost lifeless green eyes as he remembered that last summer with the girl of his dreams. 6
It was the summer that seemed as if it would never end. The fact is, no one wanted it to end. The warm rays of sunshine felt comforting upon everyone in Greenview’s face as they sat under the large sweeping willow’s branches beside the still lake watching the summer faeries do their annual dance. Kiriana Light sat nearest to the water, eyes enchanted by the graceful movements of the creatures who skimmed across the crystal waters, their iridescent wings swaying in the breeze they made as they flew, twirling and singing the song which seemed ever changing. It was also the summer Ben Windsaw would live to remember. 7
This summer was different for a reason. It was the summer Kiriana was to be turning her sweet 16th year. She had been looking forward to it for so long, and now that it was finally here she seemed sad. It seemed as though all this waiting would be in vain, because she probably wouldn’t live to see it. As she watched the faeries do their magickal dance, a few silvery tears slid down her soft pale cheeks like tiny rivers. She didn’t even bother to wipe them away with her soft delicate hand. Wisps of her silver hair framed her thin and pale face, and though she was sick, her deep ever telling grey eyes shined under it all, bringing her beauty out farther then it had ever been. 8
Kiriana felt something on the back of her neck and turned around, seeing a young lad of about 17 standing there with a bright sloppy smile that would just make her laugh and laugh. Her bright smile appeared on her face and she quickly wiped away the stray tears and stood up, dusting off her white summer dress. 9
“Ben Windsaw you get your butt over here right now!” she yelled, a breeze blowing her silver hair backwards showing her face. Ben laughed and trotted up to her, his overalls half sliding off his broad shoulders by the time he reached her. He opened his strong arms and took Kiriana into a big bear hug and kissed her forehead softly. 10
“Well if it isn’t Kiriana Light, the most beautiful girl in town, talking to an old hillbilly like myself.” He teased, his thick southern accent easy to hear and his eyes set in a dancing laughter that showed he was trying to keep a straight face. 11
“Well I ain’t like the other rich gals Ben, you old fart you know that.” Her own southern accent could be heard as she spoke. She stuck her wet pink tongue out at him and walked from his arms. “It would be that I was the lucky one being spoken to by you.” she turned back around facing him, her grey eyes smiling as much as her red lips were. Her white dress blew around her in the warm breeze and Ben thought she was the perfect picture of beauty at that moment. Like an angel bathed in the light. 12
“I have a present for you, Kir.” He said using his pet name for her, he reached behind him to take out a box roughly wrapped in newspaper. “I know it dun’ look like its important but I spent all my money on what’s inside. Didn’t have enough for the paper.” 13
Kiriana took a step towards him, hands behind her back. “A present? For me? What is it Ben?!” she smiled as he took a step forward, holding out the crudely wrapped gift. 14
“Open it, silly.” He said, laughing as she took it from his hands. Kiriana tore into the paper, seeing a beautiful silver locket impressed with flowers and birds in the fine silver. She lifted her head, her eyes showing disbelief and a whole mess of emotions. 15
“Ben Windsaw you shouldn't’t have!” She ran and him and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “You didn’t have to...What’s this for? It must have cost a fortune!” 16
“Your birthday you dope.” He laughed and hugged her tight, bangs falling over his bright green eyes. “Sweet 16th my dear. Nothing is too good for you.” He then leaned down and let his lips press gently against hers in a tender kiss. Kiriana looked up at him after their lips parted, her eyes shining with emotions that were unexplainable. 17
“I love you, Ben.” she smiled a half smile. Ben didn’t say anything for a moment, leaning his forehead against hers. 18
“I love you, too, Kiriana Light.” He whispered softly. 19
She smiled and just stood in his arms until the sun dipped behind the green hills of the park causing streaks of orange and pink to form in the darkening sky. Ben sighed softly and pulled from her arms, shaking his head “Best be goin’ now, Kiri. You know your mama dun’ like you being late...Es...Especially now...” He had brought up a bad subject, he knew by the look in her eyes, though her smile was still on her face. 20
“You’re right, Ben..” she spoke softly, sadness hinted in her voice, though not showing through in her facial expressions. “I feel weak anyway.” She leaned up on her tippy toes and kissed him once more. Ben’s face lit up with a smile, her kisses had always made him overwhelmingly happy. 21
“Goodnight, beautiful.” he spoke, soft fingers caressing her smooth milky cheek. She nuzzled into his hand lightly, wisps of her hair falling over her eyes as she tilted her head, kissing his fingertips in her own silent goodnight. He could tell by the way she walked away she did not want to leave, and by the slight limp in her walk that she was indeed feeling weak. His whispered words were carried upon the wind, though not quite reaching Kiriana’s ears. “I love you, Kiriana.” 22
Ben could have kicked himself now, for letting her go so soon that night. How he wished he would have held her in his arms longer, watched the first stars come out. But he didn’t and nothing could change the past. He ran his fingers through his hair with his free hand, the other still holding the locket in an open palm. 23
He remembered the night he through the locket into the pond. It was the worst night of his life, and though his mother said he was exaggerating, he knew that he meant it with all his soul. 24
That night, he had been laying in bed, staring at the ceiling when his phone had rung. He had answered eagerly, hoping it was Kiriana. He was close, it was her mother. The words were mostly a blur to him, because he didn’t think they were true. He remembered them now clearly, though. 25
“Ben, Kiriana is in the hospital. It doesn’t look too good, she wants you here...” 26
He shook his head remembering it. He had never got up so fast in his life. It was around 10pm he got that call, and he was at the hospital in 20 minutes. Fast, considering the boy had no car and the hospital was 7 or 8 miles from his house. All he could remember was he ran faster then he ever had before, and by the time he got to the hospital, he was covered in mud, soaked, because the summer showers had caught him, and out of breath. 27
Kiriana’s mother met him in the lobby. She was the same as she always had been. Poised and sophisticated, hardly the type that he usually mingled with. She wore a black business suit, pleated, as he had always seen her in. Her hair was drawn up in a tight bun, and a smile was on her lips, though her eyes were bloodshot and a briefcase was beside her. It was then that he realized she must have been in the office when she got the call. Ben knew she had been crying, and offered her a hug which she gratefully accepted despite his dirtied state. 28
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Light?” He had asked, careful not to let his voice hint that he was frightened. 29
She had shook her head sadly, looking up at him like a scared child. Ben was taller then her, for she was a small and dainty women, hardly taller then a 16 year old girl, though she did not look her age, but older. Streaks of grey laced in and out of her dark hair. She looked nothing like Kiriana, and no where near as beautiful. Ben had never met her father, and figured Kiriana took after him. The one who had left when she was but a babe. 30
“I do not know, Ben...” she spoke slowly. “She felt faint, I'm guessing, and dialed the hospital...and passed out on the phone. That’s all I know..” 31
Ben sat down numbly, and looked at her once more “Will she be all right?” There was a long silence, and he had known the answer. He put his head in his hands and stared at the floor, silent tears running down his tan cheeks as Kiriana’s mother stared in the window of her daughter’s hospital room. 32
“She’s still alive, Ben. And she is awake now...But weak, so very weak. She can hardly speak, but she wants to see you...She doesn’t have too much longer, Ben...You have to be strong for her.” She spoke, voice tight, sounding more like she was trying to reassure herself and tell herself to be strong, then telling a 17 year old to do so. He just nodded and walked into the room, afraid of what he would see. 33
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Author notes
I've started Chapter two, but i want to know how im doin on chapter one 
"Converse shoes"
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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:'(. . . awee!! tear tear.. . haha.. I, too, am excited for Chapter 2!! I have no clue what you could write next with this story, but I am definately looking forward too it!! haha. . excellent story!! :-D. . .and good luck with the contest ;-)
Sapphire -
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That poor girl. She'd better be okay ro some butt is gonna get kicked
I definately gotta read the rest of this when I get a spare moment. You did a wonderful job describing everything by the way. Great work on this. Good luck and thanks for entering my contest.
World domination,
Wolf Goddess -
This is great, sad though. I'd love to read the next one. Its a great start.
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