My Dear Dakota
One/Six
She was new to me.
The way her long brown hair cascaded down her back like a soft waterfall left me breathless. I couldn't keep my head around her, and my hands always shook just at the slight whisper of a breath against my cheek. Her lips were as soft as the stars and her fingers... Her fingers felt so good going through my hair that I forgot we were even in the same planet, let alone universe, of all the bad. She was the good, the light, the moon and the sand. I clung to her so tight, like if I let her go she'd float away.
My sweet, sweet Dakota.
We met when it was snowing outside, when the trees were naked and the water frozen. I couldn't remember the time or what day it was, but I remember winter. The sun peeked through the clouds outside, so it must have been in the afternoon-- but that didn't matter. I first met her when she needed help at the library. She said she was looking for a book about some guy who goes off to some school and meets this girl and they fall in love, a typical story you'd find in the Young Adult section. You could tell she was so hopeful and wishful, and she had a certain twinkle in her blue eyes that made me swell up inside. We were both so young, so naive that it hurt, and so new to each other. I helped her and she thanked me and she left.
I had never been interested in women before Dakota, nor men. I was simple and reserved and went about my days unseen and unheard. I had worked at the library with my aunt for four years, ever since I was 14-- I was fine with that. But then she waltzed into my life and I became so interested in her, that I couldn't help but think about how beautiful and intelligent she looked.
Curiousity kills.
A week had gone by since she had checked out that book and when she dropped it off I smiled and looked at her blue eyes but something wasn't the same. The light had gone out and she was the epitome of meloncholy, dull and sleepy. Dark circles sat on top of her pale cheek bones, hugging the bottom of her eyes, and I knew something wasn't alright. That's when I saw the blue and green bruises on the underside of her arms that almost looked like fingers, that almost looked like....
"I know this is rude," I had broke the silence, "but I couldn't help but notice your injuries," I said, looking at her from underneath of my auburn bangs. "If you don't mind me asking, what are they from?" I never would have known in a million years this would become the rest of my life.
"Nothing..." Her voice was shaking and quiet. I watched as she tried to hide her arms, and frowned.
"It's okay, you can tell me," I pressed.
"It's none of your business," she hissed.
"Sorry, just... Curiousity killed the cat I suppose.. I'm Rachel, by the way, if you care..." I replied, trying to force a smile. I swallowed the lump that had caught in my throat so hard that it felt like I was going to puke.
"Dakota, but you already know, I assume. Why did you ask about my bruises? You're the first person to notice them-- to notice me..." That stung.
"Because when you came in here last week you were happy and now you're not... Did you like the book? I can recommend you something if you're interested.." I changed the subject, not wanting to claw open any fresh scabs.
"Yeah, uh... I want something about losing something.." Dakota, my darling, she was like a punk rock band in naming what exactly was going through their minds.
The way her long brown hair cascaded down her back like a soft waterfall left me breathless. I couldn't keep my head around her, and my hands always shook just at the slight whisper of a breath against my cheek. Her lips were as soft as the stars and her fingers... Her fingers felt so good going through my hair that I forgot we were even in the same planet, let alone universe, of all the bad. She was the good, the light, the moon and the sand. I clung to her so tight, like if I let her go she'd float away.
My sweet, sweet Dakota.
We met when it was snowing outside, when the trees were naked and the water frozen. I couldn't remember the time or what day it was, but I remember winter. The sun peeked through the clouds outside, so it must have been in the afternoon-- but that didn't matter. I first met her when she needed help at the library. She said she was looking for a book about some guy who goes off to some school and meets this girl and they fall in love, a typical story you'd find in the Young Adult section. You could tell she was so hopeful and wishful, and she had a certain twinkle in her blue eyes that made me swell up inside. We were both so young, so naive that it hurt, and so new to each other. I helped her and she thanked me and she left.
I had never been interested in women before Dakota, nor men. I was simple and reserved and went about my days unseen and unheard. I had worked at the library with my aunt for four years, ever since I was 14-- I was fine with that. But then she waltzed into my life and I became so interested in her, that I couldn't help but think about how beautiful and intelligent she looked.
Curiousity kills.
A week had gone by since she had checked out that book and when she dropped it off I smiled and looked at her blue eyes but something wasn't the same. The light had gone out and she was the epitome of meloncholy, dull and sleepy. Dark circles sat on top of her pale cheek bones, hugging the bottom of her eyes, and I knew something wasn't alright. That's when I saw the blue and green bruises on the underside of her arms that almost looked like fingers, that almost looked like....
"I know this is rude," I had broke the silence, "but I couldn't help but notice your injuries," I said, looking at her from underneath of my auburn bangs. "If you don't mind me asking, what are they from?" I never would have known in a million years this would become the rest of my life.
"Nothing..." Her voice was shaking and quiet. I watched as she tried to hide her arms, and frowned.
"It's okay, you can tell me," I pressed.
"It's none of your business," she hissed.
"Sorry, just... Curiousity killed the cat I suppose.. I'm Rachel, by the way, if you care..." I replied, trying to force a smile. I swallowed the lump that had caught in my throat so hard that it felt like I was going to puke.
"Dakota, but you already know, I assume. Why did you ask about my bruises? You're the first person to notice them-- to notice me..." That stung.
"Because when you came in here last week you were happy and now you're not... Did you like the book? I can recommend you something if you're interested.." I changed the subject, not wanting to claw open any fresh scabs.
"Yeah, uh... I want something about losing something.." Dakota, my darling, she was like a punk rock band in naming what exactly was going through their minds.