Story of a Girl

Girl meets Boy.

Girl doesn't notice much of Boy at first. He's wrapped in silence, invisible. She is wrapped in armor, impenetrable.

But then Boy says something small, something unimportant, something unintentional, and Girl's heart sings.

Girl is scared by the flutter in her heart when Boy looks her way. Girl has been broken before. Her torn heart is newly stitched.

Girl fears Boy will break her anew, but she can't seem to stop herself. Piece by piece, Girl's armor falls away.

She's frightened by the feel of wind and sun on her skin. It's been eons since she stood exposed. But Boy makes her feel herself.

The last piece of armor clatters to the ground. Girl opens her arms wide and invites Boy inside.

Boy shakes his head and says, "I'm sorry."

Girl's arms drop to her side. She's seen this happen before.

A stitch tears in Girl's heart. Something cold seeps inside, like mercury running through her veins. She becomes the cold.

Piece by piece, she straps the armor back on. It feels heavier this time. She can barely breathe beneath its weight.

And when the armor is back on, Girl picks up her sword and strikes at Boy even though she knows it isn't Boy's fault.

Boy didn't try to make Girl's heart sing. Boy didn't ask Girl to invite him in. Girl did it knowingly.

But Girl strikes anyway because Girl is so tired of stitching herself back together.

Girl hates that she has done this, hates her own weak heart. She wants to take it back, but the time for apologies has passed.

Boy is gone.

Girl stands alone.

It's the same story every time. Girl meets Boy.