Story Excerpts

Excerpt from "Speak No Evil"
Written by Nicole Glover of Fredericksburg, VA

"Here you open it."
The envelope was thrust into my hands. I heard the words, but tried not to react. Her words were casual. Calm even, as if this was an envelope from a distinguished college or a job offer. Little things. Insignificant. I turned it over in my hands staring at the crisp paper. She was asking me to open it?
"Please."
Words died in my throat. For a moment I considered not opening it, but Cameron cleared his throat, silently telling me to stop dallying. Before I could lose my nerve, in one fluid movement I ripped it out and stared down at the contents. I saw all I needed to know.
I looked up at her, the paper falling from my hands onto the floor. The words painted on my face. Kassy slumped in her chair releasing her grip on the armrests. Pressing her hands to her face she whispered, "I guess that means I can't be an organ donor anymore."
Her attempt at humor floundered piteously as a bird with a broken wing. Cameron picked up the paper and read it for himself, staring down at it as if he could change the words if he hoped hard enough. My heart was racing as the weight of the knowledge crept over me.
My best friend since the fifth grade is HIV positive. And she was making jokes about.
Kassy was always that sort of person. I suppose that was how she survived. I shouldn't be surprised. But I couldn't help but be.
HIV. She was dying and there was nothing I could do about out it.
"It's fine to talk," Kassy bent over picking up her bag. She absently brushed the stitched rainbow flag on it. "It's doesn't hurt to be positive."
She looked at us half expectantly, but we didn't even crack a smile. Cameron deepened his scowl and glanced around protectively over his shoulder. He had known Kassy longer than I had. Neighbors, knowing each other so well, they could have been brother and sister if it weren't for the fact he's black and she isn't.
A doctor came in. Young, pale, wary, and wearing gloves. He spoke first to me, because my complexion was the shade of coffee. Cameron grumbled and pointed to Kassy. The doctor turned, and began to repeat everything he just said to her. I watched as he spoke without looking at her, detached and rushed, poised to dart away at once.
"You won't get it by breathing the same air," Cameron growled. The doctor jumped. "If you think that you should reconsider your vocation of choice."
Cameron stood up, opening the door for us to leave. I pressed the button for the elevator. When the door opened we went inside, standing in silence, avoiding each other's eyes. The elevator made a soft ping as it went down the floors. Kassy fiddled with the strap on her bag lightly humming a tune of some song.
The elevator had gone down two floors when Cameron finally broke the silence.
"You should sue."
Kassy stopped humming and faced him. She brushed back a curl of her hair out her eyes. "Why?"
There was a challenge in her eyes. I had seen it before when she dared me in seventh grade to steal a stop sign. I seen it when she dared Cameron to kiss the girl he had been eyeing across math class for nearly a semester. But this was a different challenge. One I didn't want to compete in.
"It's his fault." Cameron said bitterly. His hands were curled into shaking fists. "He should have told you, he shouldn't have messed with you…"
"I wanted to sleep with him." Kassy said quietly. "I wanted to make sure I was positive about being-"
"Well," Cameron interrupted, distress cracking his voice, "you're positive now!"
The elevator had opened as he spoke an elderly man entered. He looked at us disapprovingly glaring at me and Cameron. He muttered something about kids and insolence.
Forcing himself into a corner he saw the rainbow flag Kassy had sewn on her bag. His lips curled up even more. He got off on the next floor.
With the memory of the disgust on the wrinkled face, I wondered how others would react, what others would say, if they knew about Kassy. It wasn't obvious, I told myself, glancing at my friend. It wasn't as if she had a giant "A" attached to her shirt. The elevator ride lasted longer than it should have. Minutes dragging by as it slowly inched down. But I didn't want it to end.
Getting out this elevator meant going into the real world. A world where it was never going to be the same again.
I pulled my keys out. I wasn't sure if I would be able to manage the drive home. However thinking of sitting there next to her thinking about it was far too much for me to bear. Opening the car door we piled inside, Kassy wordlessly climbing into the back as Cameron took shotgun. As I turned the ignition I saw the debris left in the cup holder. Old candy wrappers and an empty soda cup from about a week ago when the three of us were on a midnight raid in search of fun in the celebration of youth… thinking we had all the time in the world.

Copyright © 2005-2008 HEAR ME, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from "Honeysuckle Kisses"
A poem written by Alexandra Goldman of Merrick, NY

I

I dream of a future where death is not the result of love
Remember when you said that?
I never repeated those words to anyone.
Why?
Because it was your gift to me.
I am not being ridiculous!
You gave me a precious stone, and I buried it in the soil of my heart

So if I had to sum you up in about a page, how would I do it?
Lonnie was my very best friend
No?
Your right!
The sentence is too simple, too finite, too much of nothing.
Our friendship is so much more.
Simple and pure and wonderful and just what is supposed to exist in this world

How about…
Lonnie is very special to me.
How in a page can I possibly begin to explain how special?
You aren't a page,
You are a person!
A person with complexities and beauty so intricate and elaborate an artist would be baffled. No colors, no brush could begin to
paint your picture.
Shut up!
I am not being melodramatic.

But honestly how can they expect me to capture your essence in ten breaths or less?
It is an impossible feat.
You know what?
Today sucks!
Yea, even more then that day you told me.
Remember?
Of course I remember…

The blanket of grass was perfection. Instead of the wetness that April had accustomed me to there was a gentle coolness. It seeped through and was combated by the sun, a blanket of warmth. School had let out about fifteen minutes ago and already the ‘Lazies' of Roadhille High were getting a head start on their summer affairs. There were about twenty students already on the Hill not doing much but existing.

"Hey," you whispered to me "We need to talk, sleepover tonight?"
I grunted a yes at you, annoyed that my summer duties were being interrupted.
I could guess what the topic of discussion would be, apologizes.

You had been apologizing since you broke up with me six months ago.
It was unnecessary, I forgave you the moment you wronged me.
There was no time for me to hurt,
The pain I should have felt was found in your eyes.
"I'm gay. I'm sorry. I am so sorry."
Your apologies became a mantra that I wouldn't listen too.
I told you not to apologize.
Everything about you is beautiful, and this was a part of your identity, your being,
I loved you even more.
Copyright © 2005-2008 HEAR ME, Inc. All rights reserved.