From The Outside Looking In

She tried in vain to find at least one friend who wasn't out on a
date. She couldn't find one at home. She began to cry wondering why she
couldn't be out on a date too. What was wrong with her? She always
tried to be nice and kind. She then caught a glimpse of herself in her
mirror. Average at best she thought. She had ordinary black hair, brown
eyes and a smile that wouldn't exactly stop traffic. Being nice,
average and ordinary doesn't get you noticed. You can have a heart of
gold but unless it's wrapped in someone beautiful, it's useless.

She decided to go out for a walk in a nearby park. Everywhere she
looked there were couples walking hand in hand. A feeling of such
loneliness came over her. What she wouldn't give to be one of the
beautiful people.

She came across a path she didn't recall seeing before. It lead into
the woods. Maybe she could get lost. She decided to see where the path
would lead. She walked about a half mile when she saw the most
beautiful peacock cross her path. She followed it to see where it was
going. She couldn't believe what she found. This shouldn't be here. It
was like something out of a dream. How is it she hadn't found it
before?

It was the most beautiful park she'd ever seen. It was as if it was
hidden away from the rest of the world. There was a small pond just
ahead of her. In it, a swan was gliding graciously across the water.
Flowers were all around her. Flowers of such brilliant color and beauty
she couldn't believe they were real.

She made her way to the pond. What her eyes gazed upon next took her
breath away. The reflection in the pond brought her to her knees. It
was the reflection of a beautiful girl. Her hair was a brilliant black,
her eyes the most beautiful brown and her smile was perfect. It was her
reflection looking back at her. But the reflection was more beautiful
than she could ever dream of being. Tears began to fall. Now she was
what she's always wanted to be - beautiful.

She tried to touch the reflection to see if it was real. She was
startled when a hand reached out to stop her. When she looked up she
found herself gazing at the most handsome man she'd ever seen as he
knelt down and wiped away her tears. He was perfect in every way. His
hair was blonde, eyes were the bluest she'd ever seen and he had a
smile that took her breath away. He was everything she'd dreamed she'd
find someday.

He offered her a rose. He stood and offered her his hand. She took it
and rose to her feet. He shook his head and finally spoke, "You can't
stay here."

He started to lead her out but she pulled her hand away, "Why?"

"You don't belong here."

She hung her head. She thought she just didn't belong in a place this
beautiful.

"I don't mean what you're thinking." She was a little surprised that he
could read her thoughts.

"This place, it isn't real."

She walked back to the pond, "It's real enough for me."

She stood over the pond and gazed at the beautiful girl that looked
back at her. To look like her is all she's ever wanted. To be seen and
noticed instead of ignored. To no longer feel such loneliness? He stood
beside her. The picture they made in the pond was that of a perfect
couple.

He took her hand and led her to a park bench just a few feet from the
pond. "That girl already exists in you."

She just rolled eyes at what he'd just said. She's heard it all before.
"Don't tell me real beauty comes from within."

"But it's true."

"Well, in the real world beauty on the outside is all that
matters."

"Has anyone ever sent you flowers?"

She knew the point he was trying to make, "Yes."

"When they're beauty faded and they died what did you do with them?"
She didn't want to continue this conversation. She tried to leave the
bench but he stopped her. He asked more forcefully this time, "What did
you with them!"

"I threw them away! Just the way I'm thrown away all the time."

Her tears started again. He let her stand and walk away from him. She
stood beside a tall, magnificent tree just on the other side of the
pond. He brought her the rose she'd left behind. "If it's so much
better out there, why don't you leave?"

"I can't. I've stayed here so long if I do I'll die. If I stay here I'm
young and handsome forever. All the things I thought were important
when I came here."

"Am I here for you?" she asked.

"Yes"

"Then why make me leave?"

"I want a love that's real. Isn't that what you've always
wanted?"

"But when no one knows you exist."

"You have no idea why you're so lonely do you?"

"I do each time I look in a mirror" For the first time he raised his
voice to her. "No!" She was bit startled and taken aback.

"You have a heart with so much love to give and all it wants is to be
given to someone." His words broke her heart. He wiped her tears away
again, "But you can't just give a heart like yours to just anyone. It
will take a man who holds the key. And with it he will unlock a love
like none he's ever known."

"But" He interrupted her before she could finish, "You have friends and
a family that loves you, don't you?" She just looked down at the
ground. "Don't you?" She looked back up at him, "Yes."

"They love you for the person you are inside." She gasped a laugh,
"Friends and family are supposed to."

"No family has to. Friends don't."

She walked back over to the pond once again. If she could just be that
girl, just for one day she thought. He stood beside her, "Would that
one day make you happy the rest of your life?" She forgot he could read
her thoughts. She didn't have an answer for him. "It's time for you go
back."

"If the other world is so much better than this one, even if it means
dying, why do you stay?"

"To keep those like you from making the same mistake I made."

He took her hand and led her back to the bench. He sat beside her and
held her hand. He gently kissed it, "Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Just close them." She did as he asked. From behind her she heard him
whisper in her ear, "Okay. Open them."

When she opened her eyes she found herself back where she'd started.
She couldn't believe she was back in her world again. It must have been
a dream. She must have fallen asleep. She stood up and looked around.
She hung her head in disbelief but noticed something on the bench. It
was a single rose. A perfect single rose. She picked it up. Then she
was startled when she heard someone shout out her name.

It was one of the many male "friends" she had. One she happened to have
a little bit of a crush on but wouldn't dare tell him. He wasn't drop
dead gorgeous but he was the nicest person. "What are you doing here? I
thought you had a date with that cheerleader you've been after."

"Yeah, I did. I took her home already."

"It's a bit early isn't it?"

"Yeah, well you can't talk too long with someone who's dimmer than a
one watt bulb." She laughed because that's what she thought of her too,
"Like that really matters."

"Maybe not to most guys but it does to me. Looks aren't everything you
know." She was bit surprised. He then noticed the rose in her hand,
"And just what have you been up to missy?" She picked up on his
assumption, "Nothing. I bought this you jerk."

"Hey, you want to go catch a movie or something? Keep this night from
being a total loss for me."

"Me?"

"Yeah or do you already have plans?" She laughed at the very idea, "How
about a round of miniature golf? If you don't mind, losing to a
girl."

"See now you just had to go there. I was going let you win but now I'll
have to kick your ass." She really laughed for the first time that
evening.

They walked to his car and maybe now she finally understood. It's
what's on the inside that matters most. Long after beauty fades it's
all that remains. All that will matter most to those that matter to
you.
? Copyright 2004 Kris Lemmonds (UN: krislem at Writing.Com).