《You and I》


 Lost in Her

    As I stroll down the streets of San Francisco, memories of Sarah flood my mind. She was the only girl who had captured my attention in a long time. She was both beautiful and quiet, and I had never heard her voice. I remember the moment when David, my best friend, asked her if she had an extra pen. "Yes, here," she said. I turned around and scanned the entire classroom until my eyes landed on her. She looked like an angel with her blonde bob cut an orange coat draped over her shoulder and a green plain skirt over brown boots. As I watched her hand him a pen, I couldn''t help but feel a pang of nervousness. I wanted to say something to her, strike up a conversation maybe, but my shyness got the better of me. I considered asking my friend David for advice, but just as I was about to approach him, the bell rang and she left with her friend. I wondered if she might be heading to the cafeteria, but then I saw her walking out through the gate. Before I could gather the courage to follow her, she was already gone. I eventually caught up with David and asked, "Hey, do you know that girl?"


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    "Why Ethan?" David asks, looking at me expectantly.


    I hesitate for a moment before responding, "Umm, nothing."


    "Hey, Ethan, I get it. Sarah''s caught your eye, huh?" David says with a smile. "Look, I''ve been there, man. But here''s the thing, I''ve seen the way she looks at you. She''s not like the others. You''ve got something special with her. My advice? Don''t wait around. Go talk to her. Trust me, I know when a girl''s worth it, and Sarah? She''s worth it. Don''t let someone else sweep her off her feet before you get the chance to show her what you''ve got."


    I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment as David reads my thoughts like an open book. But deep down, I know he''s right. Sarah is the one I''ve been crushing on for months now, and I can''t deny the fact that I feel a special connection with her that goes beyond just physical attraction.

 Page 2:Her Secret

    "Sometimes I lose my mind


    And some days it''s hard to find


    The reason why you stay by my side you and I


    Break our hearts open in half


    Just to see if I will put them back


    No matter what they try I''ll


    Stay by your side it''s you and I"


    "ahh, what are you doing?"David asks


    "I am just singing a song. You always do that Don''t you? I ask


    "I do but I have never seen you do that, "David replies.


    ''I always do that maybe you have never noticed"I lie.


    I try to end this conversation there and turn towards the classroom.


    "Nice choice by the way," David says from behind. I know what he meant by that. ( Yesterday Sarah was talking to her only friend Katherine about that song and she said"I only have a few songs in my playlist and it''s one of them"


    That voice. It used brings a warmth up my chest. I always wished my voice was that melodious.


    "What the name of that song again" Katherine asks.


    I try to listen more carefully"It''s You and I by Culture Code and Alexis Donn" Sarah replies


    I quickly note it down and the bell rings. Sarah leaves with her friend and I follow her. I had decided that I would talk to her today. As I left the classroom, I saw Katherine entering the washroom.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.Ah, great now I have to wait here for 5 million years. I stand near a pillar in front of the girls'' washroom and after waiting for 15 minutes Katherine leaves the washroom.


    "Finally, I wonder what takes them so long, "I say. I quickly noticed that Sarah wasn''t with Katherine. I catch up to Katherine and ask."Do you know where Sarah is?"


    "She left for home 15 minutes ago, "Katherine replies. I try to hide my frown and go to the cafeteria and sit next to David.) "Not singing the song anymore?"I was so lost in thoughts I didn''t realize David was right next to me"Why would I she isn''t here today, "I say not realizing what I just said.


    "Aha, I knew you were listening to that song because of her"David exclaims. Ah great now he knows everything."Why did she leave so early every day?"I ask David.


    "How am I supposed to know? She lives far from (CCSF). Maybe she gets late if he spends a lot of time here."David says. I was completely shocked to hear him say that."You know where she lives?"I ask with excitement."Yeah but don''t get too excited. She lives in Oakland."He says. Oakland. Why does she come from Oakland to CCSF? I stood up and left for my home wondering why she came from Oakland to CCSF because there are colleges in Oakland too. I wonder why.

 Page 3:Reunion

    "Hey, are you okay?" my mom asked as I walked in through the door. I didn''t even realize I was home until she spoke.


    "Huh? Oh, yeah. I''m fine," I lied. I wasn''t fine at all. My mind was racing with thoughts about Sarah. Why did she come from Oakland to CCSF? Was she trying to escape something?


    I sat down on the couch and closed my eyes, trying to clear my head. My mom sat down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder.


    "You can talk to me, you know," she said.


    I opened my eyes and looked at her. She was right. I could talk to her. But did I want to? Did I want to tell her about Sarah and how I felt about her? Did I want to tell her about my struggles with finding my place in the world?


    "I just...I don''t know, Mom," I sighed. "I feel like I''m stuck in this limbo. Like I don''t know where I''m going or what I''m doing."


    My mom nodded understandingly. "It''s okay to feel lost sometimes. It''s okay to not have all the answers right now. Just remember, you''re not alone. We''re here for you."


    I smiled weakly at her. Her words were comforting, but they didn''t erase the questions and doubts that were still swirling around in my head.


    "I know, Mom. Thanks," I said.


    She gave me a reassuring pat on the back and got up to start making dinner. I stayed on the couch, lost in my thoughts. Maybe I just needed some time to figure things out for myself. Maybe Sarah was going through some hard times. All I knew was that I wanted to talk to her and find out.


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    I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn''t see a girl walking and I bumped into her. "Sorry, I didn''t see you..." As I was about to finish my sentence, my jaw dropped after seeing her face.


    "Sarah! What are you doing here and what happened to you? You moved to New York with your parents, didn''t you?" I asked her. She wasn''t in good condition. She was wearing a jacket that was torn from the sides and looked like it was discarded into a trash bin.


    "Ethan," she said my name with such pain in her voice. Her eyes filled with tears and she hugged me and started crying. She wasn''t in a good condition.


    "Not here on the streets, Sarah. Our reunion deserves a better place. Let''s go to my home; it''s not too far from here." She didn''t say a word. She continuously cried in my arms, and after some time, she said, "I was heading to a domestic violence shelter." My heart began to race when I heard that and saw a mark on her forehead.


    "Where did you get that mark?" I asked. "We can talk about it later. I just wanna leave these streets right now, please," she pleaded.


    I took a deep breath, and we started walking towards my home. After a few minutes, I saw my car parked at a distance. As we were walking towards the car, I noticed that something was wrong with her leg.


    "Maybe we should head for a hospital first. You don''t look in good condition. It''s not far from here."As I said that I could see the fear in her eyes but I didn''t ask anything. We sat in the car and left those streets.

 Page:4 Arrival

    As we arrived at a house that Sarah didn''t recognize, I felt a knot form in my stomach. Her confusion was evident as she asked, "Ethan, where are we? You said you lived alone. Isn''t this your girlfriend''s place?"


    "No, no, it''s my sister''s house. She''s a doctor," I explained, hoping to ease her concerns with the truth.


    "I''ve told you, Ethan. Doctors and hospitals are not for me," she protested, uncomfortable with the idea.


    "It''s just a quick visit, I promise. She has a clinic here at home," I reassured her, stepping out of the car. Sarah followed, albeit reluctantly. Rose welcomed us warmly, but her demeanor shifted to professionalism as she led us to her home clinic.


    "What''s happened to her, Ethan?" Rose asked, her voice full of concern.


    "Yeah, she''s having trouble walking," Ryan added, holding Eva, who reached out to me with her tiny arms. Holding my daughter close, I felt a moment of peace amidst the chaos. "How was your day with Aunt Rose and Uncle Ryan?" I whispered to Eva, finding solace in her innocent gaze, which mirrored Mia''s. Mia, who had left us just 14 months prior, after Eva''s birth, left a void in our lives.


    Inside, Rose''s clinic felt like a sanctuary. When she emerged, her expression spoke volumes. "Sarah is covered in marks, Ethan. Signs of a troubled home. It''s possible she was abused," Rose shared, her voice heavy with concern.


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    "That can''t be. Nathan isn''t like that. Did she say anything about her situation?" My words were rushed, propelled by my racing heart and swirling thoughts.


    "Right now, she''s resting. And Ethan, she''s asking for you. She''ll speak only with you," Rose informed me, her tone gentle yet firm.


    The gravity of Sarah''s situation and her silent suffering weighed heavily in the air. As I made my way to the guest bedroom, Sarah was in the washroom. When she came out, I asked her how she was feeling."I am good and who is this girl in your arms?" she asked."It''s my daughter"I reply.


    She gives Eva a quick smile and sits in the armchair.I sit in the armchair next to hers and I ask her the first question."What happened Sarah?Nathan is not like that.Who did this to you?".She looks down at her knees and starts fidgeting with her hair.I stand up,squat next to her and


    looked into her eyes."If you want to take some time before opening up I am okay with that.I want you to know that I am here for you whenever you need me."I stood up and started walking out of the room hoping she to call me from behind but she never did until I was at the door.I stand there for a second and then leave.

 Page 5:Getting closer

    "Hey, have you spoken to her?" Rose inquires.


    "Umm... No, she seemed like she wanted to say something, but then she hesitated," I respond.


    "Eva looks so sleepy. Let me take her; I''ll put her to bed," Ryan offers, gently taking Eva from my arms. Remarkably, she remains asleep as Ryan carries her to his daughter''s bedroom.


    "How''s my niece doing?" I ask Rose, who is busy stirring something in a pot for dinner.


    "She''s doing fine," Rose replies.


    Shortly after, Ryan returns from the bedroom, now with his daughter Morgan in his arms, who is crying.


    "She just fell asleep; how did she wake up?" Rose questions.


    "My phone rang while I was putting Eva to bed, and it woke her up," Ryan explains.


    "Hand her over. You took my daughter to bed, now I''ll take care of yours," I say, taking Morgan into my arms. Settling on the couch, I hold Morgan close to my chest.


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    "You''re the only one who can get her back to sleep," Rose observes.


    Just then, Sarah comes out of the room and asks, "Whose daughter is that?"


    "She''s Rose''s daughter," I reply.


    Sarah slides closer to me on the couch, gently cradling Morgan''s tiny hands in hers.


    "She''s so tiny and adorable. I wish I had a daughter like her," Sarah murmurs wistfully.


    From the kitchen, Rose''s voice calls out, "Hey, Ethan, can you come here for a moment?"


    Before I stand, I turn to Sarah, offering, "Would you like to hold her?"


    "Umm... okay," she hesitantly accepts. Carefully, I transfer Morgan into Sarah''s arms, and remarkably, Morgan continues to slumber peacefully even after the shift. Standing, I head towards the kitchen, intrigued by Morgan''s ability to stay asleep in Sarah''s embrace.


    Approaching Rose, I ask, "Yeah, what''s up? Why did you call me over?"


    Rose looks up, a hint of seriousness in her eyes. "I wanted to ask you something,"

 Page 6 :Diving into Memories

    "Dinner''s ready," Rose''s voice called out, pulling me from my thoughts. I rose from my seat and made my way to the dining table, still mulling over Rose''s earlier question. Just half an hour ago, she had dropped a bombshell: "Sarah is the girl you talked to with Mom in college. How do you know she''s the one?"


    Settling at the table, Ryan took the seat beside Rose, leaving me to sit next to her. Before I could even pick up my fork, Ryan''s curiosity sparked a conversation.


    "So, how did you two lovebirds meet?" Ryan''s eagerness was palpable.


    Rose intervened, playfully nudging Ryan. "Let them eat."


    Ryan persisted, "I want to know!"


    "It''s not too complicated," Sarah chimed in.


    "Why don''t you start, Sarah?" I suggested.


    Sarah shook her head with a warm smile. "No way, you''re the better storyteller," she teased, casting a knowing glance my way.


    Feeling a surge of affection, I began the tale. "She was my classmate, quiet yet captivating. I wasn''t exactly experienced in matters of the heart, so I spent months unsure of what to do."


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    "That''s why you were taking advice from David," Sarah interjected playfully.


    "Who''s David?" Ryan''s curiosity peaked.


    "He was a friend with a colorful romantic history," I explained, suppressing a smirk. "Anyway, after numerous failed attempts to approach her, I finally mustered the courage, with a little push from David. But Sarah always seemed to slip away before I could say anything."


    "Why did you leave early, Sarah?" Ryan asked innocently.


    Sensing Sarah''s unease, Rose stepped in smoothly, "That''s a story for later, honey. Let Ethan continue."


    I offered Rose a grateful nod and continued, "After countless missed opportunities, fate intervened. Sarah, Andrew, and I found ourselves stuck together for a group project."


    Sarah picked up where I left off, "We were headed somewhere in the same bus when..."


    Suddenly, Rose glanced at the clock. "It''s already 11:30 pm. We better pause the story there and continue another time."


    Ryan sighs and says."I wish we could hear more".

 Page 7:Midnight Confessions

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    The memory of the day I planned to propose to Sarah still haunts me. That day, my world crumbled when she introduced me to Nathan, revealing a three-year-long relationship I knew nothing about. "Afnan, meet Nathan, my fianc¨¦," she had said, her arm looped through his. Nathan extended his hand, and I shook it, masking my devastation with a forced smile before excusing myself to find David.


    "I lost, bro," I confessed to him.


    "What do you mean ''lost''?" David questioned, puzzled.


    "She''s engaged," I said flatly.


    "Who? Sarah? To whom?" he pressed.


    "That guy with her," I answered, feeling a lump in my throat.


    David''s offer came from a place of loyalty, albeit misplaced. "You want me to take care of him?"


    I shook my head. "No, her happiness is what matters."


    David scoffed, "Bro, this isn''t some drama or movie where you nobly step aside."


    "Even if I were to confront him, and Sarah found out, it wouldn''t change her feelings. Why would I want her to hate me?" My words were heavy with resignation, knowing that the right thing was often the hardest. My loyalty wasn''t to pride or retaliation but to Sarah''s happiness, even if it meant standing in the shadows of her life with Nathan. Three long years had passed since the incident during our school project, and throughout that time, David had been urging me to propose to her. If only I had heeded his advice sooner. Instead, I waited for the perfect moment, oblivious to the ticking of time until opportunities slipped through my fingers, leaving me with regret as my only companion. That day, I learned a harsh truth: no perfect moment exists. You seize the moment and mold it into perfection.


    But by the time I realized this, it was too late. With a heavy heart, I retreated to the solace of my home, focusing all my energy on completing my semester and earning my graduation. In the midst of it all, I distanced myself from both Sarah and David, burying the pain of what could have been beneath the weight of unfinished dreams.


    After graduation and my buddy Peter, I decided to take a shot at this whole business thing. We had this idea, you know, something we believed in, something we thought could make a difference. So, we rolled up our sleeves and dove right in.


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    It wasn''t smooth sailing, not by a long shot. We hit roadblocks, faced setbacks, you name it. But we didn''t let that stop us. We had each other''s backs, pushing through the tough times with grit and determination.


    And you know what? All that hard work paid off. Our company started gaining momentum, our idea started to take shape. We poured everything we had into it, fueled by our shared vision and passion.


    Then, bam! It happened. Our company blew up and became a big deal practically overnight. Me and Peter, were millionaires, living the dream we''d always talked about.


    Lost in a haze of thoughts, I watched as Eve''s cries pierced through the silence once again. Suddenly, Sarah emerged from her bedroom, offering to soothe our restless little one. I handed Eve over to her, grateful for the relief, and Sarah disappeared into her room with the babe in her arms. Left alone with my thoughts, I sank into the couch, exhaustion pulling me under.


    When I woke, startled by the darkness of the room, I checked the time¡ª2 am. As I gathered my bearings, I noticed Sarah''s bedroom door ajar. Intrigued, I ventured inside, finding Eve cradled in Sarah''s arms, their peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the chaos of my mind. I took a seat in the armchair, bathed in the soft glow of the room, and watched them, their connection palpable.


    "Wake up, sleepyhead," Sarah''s voice broke through the silence, offering me a cup of coffee. Gratefully, I accepted, my curiosity piqued. "Where''s Eve?" I inquired.


    "She''s with Morgan," Sarah replied, settling into the armchair beside me.


    "Wanna talk?" I ventured, sensing her hesitation. I set my coffee aside, reaching for her hands.


    "You can open up to me, you know. I might be able to help," I offered gently.


    Her resolve wavered, and she nodded hesitantly. "Okay, ask me what you wanna know," she consented.


    Taking a deep breath, I broached the delicate topic. "You did this to yourself?" I asked, my heart aching at the tears that welled in her eyes.


    A solitary tear trailed down her cheek as she nodded. "Nathan," she whispered, her voice barely audible.


    "Don''t cry," I murmured, offering her comfort. "Just tell me what happened."


    And then she poured out her heart, her pain and anguish raw and palpable. My heart clenched at the thought of her suffering. "Hey, listen to me closely," I interjected firmly. "Giving someone a second chance is like giving them another bullet because they missed the first one. It''s up to you now."


    With those words, I left her to wrestle with her demons, the weight of her turmoil heavy on my mind. As I stepped out into the night, the chaos of my thoughts threatened to overwhelm me, but I knew that some battles were meant to be fought alone.