Blinding light and a warm summer breeze never seem to lack in this place. Los Angeles the city of fame, tragedy and talent, the City of Angels I love and adore, my only home.
The big town engulfs its occupants in cold dealings and attracts wishful outsides with its glamour and promises of dreams. Not for you though, not for the likes of your burning auburn hair.
How long has it been since we met? I have simply lost track of time.
Timid yet strong was this girl of a beautiful fiery hair. Who said what to whom first escapes me but even then that little girl left an impression deeply embedded in the back of my head that has been impossible to get out.
It has been years since I met that girl though and as we both know, time can change many things. As the world moved so did you to it’s currents and shakes. The little girl I knew grew into a beautiful young woman. That was the time you first visited this town. Someone to reckon with yet still staying firmly attached to your father and your brother, why do you come and visit now?
I was shocked to learn that you visit me considering last time we talked… last few times we had talked you yelled and cut me off.
Sending your guardians away assuring them you’ll be fine I just stay silent looking at them. Surely they heard that small uncertainty in your voice that I had heard? They turn and walk as you sit down and face me. I smile as you talk and I see the faintest glimmer of your smile.
Who knew time flew so fast. A few hours have already passed and its time for you to depart. As you leave you put on a straight face making sure it is as stone, get up and as you turn you first drop me a poem. You make me promise not to read until you are long ways from me. I comply.
As I lay and see planes depart I read it and smirk at how sassy you still are and make me hone up to past mistakes. At the end though of it all you leave a P.S. promising you will visit again when you can.
Those words repeat like a broken record in my head as I look up once again to the sky wishing you a safe flight.
As time went on I would check up on you to see how you managed to be alive through what high school and the general teen mentality has to offer. No surprisingly you did very well.
I finally see that after what seems to be a lifetime the postal service delivered a letter I had written for you years ago. The long ago already huh? The little I knew is now eighteen years old.
I see you make word that you are going to visit. What fun I think to myself. I can see how she’s been doing all this time.
I myself have just been preoccupied with keeping my friend strong and his sister safe. She’s your age but boy is she so different from you. I’ve had to help her go through some heartbreaks and bad guys but she has learned to fight for herself and I am honestly proud of her.
My best friend has taken a long and rough path but he endured. Long yet successful, he is now a music editor and recognized in the business.
He and I go to the airport to pick you up. What a surprise it was that you asked not only to meet him but if he could show you and your boyfriend around town and be a guide of sorts.
As I see you arrive my mouth just drops. Out comes a girl that I cannot seem to believe can exist. Only the auburn hair and your deep gaze remain confirming that it is truly you.
A small bit of bickering shows that the man as he stands tall beside you eying defensively against my bud that he is the man you have chosen well.
On the drive to his place though he and my friend talk and they warm up to each other and I laugh at how an obvious bromance has come to take place. After dinner I go to rest as you make plans to visit my place tomorrow. I close my eyes and wait happily for time to pass on.
I see you guys arrive and I join your ongoing conversation. Your boyfriend walks with the excuse of getting a drink away while you have a private conversation with my best friend.
I cover my face in shame. You and him pass the time laughing at past mistakes and feats of mine. Though embarrassed I can only smile at both of your smiles.
Suddenly you ask for a private conversation with me and my best friend takes leave.
I wait as you look over your shoulder to hear what you want to yell at me. Yet as they both leave earshot I see you just stare at me. Unexpectedly I see tears form in your eyes slowly and you proceed to just say your foreseen angry rant, but after a while to ask forgiveness for what I don’t know but I just could hold you till you calmed down and you leave in your mans arms only after dropping another poem.
Once again it is just beautiful and I cherish it. I read your little note with an overwhelming sadness alas. You don’t know when you will be able to visit me again and most likely will not be any time soon.
Time passes quickly as ever and I have spent it taking care mostly of close friends in this big town. Now they have families of their own to look after and are all grown up.
Out of the blue I see you make word that after all this time you decided to come visit once again the city of angels.
I get ready for seeing you once again. When I sit there waiting for the passengers of the flight to disembark nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. A piece of Rodin’s marble statue collection had escaped. This woman before me couldn’t be that timid girl I had met. Age had not touched her face or skin. This struck me cold in awe.
Behind this figure that shined came the hardened face of the man who persisted till he became no less than her husband. Trailing after him like a parade of fire came two boys and a little girl that clung on to you.
Your family is introduced and it is a pleasure meeting them all. They all give me a quick hi and a small present before they run quickly away to the car leaving my place. Once again though like it has become custom in your few visits came down to only being you and me.
The small history class you lecture me happens quickly and I feel again time creeping up behind us slowly but surely.
All this time had passed and yet habits and talent seem to never die. This poem differs from the others making me suspect it will probably be the last one I’ll ever get from you.
I wave goodbye wondering if that was the last time I’ll ever see you.
Time is slow and yet very steady at the helm. I have grown weary of walking this planet for so long and yet one last wish comes to me as I see there has been word of one final visit from you.
The world it seems has changed and the once auburn hair now shines with it’s silver streaks waving in the wind. Time has liked you and treated you well. I see you with my weary mind approach with now just your daughter who resembles you greatly and grandchildren whom must adore you.
This time I simply knew, knew that this was your final visit in the prick warm and cheery summer weather of the city of angels. Last time I’ll see you walk towards me.
You sit and talk to me. You had lived a long full life and sadly outlived many, including your now late husband.
Suddenly you kneel beside me. I look down and see you wipe off some last dust from my name. You had brought some beautiful flowers for me and tell my grave that you wish I had found peace somehow.
Tears trickle down my face at these words because I know I tried to redeem all the pain I caused long ago by my actions.
It pained me to see you return yet I lingered here hoping just to see you maybe.
As you walk saying goodbye I read your final poem. The side note this time was simple and plain. See you in a little bit of time. I saw and made sure I helped as I could those I had. Nothing left here for me, I just see the warm sun engulf me. I had no reason to stay anymore. I will wait for you but I do tell you now I pray you arrive very late.
We may have never met truly little auburn girl but my life; a life without you was ended too soon by my rash actions. I wish to thank you for keeping me somewhere in your heart and I am so sorry for all the pain I have caused but though the light takes me now I just know, my fiery long lived friend that you won’t go without a fight.
What I am most happy about though is that even through all the time and changes it brings you did not. You are still that girl that has imprinted herself in my mind and only got stronger.
Change comes but you showed that even if it does you can always be yourself.
-Submitted by martinpp
