By Juhi Saini, 9D

I stood barefoot upon the glistening sand. The last rays of the sun brushed upon me as the omnipresent thunderclouds soon engulfed it completely. Rough crests of water kicked my feet as my hands opened the letter I had received from school.

Therapy. They wanted me to do therapy. It had been two months since my parents had left this world, my world, and they had wanted me to do therapy. Tears rolled down my cheeks as thunder boomed around me.

All my friends had left me, thinking I was a "bad influence", but now I longed for them the most. I walked back home, letting my thoughts and fears get to me.

I swung the door open and the familiar scents of books devoured me. With my parents gone, I had to manage the town library by myself now. It was my home. I closed and bolted the door as water droplets pattered, bashed and slapped the window sill.

I poured some milk into my mother's favourite turquoise cup, sat on my dad's favourite crimson red chair and took a deep, long breath. Salty droplets resurfaced my eyes as I told myself, reassured myself, lied to myself that it would be alright, that I could do this.

The next day, a rude knock upon the door woke me up. I got up from the chair and rushed to the door, avoiding the heaps of books lying upon the dusty floor.

I slowly opened the door and found myself facing a boy of my age, brown messy locks of hair covering his forehead. His eyes matched his hair but had this unearthly glow, full of light. He wore a pastel blue shirt with denim black jeans.

"Are you open?" he asked with a shimmering smile on his face. My lips couldn’t form any words at the moment so I nodded a ‘yes’ and stepped aside to let him in.

He strode in confidently to the fiction section, picked up a book, sat upon the wooden musty floor and flipped it open. I observed him for fifteen minutes, then disappeared into the kitchen to make myself some coffee.

I don't know what made me come out with two cups. I handed one to him and he gave me another smile.

 “Thanks! My name is Alec by the way,” chirped Alec.

 “Olivia,” I replied while taking a seat next to him. I didn't mind the dust on the back of my jeans, anyway. I closed my eyes for a moment, pushing aside the easy darkness it allowed me to fall into. “I don't need any help,” I told my shattered heart and my annoying brain.

I opened my eyes and let them meet the pretty brown ones, sitting next to me. He closed his book and we talked. About the most randomest things, yes, but we talked.

We talked about books and dogs and green apples and waffles and cities and stars.  It felt nice.

Then, he asked me where my parents work.

I told him and surprised myself by not crying or falling into a black void. He then surprised me by giving me a hug and asking me whether I wanted to go to the beach. I looked at the clock. It was 6.30 pm. I looked back at his deep brown eyes. It was astonishing how quickly time passed on when I was talking to him.

I nodded and slipped into the kitchen to steal a few cookies. He waited for me by the door as I wore my yellow sneakers.

Our footsteps echoed on the cobbled street as we walked in silence. No clouds were present today and the sky was filled with radiant orange hues.

Serene ripples reflected the dipping sun in the horizon. Alec took my hand in his and we watched the sun disappear and a tapestry of stars form, taking their time.

For the first time in two months, my face adorned a smile and I looked over to Alec. He smiled back at me and I let myself be pulled out of the blackness.

I might have required some help, but not anymore.

I had been rescued.