Hello Stranger

Somewhere Over A Moody Rainbow

There she was, snoring beautifully and loudly just like her paps, like a fire alarm, like an explosion in the sky. Lying flat with a bouquet of white damaged daisies that she loves so much since young on top of her chest. Skylar woke up to the sound of birds chirping with autumn leaves scattered around her in a nearby park. Her head was throbbing. It really felt as though a gigantic meteor rock just penetrated her head and crushed her brain cells. She started putting the empty alcohol bottles into the brown paper bag from last night's 'Confessions of An Alcoholic' session and threw it into a bin just beside the road. She then took out a cigarette from her jeans pocket and elegantly placed it behind her ear while searching for a cheap lighter in her backpack. Once found, she made magic with it as though the fag was a magic wand. Deeply inhaling the venomous yet happy chemicals and subsequently forming three circular rings of silver out from her mouth. 

Skylar had a shattered heart and an obvious broken smile. She dared herself if any passerby noticed her on the ground and took the initiative to say hi or wave, she would change herself entirely and be better. Sadly no one came. So she sat down on the thin wet grass and finished the whole box of 24 cigarettes as though it was a box of chocolates. She starts combing her red and purple hair naturally with her right palm as a gentle mild breeze rocketed at her. Slowly, she closed her eyes as sunlight penetrated right at her and she remained like that for a few minutes. She was hoping that it was God's way of showing her a sign that He had already listened to her story.

Once the ocean blue eyes were open, waves were crashing in the pupils and there was an old man on his wheelchair moving towards Skylar. He was smiling and waving at the same time. A well rounded man with the biggest pair of glasses in this whole universe wearing a Oakland Athletics cap, faded flamingo coloured T-shirt and brown pants. He had awfully dry skin covered with pure whitish salt moustache and eyebrows. ''Cigarettes are bad for ya kid,'' initiated the old man. 'It's breakfast sweetie,' she coolly replied. The old man was marveled by her answer while raising an eyebrow. He continued talking after a few seconds of pause. 'Oh so.. food! Like protein, carbohydrates yea? So the kids in Africa get to smoke up like a chimney right? to prevent hunger yeh? What on earth are they teaching you in school these days,' The Old man smirked while looking at the lake in front of them. 'I'm Peter by the way.' Skylar gave a huge smile and giggled a little. Skylar enthusiastically shouted ''PETER BITTER LITTER!'' and continued 'I'm sorry. It's a nice thing to do y'knw... for you to talk to me...and I am grateful for that.' 'You're acting as though no one talks to you before. I am glad you are,' 'Are you crying?' inquired Peter.

One great thing all humans have is the power to have emotions. Some say emotions are poisonous like a snake's venom, maybe because of a breakup in a relationship, a divorce in a marriage, a death of a mother, a car crash etc. The good stuffs are everywhere too-a mother laying her eyes on her first born, a child winning a 100m race, a teenage girl finally able to fit into her old pair of skinny jeans after 3 months of vigorous exercise. Well that's not on the news. Is that all to life? Less likely. On that Sunday afternoon, Skylar's tears were visible under the illuminating sun. The drop of tears looked like expensive see-through crystals.  She nonchalantly glanced at Peter and said ''Just an orphan lost in the real world with no hands to hold or heart to feel, Peter. It hurts so much that I feel so invisible...so insecure to others and sometimes it scares me that God is not listening to my prayers. I feel like I really wasted my life.' 

'Young girl, one thing I know about life is that you are gonna lose yourself numerous times throughout your priceless life and it is your duty to find yourself back again. No maps. No hints. Just a beating heart. That's all. Pick yourself up and stand on both feet. Do not waste a second of your lifetime feeling depressed or destroyed by the millions of reason what you are not and how life should be because life is unforeseeable. Accept your flaws because the imperfections are unique and beautiful. Just an orphan you say? So what? Work hard, fight the battle that's in front of ya and don't you dare try to raise the white flag in your heart. Every individual has their own bloody war. And the scars and death..it strengthens you. Fight for what is lost and love. So don't just say you're an orphan and unloved. Go out there and search for it. Find meaning in life.' expressed wisely and calmly by Peter

Skylar listened attentively at what Peter has to say and looked only into Peter's watery eyes when he was talking. She nodded after every sentence. Before leaving the wise old man said ''I hope you find the strength to pick yourself up when you are pushed to the ground. And about being in love... it is the most... frightening yet wonderful thing I have ever done in my life. To love someone, my soulmate. If he or she's the one, they will always find their way back to you in the end. Trust me. Peoples' version of someone being beautiful is manipulative. Make sure you define it clearly with no one else but you, got it? Good bye darling. Such a lovely day isn't it?' He gave that award winning smile again.

When it was over, she went over to hug him tightly like a cosy pillow and offered him a cigarette which he declined. She only said thank you because she didn't know what else to say. While walking back to the orphanage, she thought of that moment when the wind was blowing at her before Peter came along. Maybe it was God she thought. All she knew was she wasn't the same person as before and she did change to be better.