Anne (c) Celestina

ANNE

"Anne! Anne!" Some one called from behind her.

She stopped dead on her tracks, suddenly shutting her eyes at the sound of her name. Or more specifically, the sound of her name from his lips. She breathed in a couple of times, trying to erase it from her head; trying to prevent "it" from happening again. But no, it was too late. It was starting to happen. Again.

Even with her eyes closed, she could somehow feel her surroundings swirl around her, engulfing her to experience that sensation she never wished to feel ever again. She felt it. Much stronger now, and it was like a black-hole slowly sucking her in.

"Anne!" the voice called again. And suddenly, all the swirling stopped. Her feet were now once again firmly planted on the sidewalk of their campus. Somehow, the voice that called her was different—higher just a bit; in fact, everything around her felt different.

She opened her eyes.

Looking around, it didn't seem like anything was wrong. The trees were, sadly, sort of bare having been cut recently; the grass in a new trim and the pavement of the street getting chipped at and bashed at by the pouring rains that had hit their area before. She squinted her eyes and looked at her side where a car was parked. Her reflection stared back at her with shoulder length-hair, a chubby face, a big red backpack over her small shoulders and a blue jug swinging by her left hand. Normal, she thought. But why did she feel somewhat different?

"Anne!" it called again; and this time, she whirled around to see who it was.

A boy, smaller than she was, was brisk-walking his way over to where she was standing, holding out something in his hand. He was slim, small and had rather pouting lips. His eyes were tired, but well-hidden behind his glasses.

But she simply stared at him. It was if she had never met this boy. As if she was just noticing him for the first time.

Then she remembered.

"Shane?" she asked, as if to confirm his name, "Are you okay? What's the hurry about?"

The boy, Shane, was still panting, "Nothing really. I just wanted to catch you before you got to your bus."

"Aww," she felt rather touched. "That was nice of you."

He laughed tiredly. Then he extended his hand, something was in it, "Here. Before I forget."

She extended her own hand to meet his. Opening her palm, she received the item.

It was, strangely, a tiny, tiny present. It was sort of wrapped in a pink and purple wrapping, the lid covered the same way with a golden bow resting on top of it. It was not because of the fact that the present itself was strange, but that she has never received anything like it.

She stared at it for a while. Then, looking up at him, asked, "What's this?"

And then she saw just the nicest smile. He laughed and crossed his arms, "a gift, of course."

"For…f-for…m-me?" she asked, just looking a bit more surprised.

"Who else?" he raised an eyebrow at her and flashed her a grin. "Well? Open it."

She looked at him with a bit of suspicion. "What is it?"

"You will never know 'till you open it."

And so she did. She put down her jug that was numbing her left arm and opened the tiny package. And in it was a pair of small sparkling earrings. She quickly looked up at him. "Are you sure this is for me?"

He nodded.

"R-really?" she was almost speechless.

He nodded again.

"But…" it was strange. This has never happened before. She was at the same time happy and…well, a bit nervous. "…why?"

Shane looked at her as if she was sick. Then he just smiled. "Because it's valentine's day...?"

They both stared at each other for a while. Then both just… laughed. At the same time. As if they had been connected for the longest time. It was a strange, new and yet very… happy feeling for Anne.

"ANNE!"

Her eyes flew open.

She looked around. It was the same place. Still rooted to the spot, she saw that the trees had already grown thousands of leaves, the grass had grown and so had flowers. The pavement was newly cemented.

She looked down at her shoes. They were different.

Quickly, she turned to her left where a car was parked. And once again, her reflection stared back at her. Her hair that once was just up to her shoulders now waved until almost her waist. Her face, although no longer as chubby was still there. She stared; looking at her purple backpack and was no longer carrying a blue jug but a smaller blue bag with books in it.

…normal? She asked herself.

"Anne!" the voice called out. And she whirled around.

A boy, about two inches taller than she was, was walking his walk calmly to where she stood. Holding out something in his hand. He was slim, tall and had pouting lips. His eyes weren't tired but were framed behind glasses.

And she…simply stared at this boy. Trying to remember if she had met him before.

Then she remembered.

"Shane," she said flatly. "What is it?"

he didn't say anything until he reached where she was. Then he said, "Oh, nothing really. I was just walking around. Headed to your bus?"

she nodded. "why?"

Simply, he shrugged, "oh, nothing."

"What's that?" She asked, pointing her free hand to the tiny thing he held in his hand.

He looked at his hand, "huh? Oh, yeah. Here."

He handed it to her, "before I forget."

She received it, taking it to her palm.

It was a tiny box. It was wrapped in gold with a red bow on the top. It seemed…so similar.

"What's this?" she asked.

"A gift, of course."

She looked at him suspiciously, her hands were trembling.

"Go ahead, open it."

She put down her bag that was numbing her left arm. She nervously, yet excitedly opened the lid.

In it, was the most beautiful necklace she'd ever seen. She was speechless.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

She looked up at him, "yeah. I do. A lot."

"Really?" he seemed eager and excited as well.

"Yes. Its so beautiful." A smile was forming on her face.

She almost laughed, "but…why are you giving this?"

He grinned, "because it's valentine's day…?"

Her heart did a leap. No, actually, a dozen leaps.

"You really like it?" he asked, as if he doubted his gift.

"Yes! Of course I do!" she smiled.

"Great!" he paused, "Do you think she'll like it too?"

She stopped in mid-breath. Then blinked once. Then twice.

"H-huh?" she asked, her smile faded. It faded way too quickly. "Pardon? D-did you say… "she"?"

He nodded. "yeah. Why? Who did you think it was for?"

She blinked again. Then slowly closed the lid, "Huh? Oh, nothing. Just…uhm…making sure."

Anne returned the gift to him, almost shoving it at him. "It's nice. She'll love it."

"You think so?" his face was hopeful.

"Yes." Now her voice was toneless. Then she picked up her small bag. "I have to go now."

"Aww," he said, "well…okay then."

She turned and started to walk away. Then she heard him say "Thanks a lot, Anne! You're the best!"

I was before.

After a few seconds of walking, she looked over he shoulder to see if he was still there. He was gone. Her heart sank; lower than anyone could imagine. But she continued walking. Tears welled up in her eyes, her vision clouded and her surroundings dissolved. Then, everything was literally, a blur.

Its hard to talk to someone you loved once. Someone you felt so strongly for. Its even harder to talk to someone you still love; someone you still do feel strongly for. But…so why does Anne do this?

It is a question even she cannot answer.

Because Anne…was…and is… ME..