I sat on the bench alone. Orange leaves were everywhere. They surrounded me. They covered the ground, the concrete and the slick dewy grass. They engulfed the trees that should have been bare. It was almost gaudy. Almost like Mother Nature was boasting her power and spurning the Gods because they would dare make her domain dim and gray.

The clear morning fog was almost as prominent as the leaves. Everyday I see the same people with their family, friends, significant other, walk and smile. It's a gag-worthy sight. My lips quirk up to a slight smirk at the bitter-sweetness of it. I want to be noticed by these strangers. I want to be known. I want to be asked what's wrong for no one else would. None of the people who say they knew me. I'm not happy, but there is no reason to be so miserable. How wretched.

I waited for another hour, just waiting. Today was the day someone would feel something was wrong with me. I could feel it as I bundled up in the my autumn gear. The wind blew rustling some leaves that have long gone soggy and mushy under the dew. My sneakers were already damp from stepping in the puddles and leaves.

It was sad that I craved any one's attention, even that of a stranger. It was a pathetic thing to want. I played with the paper cup in my hands that was filled with coffee that had long gone cold. I gave up sitting there five minutes later.

On my way to the nearest Starbucks to get me another coffee, I noticed that people kept giving me odd looks. I know that I wanted someone to notice me, but I'm not sure that this kind of attention was what I wanted. Then again, what kind of attention did I expect to get? I caught my reflection in the window just outside the multimillion dollar cafe. My brown eyes were red, I haven't slept in days. My hair, a dark brown color, if only for the moment, was plastered to my face by sweat and tears. What a sight. This was stupid.

Soon another drink was in my hand and I was out of the cafe, when a burning sensation errupted from or in this case on my chest. My eyes wandered down to my coat-shit. My shrieks of pain were muffled by my scarf and were silenced as I noticed the person, who also wore a nice splotchy wet mess on their chest, standing in front of me.

"Oh I'm s-so sorry," my voice trembled as my eyes met his startling blue-green eyes. "Are you okay?"

They softened and smiled. "It's alright. Are you okay?"

"I'm glad now that I wore extra layers today," I smiled quietly to myself.

"I'm not talking about the coffee, but I'm glad you didn't get burned."

"Not the coffee?" I repeated, feeling a bit stupid after I realized that I did.

"You look really sad."

My unconscious habit denied my sadness to everyone, so I did. "I'm not sad."

"Well, you look it. And you are a terrible liar."

"Thanks?" Apparently I looked sad and pitiful.

"Look, do you want me to get you another cup? It was my fault we both got scalded."

I weighed my options. I did want-no need-a new cup of coffee. But what if this was some ploy? What if they were crazy? Someone who can look through this facade couldn't be that bad could they? My face might have revealed my thoughts because his smile turned sheepish as he scratched the back of his head.

"I mean you don't have to feel obligated to say yes or hang out with me or anything," he continued to look nervous.

"I don't accept things from strangers. So what's your name?" My eyes widened in surprise over what I had blurted. Never in my life has anything so bold has been said to someone I didn't know.

The boy's uneasy sheepish smile turned to one of calm. "Okay but you have to tell me your name."

"Fair is fair. You first."