Paper Heart

Anne met the love of her life the day she got her heart broken. 

................................................................ 

A boy put the paper heart into his pocket and pulled out a pack of tissue. He handed it over a young girl.

"Here, don't cry anymore okay?"

 "..."

When Anne made no move to take the tissues or to speak, the boy wordlessly retracted his hand and Anne thought: He’s probably going to leave now.

But instead, the boy opened the pack of tissue, took a piece out, spread it open, neatly folded it in half, then proceeded to wipe away the tears on Anne’s face, gently, carefully, as if Anne were a fragile doll that would break with the slightest touch.

Taken aback by the boy’s actions, Anne could only sit there dazedly, obediently letting the other boy dry the wetness on her cheeks.

A grin spread itself across the boy’s face when he realized that the frown on Anne’s face had disappeared, and that she was no longer crying.

Holding the damp tissue in one hand, the boy stretched out his other hand and said,

“I’m Dave.”

Anne stared at the outstretched hand, then said hesitantly,

“Anne.”

And clasped the larger hand with her own chubby ones.

....................................................................

Two feet dangling helplessly over the edge of the wheelchair, Anne stared wistfully at the figures running across the field, soft soles treading lightly on the field of green.

Someone was ruffling her hair.

“Dave.”

Turning around to see the taller boy, Anne immediately put on the brightest smile she could muster. She didn't want to worry Dave anymore than she already did.

“Can’t fool me.” The older boy simply said, gently poking Anne’s forehead.

The girl in the wheelchair slumped in defeat, protruding lips forming a pout.

Dave bit back a smile and knelt in front of the wheelchair, his body facing the field, his back before Anne’s.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

Anne blinked.

“Why?”

“So you can smile again.”

“Huh?”

“Anne.”

Sensing his friend’s tone of finality, Anne wrapped her arms around Dave’s neck and clung onto it tightly as the other boy slowly stood up, lifting Anne with him, supporting the younger girl on his back, holding her in place by the legs.

And then Dave ran, as fast as he could, with Anne on his back, across the green, green grass, the gentle breeze caressing their faces as wisps of hair danced in the wind.

Though her feet never touched the ground, Anne ran, and then she was flying, her bubbly laughter ringing in the air, blending in with the currents, going up, up and above.

She didn’t need wings to fly.

Not when there was Dave.

..........................................................................

Fearful eyes brimming with tears, Anne sat on the pavement, her school bag lay on the ground, its contents strewn across the concrete.

Looming over the school bully, a black-haired boy glared at the cowering figure with such animosity.

“Stay away from her.”

Uncurling the fist that had landed with such force on the bully’s stomach, Dave turned around, wordlessly shoved the scattered items back where they belonged, slung the bag over his shoulder, took Anne by the hand and pulled her away, away from the bully. Away from danger.

Anne let herself be led away, because she knew that wherever she was, as long as Dave was there, she’d be safe.

But Dave hated violence. Gentle Dave who never lost his cool. He would never hurt anyone.

Yet Dave had punched someone, for her.

Touched, Anne felt a little moist around the eyes.

“Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”

Concerned, Dave immediately stopped walking; voicing his worry once he spotted the tears in the other’s eyes.

Anne lightly shook his head as she tightened her grip on Dave’s hand.

So safe and warm.

“Thank you.”

A barely audible whisper, but filled with unspeakable gratitude. (For saving me from the bully. For keeping me away from danger. For always taking care of me.)

But Dave understood, and Dave knew.

Squeezing Anne’s hand, he smiled.

“Anytime.”

 ..........................................................................

“Ilikeyou!”

They were in Dave’s backyard, kicking a worn soccer ball around when Anne suddenly blurted out words that she figured she’d have to say sooner or later.

Dave stopped in the middle of balancing the ball in mid-air with his knees to stare at Anne, and the ball dropped onto the grass with a small thud.

Silence.

Feeling incredibly uncomfortable with the sudden quietness, Anne fidgeted. “Um, is there a chance that, maybe, um, you’d fall for me too?”

The older boy smiled. “No.”

Flushing with embarrassment, Anne looked down and stared fixedly at the ground, feeling the familiar wetness welling up in her eyes. “I-I’m s-sorry, just um, justpretendIneversaidanythingand-“

“No, silly,” Long arms wrapped themselves protectively around the girl’s waist.

Confused, Anne turned her head around to look at Dave, whose head now rested on her shoulder.

“I’m not falling for you.”

“Then what ar-“

“I already fell.”

“Huh?”

“Ten years ago.”

 ................................................................................

Holding a heart-shaped paper in his hand, the six-year old Anne walked over to her crush and smiled shyly, “This is for you.”

The boy looked at her blankly, then wrenched the small paper from his hand, twisted it, threw it on the floor and stomped on it. Without another word, he walked away.

Anne blinked as she stared at the disfigured item on the ground. She started to cry.A boy with tousled black hair walked over, bent down to pick up the distorted paper, meddled with it to form a heart, then stretched out his hand, a small smile on his lips. “Don’t cry. Here, I fixed your heart.” He paused hesitantly as Anne peered up through her tears to look at him, then he whispered, 

“Can I keep it?”

 …………………………………………………………………………………………….

Anne thinks it’s really ironic how she met the love of her life the day she got her heart broken. 

But she wouldn't have had it any other way.

PS: Ini short story udah lama banget bikinnya dan baru berani ngepost sekarang. Semoga yang baca suka :)