Parchment

A Story by ChibiKong

It was a boring day. The clouds were gray, and there was no wind. The streets were somber. Skyler walked down the road to catch his bus. A little boy with no shirt and scraggly black hair walked in front of him. This little boy reminded him of himself when he was young. His black hair was often too long for a boy, and was out of place, and he always found his clothes were too dirty to wear anymore so he would throw them off. Nowadays Skyler wore his school uniform proudly. He loved the contrast of the golden vest behind the black suit coat. His wavy hair was never out of place, and his big bright eyes yearned for learning.

Skyler watched the boys pace, and matched him. They were soon walking in synchronization. His consideration was abruptly broken when the boy took a turn and darted down an ally.

“Strange,” he thought, and followed the boy to see where he had run off to. Skyler turned down the alley and found a folded up piece of parchment. He picked it up and looked around. The little boy was nowhere to be found. He opened the folded piece of parchment and it read:

“I know your secret.” Skyler furrowed his brow.

“I have no secrets,” he thought out loud. Then, right there before his eyes, the words on the page disappeared, then reappeared saying something else:

“Yes, you do.”

He panicked and threw the note to the ground.

“Dont be frightened.” The words appeared on the paper.

“What on earth? This can't be happening.”

“But, it is,” the paper responded.

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re a liar.”

“What are you saying? I dont lie.”

“Skyler, you’re a female. I know. Does your girlfriend know?”

“Well, of course not, she would have never... wait a minute, how did you know about Abigail?”

“She is quite plain. Much like yourself.”

“I don’t care what you think, you’re just a piece of parchment. In fact, why am I even talking to you? Why am I still talking to you?” Skyler dropped the parchment to the ground and finished the walk to the bus. She stood, waiting. She was eager to get on the bus because she knew that Abigail would be waiting for her, saving a seat.

The bus finally came rumbling down the road, then came to a screeching stop. The doors of the bus flew open and the smell of the city filled Skyler’s nostrils. She hopped up onto the steps. She walked down the rows to the seat where Abigail sat. She took the seat next to her. Abigail was not plain in Skyler’s eyes. She was the most beautiful and modest woman she had ever met. He light brown hair was pinned back with two blue berets, revealing her shining brown eyes. Her sweater vest fit her perfectly, and unlike most girls at their school, her skirt came to her knees. Skyler gave her a peck on the cheek as she sat down. She wasn't fond of P.D.A. but she was too excited to see her. It was their anniversary and they had plans for after school.

“How are you, darling,” Abigail said with a smile. Her face was radiant, and her smile just so perfect.

“Wonderful, now that I’m here with you, my love,” she replied.

The bus ride felt shorter today than normal, maybe because of the excitement. It wasn't long until Abigail had to get off the bus at her school. Skyler hated that they went to separate schools. She often wanted to transfer schools, but her own school had many more opportunities for her. The bus came to a stop. Her school was just down the street from the bus stop.

She sat in her first period class and listened to the lecture. The day felt like it would never be over. Then, during her sixth period class, she got a text. It was from Abigail.

“Who are you?” it read. Skyler stared at it for a moment, then replied.

“What are you talking about? It’s me, Skyler.”

“Then why did you just tell me you were a girl?” the text read. Skyler’s heart skipped a beat. Her fingers trembled with fear as she typed back.
“I never said that.”

“You just sent me a text saying you were, and a new girl that transferred from your school told me that you were a girl as well. What’s going on, Skyler? Are you gay?” Skyler tried to think of something to say to her, but couldn't. Before she was even able to respond to the last text she got another one from Abigail.

“I don’t want to be with you any more.”

Skyler’s heart ached. It felt like someone had just thrown a brick at her chest. Why was this happening, today of all days? She left school, and instead of going to see Abigail,she went home. She walked home to avoid her on the bus. When she reached her home she shut herself away in her room. Opening her backpack, she pulled out a school book and opened it to that day’s lesson. A piece of parchment paper fell out of the book. It looked strangely familiar, like the piece of paper from today. She opened it

“She doesn't deserve you,” the paper read.

“How do you know?” she said to the paper, acknowledging that this paper could communicate with her.

“Because, she only wanted you as a man. If she truly loved you, she would have stayed.”

“What sense does that make? She feels betrayed, doesn't she? I lied to her.”

“Did you ever tell her that you were a male?”

“Well, no, I didn't, but I was still being deceptive. She has the right to not want to be with me. Besides, why does this little piece of parchment paper care so much about little old me?”

The paper went blank and there was no response

“Hello?” Skyler crinkled the paper in frustration, and tossed it at her wall. She rolled over in her bed, and lying there was a woman. A woman that looked like a goddess. The woman stretched her arm out and said,

“Because little old you belongs to me.”