chapter 3

(Zoë POV)

The next day I had English. I was excited, but I felt a bit awkward too. Ì felt good yesterday, for one of the first evenings the past few months. To be honest didn’t I care that I felt that way because of a teacher.

English was one of the last classes. I couldn’t wait and kept looking on the clock. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Lisa asked. ‘Nothing, I just need to go to the toilet’ I lied.

After what seemed a week we had English. Mr. Lewis looked nice, with another jeans and a blue shirt. I felt my heart skipped a beat. Stop it Zo I said to myself.

‘Good afternoon. For those who don’t already know me, I’m Mr. Lewis. I already know some of you, but I don’t know any other names. I hope I’ll learn them soon’ he said with a little grin. His laugh was so beautiful, he almost looked like a god.

‘This theme we are gonna write and read poems. You also will read some poems you’ve written out loud.’ He said. I really liked to write poems, and I’m sure I can write some. ‘I will give you a little assignment so you get a little help with the topic. First pick your favorite color and then write down at least 5 words you relate to this color’ he said. This could be a fun assignment. ‘Does it have to rhyme, sir?’ I asked. ‘Of course not’ he answered.

Fine, I could start. Favorite color: red. Words related to this color: Love, anger, fire, warmth, tears, blood… I could pick ‘fire’ as topic, about a candle light, flames. Words came I n my head and I quickly wrote them down;

Life is like a candle light to me

The candle is your life

The flame is your strength

And the flame is quiet flexible

When you blow a little the flame moves

It doesn’t matter how often you blow

The flame will always turn back

The flame will always rise again

But when you blow too hard

The flame will lose strength

The flame can’t fight anymore

And the light turns off

‘I don’t know what you expect from me, but I won’t read my poems out loud.’ I said after the class. ‘They are way too personal’ I explained. ‘I understand, but you’ll have to. Don’t you have a poem you feel confident with to read out loud? What did you wrote today, for example?’ he asked it. I let him read it. ‘Hmm, maybe you can read this one out loud? For people who don’t know your story it doesn’t mean a lot. Maybe people will think it’s about your brother, but not about the other stuff.’ He said. ‘hmm, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ll write a better one’ I said.

He was so kind and so perfect. I needed to get out, before I would do something stupid, like kissing him. ‘I… I have to go. My friends are waiting’ I said.

(Mr. Lewis pov)

‘I… I have to go. My friends are waiting’ she said. I wanted to ask if she could stay. I wanted to be around her a little longer. ‘Sure, see you tomorrow’ I said.

A few weeks passed by and nothing really happened. I spent some time with my friends, had classes and I had little talks with my mentor students. I still thought about Zoë. I shouldn’t do, but I can’t stop it. She is so strong and so beautiful. I constantly feel the urge to hug her, to kiss her and to have her close to me. She acted so much older than her classmates when no one else is around. I always forget she’s 5 years younger.

Today was the day some students would read out loud a poem, like Zoë. I was excited to hear it, but I knew how hard it is for her. Zoë was the last one. She calmed herself and started to read with her clear voice:

I’ve seen a lot in my life before

I walked next to ravines

I climbed up to the top

And I ran down the mountain

Sometimes climbing is heavy

Sometimes I just want to hold place

But there are things I know

And I keep remembering it

The sight at the top is worth everything

Every tear and every little step

To keep enjoying the sight

You will need to go down sometimes

It was short, but beautiful. It said something about her strength. She sounded so wise and clever. The class was quiet when she was done.

‘Well done’ I said when the bell rang. She nodded and walked out quickly.