Again, I’m here.

Walking along the path of this huge forest, during the night.

It’s dark. I can barely see the moon, hidden by the clouds in the sky. And It’s cold. I forgot to take my sweatshirt after the argument with my mother. To be honest, I was in a hurry.

But you know what ? I don’t care.

The wind blowing on my cheeks gives me chills all over my body but It makes me feel alive. Feeling alive, that’s all I need after all. Even if I’m alone and lost, I’m still here.

* * *

It’s been an hour now and I’m still lost. Does anybody wonder where I am ? I check my phone to see if someone tried to join me. My battery is low, I have to do it quickly. Maybe people are worrying about me.

No messages. No calls. Of course. Why did I keep this little piece of hope? Nobody cares about you, Sara.

Tears rise to my eyes. Not because I’m lost. Not because my battery is down. Just because even if I’m alive, I feel like I don’t have my place on this planet. Would the world be better if I just disappeared ?

I decide to sit down next to a tree. I take a deep breath and I try to calm down. When I close my eyes, I suddenly hear a voice:

• Hey, are you okay ?

Oh my god. I almost missed a heartbeat.

I look up and I see a boy. He seems to be a teenager, like me. He has a pale skin, with brown hair and a piercing dark gaze. He is staring at me and I’m kind of scared.

• I’m okay. Leave me alone.
• You don’t look well at all.

I sigh. Why am I always disturbed ?

• Mind your own business.

He shrugs before answering :

• I’m not here to bother you.
• Oh, really ?! (I say it ironically and I stand up.) Then why don’t you just leave me alone ?! Why do people talk to me only to annoy me ?! And when I need them, they just disappear instead of helping me ?!

Okay. I have to admit that I must have been rude to this stranger.

He doesn’t answer and takes off his sweatshirt. Oh my god, is he a rapist ?!

Maybe I’m really going to die tonight. And nobody will care. Nobody will be affected by my death.

I close my eyes, ready to accept my tragic fate, when I suddenly feel something on my face. A smell of perfume. Woody and spicy. I open my eyes and I realize that he just threw his sweatshirt in my face.

• What are you doing ?!
• Take it.
• What ?
• Well, you looked cold. I thought you would need it more than me.

Did he really notice my chills ?

I look at the sweatshirt and I grab it firmly, before hugging it against me. Again, I smell this woody and spicy perfume. A very good smell.

• Are you a fetishist ? he asks me.
• What ?! No !

I am embarrassed but It can’t be helped. For the first time, someone cared about me. While even my mother didn’t care of me for seventeen years, an outsider did. Even when I was so rude to him.

Some tears run down on my cheeks.

• Hey, why are you crying ?! I was just joking with you ! I’m sorry I didn’t want to offend you.
• No, no… It’s not you… I’m just so touched… Thank you… and sorry for my attitude…

I try to wipe away my tears and hide, but the boy walks towards me.

• My name is Adam. I recently moved to this area.

I look at him. He doesn’t look bad at all. No. To be honest, he is absolutely handsome.

• I’m Sara.
• Nice to meet you, Sara.

He smiles at me with his perfect teeth.

For the first time ever, I felt like life was finally worth living.