Wind

Chapter 1: Light

Tristan never really talked much. In fact, she spoke one word, and that was "thanks." She always seemed teary eyed and fidgety. Her parents had tried everything to get her to open up. They had even told their secrets, their views on the situation, and pleaded she do the same. She had simply went to her room after the “conversations” were over. She’d met with the counselors of every one of her schools, been to multiple therapists, even been to a mental hospital. Rumor had it that someone tried to grant her asylum, but that was just between the schoolchildren.

She would often be seen running, running from the wind, she had told her diary. She felt the wind, even when it wasn’t there, and she knew that the breeze was the darkness that enveloped her. The little book of her life contained detailed images of her constant state. This was to be kept from everyone. Forever.

At this point, everyone had given up on her.

She knew people didn’t understand, but she knew exactly what was happening to her. She was becoming a monster, and it was all she could do to keep that at bay, even if it meant disconnecting from society. She just wished to be a good person. No one understood that. She was just anti-social to them.

Tristan let her head drop, letting soft, brown hair obstruct her vision. The teacher’s instruction became a quiet murmur barely crossing her mind. As she thought more about people’s view on her, the constant breeze became a blast. She could nearly see the air’s ghastly hands reach out and make her what she believed she was meant to be.

Her breathing quickened, she tensed, closed her eyes softly, but with a hidden terror. She needed to run. But she never had at school. There was something calming about the structure there that had kept the breeze hardly noticeable, that is, until now. How, she thought, would the teachers react? They certainly wouldn’t be happy.

That didn’t matter now. The monster was too close. She had to leave now if she were to stay sane.

Leaping from her seat, she darted, the darkness close behind. It clawed at her, and even scratched a few times, causing her pain without the battle scar. The wind had come back with a vengeance. She ran so fast she nearly stumbled multiple times.

She navigated through the halls faster than ever, but now she was running out of steam. Blood rushed through her head at an alarming rate. She felt a thumping deep in her ears. Her throat was colder than ice and dryer than a desert.

Finally, the wind went back to its original state, leaving Tristan winded and feeling like JELL-O. She stood there panting for several minutes and no one came for her.

Then she heard footsteps. That was the moment she realized she had broken the rules. One step closer to the monster, Tristan reasoned.

“What are you doing, Tristan?” the teacher asked, exasperated and out of breath from the chase, “Dang, you run fast.” The teacher was fairly young, with chestnut colored hair and a concerned look in his pale green eyes. He was unhurried, meaning he probably was on break or in plan time.

She looked at him, the apology clear in her face.

The teacher let the trace of a smile curl his lips, “Come on. Let’s get you back to class.”

He escorted Tristan back to class, and for the first time she felt like someone understood her. Why she felt this was elusive. Neither of them talked, except when the teacher asked which way her class was.

When they got back she glanced up and mouthed, “Thanks.”

The rest of the day went on as usual, boring and uneventful. For some reason, she went without consequences. Perhaps her mom had told the principal of her situation.

She got home after what seemed like an eternity. Instead of staying in her room that night she went outside into the near-spring surroundings. Dusk was still fairly far away, so she decided to take the risk of going for a walk. If much wind were to come up, she shuddered at the thought.

Nevertheless, she went. It was almost freeing to her; she was different today. Peace was so close, the wind so close to stopping, it was a rare moment. As she walked, she observed everything, absorbing it all in hopes that she would never forget it. She noticed each individual leaf on each individual tree. She saw the smallest mistakes in the placement of bricks and stepped over the cracks in the sidewalk.

As she turned a corner at a semi-hectic street, she saw the most intriguing sight of the trip.

Two people, obviously in love, but there was something wrong with it. They stood close, taking in the moment, just like Tristan was. Yes, she knew this type of relationship, and she’d seen it before, but never like this. This couple would do anything to be together. Indeed, forbidden love, her favorite kind. When everyone wanted you to part, but it was impossible.

The couple kissed with a passion, but their deeper emotions weren’t visible, except to Tristan. It made something click in her mind. These people were dealing with the same problems that she was, just differently. They could deal with it, do what was right, and they were obviously with society; they wouldn’t have found love otherwise. Turning around, she realized she could, too. She’d seen her greatest battle with the monster she almost became.

With the realization, the wind calmed, then it finished its endless rage. Only the innocent spring breeze remained. She let herself feel what it was like to be truly free from the darkness. It was beautiful.

Her mind was finally clear, and she knew what she had to do. She ran home, not a frantic run, but a light one, like that of a gazelle. She scrambled into her house and desperately searched for her mom, who she found in the kitchen.

Tristan almost didn’t say anything out of habit, but she forced herself to break her curse once and for all, “Mom, I know I haven’t said this in a long time, but I love you.” Tristan gave her mom a grin, who relaxed like she hadn’t in years.

“I love you too.”