The cool air is like a blanket, comfortable yet familiar. I am riding my bike down the city sidewalks whizzing past business owners in spotless suits and ties. When they see me they jump out of the way and give me evil stares. I am so tired of people stereotyping me just because I am a teenager. My tires don’t stop, they get faster. My hair is moving in the wind making the back of my neck shiver.

I continue riding until I reach a forest I’ve never seen before. The trees are like curtains hiding what’s inside. I hop off my bike and hit the kick stand. I walk closer to notice that there are willows guarding the entrance. To force of habit, I become absent minded and slowly inch into the forest. The willow foliage is soft yet foreign. My eyes look up to see a small boy sitting on a log. He looks up and covers his face in his hands. I can tell that the boy has blond hair, hazel eyes like me, and he is wearing a jacket. He stands up and runs deeper into the suspicious forest. Adrenaline kicks in and I dart after him

He sits down underneath a willow tree escaping the eyes of everyone, besides me. I stroll over to him and I sit down. When our gazes meet, I can tell he is around my age and definitely not a child. His irises begin to turn purple. The hazel and the purple glide side by side in what seems like rivers then the green disappears.
“Don’t look at me, I’m a freak.” He turns away from me in shame. His voice stuns me, I like it.

“No you’re not, who told you so?” I question. My mind is now spinning realizing the mistake I made.
“The people.” He whispers. My confusion must have been noticed because he continues. “They talk to me, they are everywhere. Each day I walk this place to leave society and they follow me. They are here now, they are laughing at you.” I turn my head to see through the willow’s vine like leaves. Nothing is there.

“It’s okay. I know I don’t know you but I can surely help.” I mutter. The corner of his smile smiles the slightest even in his pain. He stands up and reaches his hand towards mine. I accept it and I stand up. We walk even further into the forest and we stop in front of this old looking water well with old looking stones around the base.
“My name is Ethan.” He says. “Who are you?”

“My name is Stephanie. So what can I do to help you with this predicament?” He points at the water. In the refection, there are demons hovering over our heads. My scream surrounds the air entirely. I turn around and nothing’s there.
“They found us.” He barely speaks. He spins around to a log right next to the well and pulls on a branch stub. A secret door emerges and he pushes me in. I feel like I am falling endlessly in this path I’ve never encountered. I hit the ground hard on my stomach, groaning in agony. He is not long after me and he lands on his back. We both moan in pain together.

“After all this time I still haven’t learned how to fix that.” He gasps. We stand up and I face him. His eyes are sparkling like diamonds in light. I get lost in them then I regain focus.

“I don’t think you are telling me the whole truth Ethan.” I manage to say. He frowns. We stroll around the room looking at the underground room we have fallen in. In the corner there is a bed and some selves with books on it. I look at the walls and I see paintings. These paintings are gorgeous. I move my view across the entire room. Each work of art is unique yet sentimental. Words can’t describe what they look like.

“The people make fun of me for something Stephanie.”
“What is it?” I blurt out.
“They laugh at my appearance and call me hideous. They make fun of my eyes. But most of all they tell me that no girl will ever like me.” His face saddens.
“Ethan, you must be blind because I love you. You are the guy I have always wished for.” I say with my heart beating fast and uncontrollably. I begin to blush and he steps closer to me. His face brightens and he speaks in a soft voice.
“Can I keep you?” he whispers. I smile big and give him a hug in my embrace. Suddenly, the room shakes and I’m frightened. I hug him tighter than before not intending to let go.

“All of you were wrong!” he yells at the dirt walls. I let go and look at him. He turns half translucent but I can still see him. His eyes are changing once more. The colors are swirling around then the purple disappears. Hot pink has taken its place. I look down at my hands, I am turning half translucent as well. My eyes are aching I clutch my eyes hoping the pain will stop. Ethan pulls out a mirror from his nightstand and brings it to my face. My eyes are hot pink. My legs lock in place and I collapse on the floor. Ethan picks me up and holds me in his arms.

“You helped me Stephanie. The demons are gone and I can’t sense them anymore. We are finally free!” he hugs me and I accept it letting the warmth of his body warm mine.

“What happened to you? What happened to me?” I question. He lets go and speaks in a soft tone.

“I love you Stephanie. Nobody has been there for me, not even my parents. You came in this place and tried to help me. Once, you did my heart skipped a beat. Just now when you said you loved me, I turned to my original self. When I was alive, some people in my high school bullied me and soon I grew tired of it. One night I committed suicide and that’s why I’m dead. When I turned back to a ghost, you became one too.” Surprisingly I am not upset, but yet comforted and free.

I run my hand through his hair smiling from ear to ear. “This is what I always wanted.” I say as I look into his beautiful eyes that now I have. I take his hand and we escape the underground room. The flowers covering the forest floor are swaying in the breeze. When we walk, our feet are unseen hiding in the petals. I stop and I take out my phone. I turn on some slow music and place it on a tree stump. “I put my arms around his neck and we start to dance.

“I have been waiting for this for a long while.” He says in that voice I love. He kisses my forehead and we dance the night away with the flowers.