The encounter

(Year 11)

It's a new year's night. Everybody is out imbibing far too many pitchers of beer, but Jamie was apathetic in painting the town red; she was occupied in tramping past huge boulders to access the vast, anemic forest, in-front.

Her eyes gaped sharp in silence, as she tried to outline the figures that stood in place; towering trees that were bent too low, as if concealing something yet to be explored.

"He should be here." she murmured annoyingly.

Behind her was an enormous building, literally in the middle of nowhere. The building's lights were out, making the dark seem tangible. She promises herself: "The moment I see you, you better start running."

Waiting a little more, her patience starts running thin. The sky is clear; all the stars were glimmering as they also awaited a new start. She imagines herself sitting cozily; tucked in her bed, sipping coffee merrily. Just relaxing in the calmness of the mood, reality slaps her suddenly when a hooded figure emerges. The person's mouth is covered by a cloth and is peculiarly dressed all in black.

This is not the person I await. I stare at the figure brazenly; figuring out he might be a man. WAIT- is he wearing sunglasses? Jamie gets back to her senses and stops examining him so audaciously. The person must think I'm crazy! I'm still young, and in a forest, all alone... she curses herself.

The hooded figure moves closer to Jamie. She moves back to maintain a decent amount of distance between the two, but he kept advancing. Jamie studies the stranger once again and finally thinks logically.

'What is he doing here?'

She answers this herself. He's probably loitering, or perhaps waiting for someone just like Jamie was. But why is he coming towards me?!

The stranger stops himself and takes out his hand. "Hello." Hesitantly, Jamie shakes his outstretched hand. "Hi.." she responds. She quickly yanks her hand away causing the person to silently chuckle.

"Are you waiting for someone?" asks Jamie. "I was."

Jamie can't help but feel petrified. He's weird.

"So you've met the person?" she asked sounding more doubtful.

"Yes, I did." He answers back.

There's silence for a few moments, but then he decides to break it. "You know the building behind us is a psychiatric hospital?" Jamie gets bewildered; "Why is it here... in a forest?" The person takes off his glasses and says; "The forest is possibly the patients' playground, does it bother you?"

All of a sudden, Jamie feels vulnerable with this person. He's probably a psychotic patient himself!

"I guess the person you anticipate so long for, hasn't decided on arriving early. He might've asked me to take you with me, would you mind?"