Chapter Four

Beauty and I had come to a place that she called "Nature's solace" I have never seen something so beautiful and alluring in my life, where I grew up always in bars and smoking but this is different. I felt at ease here, I love the quiet, it makes me think, but the quiet with a good view is peace.

There are steep rocks below, water streaming down the line and forming a pool at the base, I never knew birds chirping could be this melodious, or the little purple lilies growing at the foot could be this beautiful, trees of different kinds and shapes and oh a white tree shedding it's skin to reveal a rainbow colour, this is like a fairyland in the real world, it's amazing I said to her, thank you for this.

She stares at me with those lively eyes again and I felt the creep coming back to me. Why do you look at me like that I asked her, you are beautiful, too beautiful to see for yourself now, she said, I hope one day you can carry yourself more confidently and not hide behind I am a very strong girl base and don't worry I just really like you on a sister level nothing more.

Sisters? I asked ignoring the beautiful part, I am not really into that but I will try. She laughed and pat me on the back. How old are you she asked me suddenly, I'm thirteen, thirteen huh! That makes you a year younger than me, cool. Tell me about yourself and I will tell you mine.

So, I told her where I was born, how I grew up, where I walked, I told her of the fields, the sports, the girls and the boys, I told her of the red house, the bars, the music, the dance. I told her of where I hunt fruits, I love cocoa and cashew and I like climbing the guava trees, I told her of the plays I participated in and the one time I played house with the girls which were irritating. I showed her all my field injuries including the embarrassing ones and she laughed like she's got it all figured.

In return I learnt she doesn't go to school in this area, she goes to a boarding school, an only child and her skin were like that because she falls sick a lot. Her life was dull for someone who laughs and makes jokes a lot. I also learnt I am the first real friend she's got which was sad because I thought someone as free-spirited as she should have lots of friends.

The kids here aren't as fun and nice as those at your side, most of them felt I am an outcast because of my skin colour and they thought I will infect them with my so-called sickness like I am a plaque. My father rarely comes home, she said that makes me stay with my mum in the literal sense and I found out the reason I fall sick so much is due to my genes I am SS she said with another of her famous smile and my type usually don't last long, so why should I live for them but I will feel bad if one day you said you don't want to be friends again.

I felt bad for her and I felt sorry too, but I don't do pity and I doubt she would appreciate my pity, Beauty makes me feel whole and for someone who is hanging on a balance she sure lives her life well. I have read so much about this genotype issue and it wasn't uncommon for kids like this to have it, the fault is from the parents who didn't do a proper check of their states, and now she's the one who suffers. To change the mood, I offer to write her something about this place and she agrees. We continued to stay in each other's company until late and went to our respective homes.