Kira Rimstidt

10/3/14
Period 6
Falling Into Place
I- you- we- didnt know thered be so much to go around.
This is Erika.
She was never lonely... She didn't know of mornings encompassed in undying love. Didnt know
of Sundays bringing in coffee and flannel and stale ruffled sheets and so much life.
She was never lonely. Not since birth. Not since the day she left for college, since the day she
got her own apartment.
She was never lonely. Until now.

Ive always been lonely.

Even before I could tell, other kids knew something was off. They could just tell. One little thing.
Ive always been lonely. I havent been happy. Until now.

Ive never felt warmth to this extent. Ive never felt so complete in
creaking spiral stairs
undercooked pancakes
crowded kitchens
kisses
no more isolation
They trained us not to love. They wore it into us from the start. But what we have now is
showing me that it is okay to love.

Erika was never that normal. Thats how she identified herself. Thats how others
identified her. Thats how it was, and thats how its always been. She saw things very differently.
She always had big brown curly hair and bright white skin; she never felt in place. No matter
how she looked or where she was. During college, though, her life turned around. She studied
art and biology, she sang in a band for a while - but most importantly, she met Alexis. They
shared a dorm. When they started dating, Erika had never been so happy; after college was
over, they got a flat in the suburbs of Chicago. Andersonville was nice, and they were more than
accepted there, but something still wasnt complete.

They met Zoya on a random Wednesday night, going for a walk around the neighborhood. The
shine of her charcoal hair awakened under the street lamps, her dark skin radiating with pure
warmth. A conversation sparked like fire - they invited her in for coffee, and it just Happened.
She was it. She was the last thing they were missing.

Zoooooooyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaa! Alexis called, running up the stairs. Get uppppppp!

Cmon Zo. Erika made breakfast.
What do you want, Lexi Zoya mumbled, rubbing her face into the pillow.
Come downstairs! Its already 11:30. Alexis slid back down the spiral railing of their old,
metal staircase.
Finally, Zoya joined them. Rugged hair, wrinkled sweatpants - she stretched and made
an almost inhuman yawning noise.
Nothing - nobody else - could make Erika any happier.
Nothing - but having others recognize the love they share.