Waiting
Her whole life she’d been waiting for someone to help her. She’d been waiting for someone to help her find her way, help her get up and stop falling. She’d looked everywhere, in everyone. Every time she failed she built another wall against the type of person that hadn’t helped her.
“Sarah, you’re so introverted,” Mother would say.
“Sarah, you need to come out of your shell,” Father would comment.
“Sarah, how will you ever meet any boys if you don’t talk to them?” Sister would tease.
“Who says I’m looking?” Sarah would respond, if she responded at all.
There was Patrick. There had always been Patrick.
“You’re so morose Sarah,” he’d say, but he was there whether she was morose or not. He was there when Sarah was introverted. He was there when Sarah wouldn’t come out of her shell. He was a boy that didn’t care if Sarah talked or not. Patrick was there on good days and bad. Patrick wanted to help Sarah.
“Help me then,” Sarah would say with a helpless shrug. No one ever knew what to say to that.
The days rolled on, the walls were built up and were reinforced. Sarah was safely inside, and Patrick sat precariously on top. He was too high to see her, too high to climb back down.
“Come sailing with me Sarah. You’ll feel free,” he said one day.
“Are you trying to help me Patrick?” she replied.
“Always Sarah,” he assured her. So Sarah went, thinking he’d be the one. She went, hoping he’d be the one. She went, wanting him to help her.
It took longer to sail back than he’d intended, but the sunset made it worthwhile. They hadn’t talked much; Sarah never talked much. She watched him tinker with the ropes and the sails, smiling one of her wry little smiles despite wind chapped lips. She was shivering. Patrick pulled off his faded blue sweatshirt and tossed it to her, the motion reminding her of being thrown a lifesaver. Sarah pulled it over her head, frowning when her hair jumped into further disarray. Patrick grinned and dropped anchor. He stepped onto the dock first and held out his hand to help her. Sarah gave it a glance before helping herself.
