Until One Day

2004

Kiara

"I made something for you".

I look up into his eye's and try to decipher exactly what that meant, or if I was trying to read into it a little too much, hoping it meant more.

Cairo. One of my closest friends, whom id been crushing on since the previous year when I met him at college. With his deep brown eyes, dark brown hair, tall and solid physique, he was definitely a catch.

His smile though!? Oh my, his smile. 2 dimples placed strategically on each cheek, and beautiful straight white teeth. His smile could light up any dark room, and could warm even the most scarred of hearts.

"What is it??" I asked, tucking a loose strand of my long black hair behind my ear before he placed the small, velvet bag in my hand.

Cairo had dropped out of school 2 months ago, he stated it wasnt for him. He enrolled into a carving course with a family friend who offered to guide and discipline him to make better choices.

He wasnt a rebel, per se, but even I knew he did have some issues. His Father had left him, his Mother, and his younger brothers when the youngest wasnt even born yet. Fatherhood wasnt for him.

He despised his Father.

I pulled the strings on the bag and discovered a very beautiful and unique bone necklace. It had been cut into the shape of a hook, but had small carved patterns along the front. It had been buffed and polished. I was blown away.

"Its beautiful Cairo, thank you".

He took the necklace from my hands, as I turned around so he could clasp it around my neck. It sat perfectly on my chest, right in the middle of where my collar bone.

"Whats the occasion??" I asked, now that ive stopped to think about it. This was strange, even for him.

"Im moving out of town, I need a fresh start. Theres nothing keeping me here, I want to get out before I make bad choices" he proclaimed, his eyes burned into me. "I made this for you, so even when im not here for you, it will still feel like I am.."

Id been expecting this the moment he dropped out of college. He's a smart young man, but just like everyone else our age he didnt like to be told what to do. He had potential, he just needed to combine his resources and find where his path would lead him.

If all else failed, I had faith that he could become an amazing carver.

I clutched my necklace in my hand, holding it for strength. "You gotta do what you gotta do Cairo, whatever will make you happy. Find your path, im expecting great things from you. Will you keep in touch with me??" I asked while smiling up at him. He was at least 7 inches taller than me, in saying that, I was the shortest person in all my classes. Sitting perfectly at 5 foot nothing, it wasnt hard to tower over me.

"You know I will" he stated, "you have my number, and if I change it I will let you know".

I stood on my tip toes so I could hug him tightly. Cairo. My troubled, handsome Cairo. I hoped everything worked out for him.

But as I walked away, I knew.

He would not be keeping in touch..