Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

Too much had happened.
    I picked up a sharp rock and carved the date into the smooth side of the wood. And against my better judgment, I carved a heart around the numbers. The pressure broke the piece into two. I laughed. The break went straight down the middle of the heart.
    Transfixed, I gazed off into the woods while holding the wood, and took the letter from my pocket. The wind blew the trees softly, bringing down large droplets of rain water as though the forest was crying for me. The letter felt heavy in my hand as I read it one last time. I thought I would cry, but I didn’t. Instead, I gently folded the paper around one half of the wooden pieces and threw it off the cliff while tucking the other half in my pocket.
    It soared through the air and disappeared out of sight. At the same time, the wind whipped up and tousled my hair. I held my breath, hoping for closure, finding disappointment instead—the whole charade suddenly feeling over-dramatic. Then I felt someone was coming down the trail so I quickly limped back home, afraid it would be someone I knew.
    * * *
    The next morning came and so did the sun.
    For once, I actually wanted to go to school, anything to give me a mental break. I planned to take Jo’s advice. There had to be at least one guy at school that I could like. I just wasn’t sure who. The idea seemed insurmountable, but I was willing to try. I needed to do something.
    Running late, I rinsed off my breakfast dishes and rushed towards the door, happy I was driving myself today.
    “Hey,” Luke said while walking past me into the kitchen sporting a bed-head hair-do. He deeply inhaled. “Is that coffee?”
    I turned around and stood in the doorway. “You’re up kinda early?”
    Luke scratched his head and filled up his favorite coffee mug. “I have a job interview this morning,” he said with a yawn.
    “Really?”
    “At Bic’s”
    I continued to look confused.
    “The auto parts store?” he said with a sarcastic inflection. “I can get a discount if I work there.”
    I knew there had to be a catch.
    “Oooh,” I said and punched him in the arm before heading out. “Good luck.”
    He grimaced.
    “Thanks.”
    I walked across the lawn and reached in my pocket for my cell phone to text Sam when I noticed a white piece of paper folded up on the ground near my car door. I unlocked the car, put all my junk inside, then fetched the note. My throat went dry as I stared at the words written inside.
    Was this note for me?
    Baffled, I closed the note and looked around even though I knew I was alone. Someone had written ‘I’m sorry’ in scratchy masculine-looking lettering and left it unsigned. The penmanship didn’t look familiar.
    My mind raced and I quickly thought of who could possibly owe me an apology. My cheeks turned bright red as I imagined Nicholas gawking in the shadows while I threw the letter over the cliff—the letter that revealed all my feelings. Did he retrieve it? No. I would’ve felt it if someone was close by. I was sure I was alone. It had to be someone else. Who else owed me an apology? John maybe?
    I got in my car and inconspicuously looked in my mirrors feeling vulnerable. Nothing seemed strange or out of place, but I was beginning to question my abilities. Someone could be watching from far away. I folded up the note, shoved it in my pocket and started my car.
    The mental exercise to figure out the anonymous note writer faded after I parked and actually walked to class, free from my horrendous crutches. But I’d forgotten to tell Sam the good news and she was waiting for me at the front of the school.
    “Where are your crutches?” she asked when she saw me.
    “Sorry I didn’t tell you. I meant to text but . . .”
    “Yeah, no call or text all weekend? What gives?” Sam put her hands on her hips and acted annoyed.
    The guilt of neglecting my best friend hit me. All weekend, I’d spent my energy on myself and I’d not called or texted once like I promised I would.
    “Sorry. I forgot. I did get your text though. Thanks.”
    Sam let out a sigh. “I was worried. I thought you fell into a deep depression.”
    “No,” I said and rolled my eyes at her exaggeration. “But I did make up my mind to move on. I’m done with him, Sam. It’s over.”
    I tried to sound convincing.
    “That’s good to hear. Well, it’s not like I could talk anyway. I was at Aunt Patrilda’s all weekend for a family reunion. They don’t have cell service where she lives. I