How did you know | Teen Ink

How did you know

September 8, 2009
By liltrinhle SILVER, Raleigh, North Carolina
liltrinhle SILVER, Raleigh, North Carolina
8 articles 6 photos 37 comments

As soon as I took a seat on that Ferris-wheel, somehow you jumped right on, knowing that I needed some company that night. At first I frowned and said I wanted to be alone and I don’t ride with strangers. But then you laughed at me and took a seat anyway. We ended up talking and I was glad we rode together. How did you know that was just what I needed? When we got off the Ferris-wheel you asked if I wanted some cotton candy and I said, "Sure." We ended up eating two big ones. How did you know? How did you know that I love cotton candy?



When you got the nerve to ask me out on a date for the first time, instead of picking the traditional classic ‘dinner and a movie’, you took me on a walk around the lake and we both got to feed the ducks. That was the first time you held my hand. When your fingers touched mine, my heart beat a thousand times faster. I felt a rush running up and down my spine and chills all over my body. My hands were shaky, I think you noticed that because you smiled—that smile that you give when you know something, a secret. It took me about thirty seconds to realize I had that big stupid grin spread across my face. I remember your hands under mine and bread in the center of my palms, you whispered in my ear, “It’s alright, they won’t bite.” I giggled because I thought it tickled when the baby duck ate out of my hand. You simply shook your head and smiled at me. That smile that I have to keep on telling myself to breathe every time I see it.



I remember when I didn’t make the cast list for the play I auditioned for, you were there for me. You held me close as I cried, and you told me that everything was going to be okay, and I would get another chance soon. Then you took me out to get some ice cream. You made me get vanilla instead of chocolate because you thought I needed to try something new. After about twenty minutes of convincing, I finally gave in. I smiled and without a doubt, admitted that I loved it. You smiled, kissed my forehead, and said “I knew you would.” How did you know that? How did you always know what to do to make me smile?



That one time when I had to cancel our date two hours in advance. Something important came up and I had to babysit. I was ready for you to be mad at me—But no: You were so understanding, and it was almost unreal to me. You showed up at my doorstep with some Mac ‘n Cheese and two Disney classics, Peter Pan and The Aristocats. You wanted to help me babysit, and we watched the movies together with the kids. You didn’t mind at all. Why were you so understanding?



That Saturday, we were going home from the art museum you had taken me to. You stopped in the middle of nowhere, took my hand, and told me to follow you. We stopped at this huge apple tree, and as I reached for the apple within my reach, you stopped my hand. You climbed as high as you could and got me the apple from way up there. You told me apples that apples were within reach weren’t always good. You said apples were at the top were hard to get but it were worth it, and that they were always the best, and that I deserved the best. You were right about the apple tasting better. It was the best apple I’ve ever had. And in that apple, I realized I tasted love, and that I was in love with you. I was teary, and you laughed at me for being such a girl. Then you pulled me to your chest, lifted my chin, and kissed me.



Our first fight was over something silly. I don’t even remember what it was about. But what I do remember is that it was mostly my fault. I remember hanging up on you, slamming the door in your face, and yelling over the phone. How were you always so calm and never yelled at me? I remember crying. And when I got home, I opened the door, and the words 'I'm Sorry' were written out with candles on the floor. You came up from behind me with two boxes of cotton candy. How did you always manage to win my heart?


It was track season again, and you had to get in shape. I remember begging you to come and wake me up to go on a morning run with you. You told me that I wouldn’t be able to handle a three-mile run, but I begged and begged and did my best to convince you. Then the next morning you were at my house at 4:30 AM. I was so excited, but I complained that I had no make up on. You kissed my eyelids, messed my hair up a little, and told me I looked beautiful anyway. I was so excited, I told you that this three-mile run is no pressure and that was sure I could keep up with your all-star, long-distance running legs. But then to my disappointment, after one mile I was so out of breath. You laughed, and we found a bench. I sat and waited for you to finish the rest of your run. After that, I refused to go running with you, but sometimes you convinced me to walk with you the first mile, and that I was always willing to do.



But you’re not here anymore. I heard somewhere that sometimes when something too painful happens, we force ourselves to forget and trick ourselves into believing it never happened. I guess whoever said that was right, because I don’t even remember what happened. The only thing I can recall was riding in the ambulance holding your hand and… and everything else was a blur. I’m sorry that sometimes I could be a real pain and that I hurt you¬—I didn’t mean to. You were the best thing that ever happened to me. Every day I spent with you was my new favorite day. You taught me love. You believed in me when no one else did. You had faith in me when I didn’t even have faith in myself. I can still hear your soft whisper ringing in my ear, “Don’t be afraid to dream, and live. You have a big heart that will take you further than the Himalayas.” How did you know that? We have so many memories, and I promise I’ll never forget them. You are a part of me now. I love you, always and forever. Rest in peace my angel.


The author's comments:
This is a new style I'm trying out. I usually write with lots of conversations and names, but I decided to do something new and focus more on details and imagery. I hope you guys like it! Please rate and comment and tell me what you think!!

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This article has 405 comments.


on Apr. 13 2010 at 1:39 pm
lesliej94 BRONZE, Harrisonville, Missouri
3 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass..it's about learning to dance in the rain"...
"Your 20's are for you to have fun, your 30's are for you to learn the lesson's and your 40's is for you to pay for the drinks"~Sex and the City

I loved, loved, LOVE THIS ARTICLE!!! So amazing and moving.

Jandi BRONZE said...
on Apr. 13 2010 at 1:01 am
Jandi BRONZE, Banning, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
Very beautiful.

on Apr. 9 2010 at 8:53 pm
BleedingRose PLATINUM, Frederic, Wisconsin
33 articles 1 photo 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
*The darkness holds infinite possibilities.

(mine)

So sweet and sad, great job!  I was expecting that kind of ending from about half way through, still, excellent!  Kudos to you for trying a new writing style, I also did that in my article "A Fairy's Story,"  Maybe you can check it out and comment?  5 stars to you, beautiful work!

-Rose


on Apr. 9 2010 at 7:47 pm
HeatherBee BRONZE, I Live In, Texas
1 article 0 photos 1979 comments

Favorite Quote:
Go on and try to tear me down. I will be rising from the ground, like a skyscraper

Love is louder than the pressure to be perfect

awwwwww that was soooo gooood!!!!!

on Apr. 9 2010 at 5:24 pm
SmileyFace94 SILVER, Queens, New York
7 articles 0 photos 35 comments
i love it! this is amazing,

1iko1 GOLD said...
on Apr. 9 2010 at 1:53 pm
1iko1 GOLD, Sebastopol, California
12 articles 1 photo 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Kill them with kindness."

Is this real? Omg, I love it, its making me cry =(

bigdreamer14 said...
on Apr. 9 2010 at 10:41 am
bigdreamer14, Y Ya Need To Know???, Louisiana
0 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
You can say that I'm a talented writer, but all I can do is write down my feelings on paper and form them into sentences with my own personal flavor.

This is absolutely one of the best that I have seen on the site because you focused on the outside appeal of things instead of using a lot of conversation to paint a picture. the little flashbacks were the best part. Incredible and please continue to write in this style because I think that u can go far with this. =)

cntryqt said...
on Apr. 9 2010 at 10:39 am
omg girl that was unbielively awsome. so sad though.

Megan, said...
on Apr. 9 2010 at 10:37 am
Megan,, Henderson, Nevada
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
I love this story.(: It was really sad at the end though. /:

kioli said...
on Apr. 6 2010 at 9:33 am
its so sweet and saddening!

on Apr. 5 2010 at 6:52 am
It made me cry. It's beautiful the way you're telling the story. I really like it. And you're new style of writing is pretty awesome :)

vk713 said...
on Apr. 5 2010 at 1:36 am
come on, really? what a sad way to end an amazingly heart-touching story.

Jessie123 said...
on Apr. 4 2010 at 9:57 pm
Jessie123, Ann Arbor, Michigan
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Always shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars."

that was absolutely amazing! I love how you wrote it. It almost made me cry... that's good, a lot of emotion! Great story!!!!

dani09 BRONZE said...
on Apr. 2 2010 at 8:00 pm
dani09 BRONZE, Winchester, Missouri
1 article 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words

aww :') that was sooo cute! that was a really sincere piece of writing. very touching.

on Apr. 1 2010 at 5:45 pm
katiebeth___ SILVER, Richmond, Virginia
8 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
Que sera, sera.:)

oh man, i almost cried! aha!:) it was good.:)

on Mar. 30 2010 at 11:47 pm
i loved it and it reminded me of someone i new that i lost...

on Mar. 30 2010 at 9:55 am
jennee21_ann GOLD, Helper, Utah
17 articles 0 photos 568 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't gain the world and lose your soul....wisdom is better than silver or gold."

"You can always close a book, but you can never close the mind of a writer."

gosh this is just amazing! oh wow. it's so sweet, and so pure and honest :) i love how you always threw in the "how did you know?". that makes it flow really nicely :) you did a great job writing this and painting a breautiful picture in the reader's mind. i absolutely LOVE it :) 5 stars...and on my faves list :) would you mind checking out my piece "take my heart and break it"? id really like your opinion. thanks :) keep writing!!

on Mar. 28 2010 at 1:08 pm
CardinalRunner BRONZE, Holland, Michigan
4 articles 0 photos 42 comments
Aww I loved this!!! Write more! And nice writing instead of all the quotes. Great job! :)

Emiline SILVER said...
on Mar. 24 2010 at 7:43 pm
Emiline SILVER, Nashville, Tennessee
9 articles 0 photos 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
"When deep injury is done to us, we will never recover until we forgive. Forgiveness cannot change the past. But it does enlarge the future."- Mary Karen Read

I love this! You write wonderfully, it's very realistic. I wish it was real. :)

on Mar. 23 2010 at 5:21 pm
monicalillian SILVER, Holladay, Utah
5 articles 1 photo 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"forgive your enemies, nothing bugs them more."

this captured my heart and at the end i almost died it was so sad, i felt as though i was in the story...i pulled me in and no matter what i did i couldnt climb out till the last word.