Reflected

He is the river to her heart and she is the sky to his mind. Piece by piece they reflected the other half.

Crystalline flips the book, a smile escape her lips, she couldn't believe her works. She had written a whole book of poems. The car stopped and she stared out the window, the new place which she has to live in. Sadness filled her throat, she was already missing Christina. She got out, the hot sun hit her hard "You better don't date everyone around here too", Mr. Marc that's supposed to be her Dad yelled at her, throwing her bag and jacket at her. She sighs and starts walking toward the house. Miss Madeline which is supposedly supposed to be her Mom unlocks the door. And she goes straight to her room.

Later while she was laying in bed, writing her heart out, tears escaping her eyes. Madeline called her, she wipes her tears, and run to her outside. Outside there stand Madeline and Marc, and three other people, A man and a woman and a young man. "Well this would be my daughter Crystalline, she's very smart, she even skips two grade school-"

While Madeline was bragging, Crystalline takes the time to look at the young man, he looks tough, like he doesn't want anything to do with any of us. His personality seems like a mystery, and Crystalline wondered if he ever smiles?.

"Isn't that right?" Marc asks pulling Crystalline out of her thought.

"Yes indeed, I plan to go to College very soon and start getting started in being a lawyer".

Madeline looks at Crystalline smiling "Would you care about to recite 100 laws of nature to them". 

She just remembers she didn't study them, she was too busy writing, what her parents would have called unnecessary stuff.

"Um....um...it's....." She started stuttering.

Madeline yanked her head force to look at her and say "let me repeat my question Crystalline what is 100 laws of nature?". 

She did know them, why couldn't she remember it at the instance. If feel as if the whole world was shaking leaving her behind. Suddenly a slap causes her to face the ground, she tastes blood.

She slowly stands up holding her face.

"Nowadays she seems to concentrate more on boys than her life" Madeline muttered in between line. Crystalline give one look at the young man, his expression didn't change nor the position he was standing.

"Go inside we will deal with you later" Marc yelled. Slowly she drags her feet inside.

The room starts to feel heavy, sweat-filled her body, as she waits inside the living room just waiting. Then the door flips open, both of them got in, then lock the door behind them.

Marc starts taping the window with cardboard, Crystalline knows that game. 

After they were done Madeline got some salt and put it at the floor "kneel down" she screams. Crystalline automatically gets to her knees, her skin is begging for freedom, the pain then starts to feel as part of her then it eases a bit. 

Madeline walks in and come back with two belts, she hand Marc one and it started. They beat her like a robber, one after the other, no matter how much she screams she know she wouldn't be able to hear by a supporter.

"You see I'm sorry Baby, it's just that you don't listen" Madeline says softly as she rubs the soft sponge to her back. Crystalline stare at the water, it starts turning red due to her bleeding skin.

"Now I want to know that you love us, don't be like your little sister Christina" Madeline say.

In between sob she says "I love you Mom and I love Dad too".

She didn't believe those words.

She lay at her bed still feeling stiff, from her punishment, she was now at peace till tomorrow of course. She opens her window the night cold air blow inside her room like a water fall in every direction. Suddenly she heard a voice from the bottom of her window. She sat up and smile "What you doing?" She whispers in the night cold air.

She knows who it is, the young man from earlier.

"Come down I want to ask you something"

Feeling her body stiff, there was no way she could jump down, she whispers "wait".

Then she walks slowly to the dark living room, then open the door and got out, hoping no one has heard her.

Crystalline hand was being grab and he runs to a house with her then under a tree. They both sat down, "Are you okay"? He asks, Crystalline could see his face thanks to the moon light.

"Yes" she whispers still smiling.

"Why you asking?" She then ask puzzely.

"I heard it, my parents heard it too, and goes for almost hours and it hurt me that my parents wouldn't let me do something to help you".

"It's okay" Crystalline says softly, tears want to form in her eyes but she stares at the blue sky "I'm used to it".

"It doesn't mean you like it though" he object.

Crystalline change the subject "So what's your name?".

"Clearance Gaylyn"

"Nice name Clearance"

"Thanks" he say "well tomorrow I want to show you something, please no matter what make sure you are here okay?".

"You just met me, what could you possibly show me"

"Just trust me as a friend for now".

Crystalline stands up "well I have to go, tomorrow friend".

And with that she left.

The morning after Crystalline begs her Parents to let her have coffee and walk around just to get to know the place.

They somehow agreed.

She grabs her book and her purse and she walks to wait for Clearance. First, they stop for smoothies and crackers.

Then they take a two hour drive, Crystalline start wondering whether he was lying about all this. She didn't complain. It's best to be anywhere but with her parents.

Crystalline couldn't believe it, Clearance starts bringing her into a champ of grass, could he have made her come so far for only this?. Just to be away from her parents?. Wait.....why does he want to be away from his parents too?.

Then they stop infront of a sign, that says 'Reflected' in a blue work out color in wood plank.

Crystalline follow him then he stops, "I know we just met and stuff, but this place I found it long time ago and I know your going through some tough time it will help" clearance says looking at her "but promise me you won't say a soul to anyone"

"I promise" crystalline say crossing her fingers.

She then continues to follow clearance. She couldn't believe her eyes. Infront of her, a giant tree stands then next to it a river, the mixture of pink and blue, and colorful fish jump up and down in the river. But the sky reflects it. She couldn't understand.

"You don't need to understand" Clearance top her arm, and sat down at the grass, "Even I don't understand it still".

Crystalline sat down next to him. Still looking at the wonder.

"We're in 2019 though?".

"Yes ma'am and wonder still exist".

She swallow the lump in her throat and nod.

"How old are you?" He asks.

"17" she says then ask "why?".

"Because you look 15 girl" he smiles and there it was a smile showing his pearly teeth.

They start talking, Crystalline learn that Clearance parents are abusive too, and he is a writer just like her, clearance start reading some of Crystalline poem and short stories. 

For the first time Crystalline feels at peace.

"I have a 5 year old sister, my parents left her in the middle of the road while we were coming here" Crystalline explain with tears.

And the wonder brings peace again. 

After a while they both lay at the grass. Crystalline was looking at the river, while Clearance was looking at the sky.

"We're Reflected" they say together out of the blue. And this brings a feeling they never knew existed.

1 year later.......

Christina wouldn't stop chanted "Big sis and clearance seating in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g, first come-"

"Okay I get it Chris" Crystalline tells her smiling for the hundreds time. Clearance call for Christina to sat by him. 

Here they were in the train going through L.A for an act performance. Crystalline was really nervous, clearance was just going with the flows.

Suddenly the train stop. And everyone was asked to come outside, cause the A.C no longer was working.

Christina was already sleeping, clearance holds her and Crystalline grab the bags.

Outside There stand Both Crystalline and Clearance parents. They whisper to each other to meet at 'Reflected'. If people know it's not like they could have help them. People with rage do more damage than fame.

Clearance starts running with sleeping Christina.

As long as they make it they will be alright. The hot sun bring headache and worries. 

Reflected from what's on the mind. What the heart is feeling.

As long as Something 'Reflceted', there's an effect and Crystalline know that her boyfriend clearance they definitely have build that.

He is the river to her heart and she is the sky to his mind. And that couldn't be apart. Even if it did happened, the world would regret something, even if it was for the first time.