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shrugged off

the sun was poised in it's mighty position. fields of morning-urine yellow grazed the flats of my palms as i walked. with each new step the dust rose and settled upon me, clinging like a second skin. the path i tread cut between crops of wheat and canola, and i marveled at their beauty while vowing for one of the rooms of my heart to hold the prairie forever as home.

the day refused to wane, although the fields eventually gave way to new surrounding. i could see the ghostly outline of mountains on the horizon, hovering like a promise to be made. i stared at them as i continued to walk along the path, finding myself inexplicably intimidated.

'oof' i came crashing down.
'whazzat, who is it, get offa me'
'oh my goodness, i'm so sorry, i didn't see you there.'
i picked myself up and wiped away the stinging bits of gravel from my hand. looking down i saw a disgruntled girl laying across the path. she glared up at me with small pearls of tears caught in her eyelashes.
'oh im so sorry, did i hurt you very badly?'
she shrugged her shoulders, turning her head to face down the path. as i followed her gaze a cold wind swarmed around us.
'can - can i ask why you're just laying there?'
the girl puts her hands into her pockets.
'this wind won't leave me alone'
i smile at her and say 'oh i'm sure it's not here to pick on you' she shoots me a glare well known to parents of the teen-aged. tears leak down her face, leaving streaks of raw pink skin.
'seems like the elements are wearing you down a bit.' i get no response from her. 'listen, you shouldn't be out here alone-'
'she's gone hasn't she?'
i look around. 'who's gone?'
she sighs like i'm an idiot.
'they all went on without me.'
'well let's go see if we can find them. when did they leave?'
'ages ago. they left before the wind came. it's no use. i'll never catch up.'
'did you see where they went?'
she shrugs her shoulders again. i find myself annoyed. the wind bites at my fingers, urging me to move on.
'look, i'm happy to have met someone, but i don't want to stay here in this wind. maybe we can help each other out. you can come with me and help me figure out where i am, and i can help you find your friends. how about it?'
she shrugs her shoulders, stares off along the path once again. i stand over her, waiting for an answer.
'not today.' she says. and closes her eyes.

11:17 a.m. - Feb. 22, 2012

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