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My oooooh so great story according to everyone. Ha. Enjoy.

Slowly it all snaked out to mix with the water below, and I felt calm, or to be more precise, immensely mellow. I watched the swirl of leaves splatter in a noiseless mess to join my diluted blood and sang quietly tunes composed of discordant poetry.
Beneath me flowed the South Toe River tucked deep within the Appalachian Mountains where the leaves currently were stained different shades of crimson to match the blood on my wrists. I tended to indulge in the emo habits I'd picked up at an almost drunken pace during this time of year. People thought I was crazy for acting in such a manner. None would admit that they talked about it, but I could recall a whispered conversation my mom had at the gift shop she worked at.
Usual chit chat quickly cut short as the lady wearing too much make up inquired at the checkout, "Mrs. Joines, ah, I've heard several things from my Derek and other parents who hear various tidbits about your daughter, Aislyn. Quite a few have heard these same things as well, and it concerns me."
Mom didn't bother to look up. She silently arranged several power bars without commenting.
Catching me watching, the lady lowered her voice, " I've heard she's brilliant, yet they say she cuts herself and continues to do so. Several times this year alone, she's been to the nurse because blood was around her desk. I don't feel safe with such a child around my son or another's child."
Mother, of course, didn't reply. I watched the lady glide out, completely oblivious to me and how much her son hadn't said about my cutting. Derek was one of the few who had encountered what made me start in the first place.
I stood up slowly, brushing away leaves clinging desperately to my pants just as a soft drop of water hit my face. It meant nothing to me, and I dully hopped across the rocks in the river to reach the other side in the hope of putting distance between society and myself.
My thinking continued to deepen until I lost track of all except the crackling of leaves, echoing like my heart. I had been so immersed that only a fat drop that flopped upon my nose awoke my mind to the rain that had sprouted up while I ventured miles away from town. "This will be such a lovely walk," I laughed silently.
I stumbled back through the light rain singing every heavy metal song I knew just to keep my mind off thoughts. Thoughts were the one thing I probably should've been having then, because while I teetered dangerously on a slippery stone, the sky emptied waterfalls. I slipped off the stone right when the next screaming section started, but it didn't bother me.
I hit sharp rocks, yet didn't get up. It all felt so right to lie there and become one with my cuts in the way only music could connect a person to anything. Right then, it connected me to the very pathetic existence I choose to continue to lead. Then tears flowed in hectic rivulets with the rain and river water down my face as I continued to process the scene and multiple painful memories in my head.
Not recognizing anything, I didn't feel him pull me close then clumsily struggle to get both of us to a standing position. His voice barely penetrated my barriers, yet I heard my name, so unfamiliar yet gentle upon his lips and it clicked that I'd heard the voice in school before. He led me off through the forest, and all I recognized for the whole trip was a comforting warmth surrounding me physically as well as in an unexpected place.
Eventually a voice woke me up from this dream like state as the guy stated, "Aislyn, you need to change out of those clothes. I can't exactly stay in here while you do that."
Blushing, I pulled my hand away. "Why do I need to change?" I asked. "This is fine. Anyways, who are you? Last time I checked, no one cared about the twisted of mind. Especially not anyone who knows me."
He let out a chuckle matched perfectly to a quirky smile before replying, "I'm Ryan Chance, a junior at Pine River High School. I couldn't just let you lie half drowned out there. You're more beaten up than usual for me not to intervene in your life for once."
A weird look passed over his face as he left me standing there, speechless and puzzled. I quickly changed into an oversized t-shirt and sweat pants. Soon Ryan reentered the room laden with hot cocoa, blankets, and a medical kit. My body collapsed onto an unmade bed and allowed him to attend to my searing wounds after getting several afghans around me to prevent my uncontrollable shivers.
"There's more than one way to destroy a person," he said softly with a note of melancholy. "These wounds won't heal like they should, but what I wouldn't give to heal them all the right way. Don't scar yourself further when it's unneeded."
Even the cocoa did little to thaw a distant chill encompassing my heart. It wasn't until his hand rested on the small of my back, pushing me into him as we sat there as if waiting for something great, that I calmed down enough to truly enjoy myself for once. When I looked at his eyes and found a completely unfamiliar emotion in them intoxicating me, I instantly became afraid.
Love was the same thing I had tried to get from Marcus Seitz, a man who often came camping in the area that I had previously dated. I often suspected he only returned to see me again, yet he continued to snuff out my affection until my life turned into a poisoned river, forever polluted. My cuts came from him.
Unconsciously, my eyes drifted upon a slouched figure outside the rain streaked window who glared at Ryan with burning intensity just as these thoughts sprung up. My body tensed as his gaze met my frightened one with a dangerously seductive grin before flicking anger back at Ryan again. With one last smile, my personal tormentor, Marcus, slid into the shadow of the forest.
All passions slid free of my body as deadly barricades reconstructed themselves around me. Any love was a dream of fear. Marcus could easily take me back to before, and Ryan most likely had the capability of doing so as well. Even if Ryan were to meet my standards, a simple action from Marcus could end it all.
Beside me, Ryan had grown still, desperately trying to find out my latest issue and draw me back toward him. I ignored his worries guiltily.
"Listen, I've got a lot of business to catch up on. I can see you're concerned about me, but I'm honestly fine. I've really appreciated everything you've done. I'll be seeing you," I barely managed to strangle out from my swollen throat.
With that, I scrambled out of his room and house. The minute my feet hit grass, I took off for town, not bothering to think, yet failing as thoughts rushed through madly in my brain. It was a hopeless cause to feel love for another. Marcus had taught me that well.
As the week went on, I helplessly flailed from task to task with Marcus and Ryan noting my every move. Marcus stalked me relentlessly and had yet to get a word in, but when the time did come, it wouldn't end beautifully.
Ryan became my personal puppy dog who eagerly tried to please me, yet felt kicked by my coldness, but there was nothing to be done if I wanted the best for everyone. He seemed to follow me in a different way from Marcus and it chilled me just as terribly.
Ryan finally managed to corner me at lunch one day. Nonchalantly, he slipped his fingers through mine and asked, "Could you stop by my house today? I need your help desperately and your clothes are still at my house."
My mind panicked for a second before mechanically, I replied, "Sure."
The bell thunderously rang into the cafeteria chaos ending our conversation. I watched Ryan merge, with our trays, into the throng before I blindly ripped off for a side exit. Rounding a corner of the building, I crumpled into a bed of maple leaves as Marcus shuffled toward me, grinning wickedly.
"Aislyn, I've missed you greatly since the last time I visited," he crooned while pulling me close.
His hand slipped under my shirt with digging nails, and I swatted it away with a strangled cry. He cuffed me roughly across the cheek multiple times until thick globs of blood spurted out. Within a second, he had me pressed up against him with his lips greedily taking in the taste of mine.
Marcus dangerously whispered, "You have much to relearn my pet. Soon those who have tormented you will know why only I destroy you."
He left me there, tears leaking steadily as my mind tried to erase the memory. I wandered around town unconsciously in what resembled the final hours of Armageddon on a smaller scale in my mind until Ryan found me on his doorstep and escorted me to a chair.
All that managed to come off my lips was "him" and "blood", yet it wasn't long before I chomped down bar after bar of chocolate and Ryan informed me of today's other events. My mind wasn't prepared for the tragedy. Apparently, several guys that I had been in contact with that week were found dead near school not long after it ended. Ironically, one was Derek.
Mind racing and fear rising, I barely managed to make it back outside. Ryan followed me to the door and tried to reason with me to come back so he could help me.
Shakily, I mumbled, "It's better if I was alone for awhile. Keep your eyes open and guard up. You're in for much more than what Derek got."
I slunk to a safe spot on the forest floor minutes later where I flipped open my knife blade, contemplating if I should take the pain away using this method or just deal with it. My mind was so absorbed in the decision, that he easily was upon me with my blade in hand before long.
"Since you seem to have forgotten how to, I will enlighten you on the method of cutting yourself," Marcus cackled.
My blade painfully dug into the wrists on both hands in a never ending sequence. His laughter mixed with my pitiful whimpers to create inhuman music as I became aware that I could possibly die soon from blood loss.
With a thud, Marcus was knocked from on top of me into a heap. I hugged myself tightly to Ryan who some how had heard us fighting and rushed over. Marcus regained his composure within seconds and began hurling insults with Ryan. I closed my eyes tight and tried to ignore it all until a loud yelp sounded as I fell free from Ryan's grasp to see a nasty knife wound running down his side.
I grabbed hold of Ryan's hand and fled further into the woods with him. Behind us, Marcus's curses attempted to rope us back in, however my anger and loss of compassion for him only made the flames in my heart push us faster away from there.
All night, Ryan and I wandered about in fear of Marcus who most likely hunted us in the rain that had started towards the middle of the confrontation with Ryan and Marcus. We stuck mostly to the forest, only going to the river to wash off our wounds that way the blood wouldn't leave an easy path. We fell asleep, completely insecure, in a pine tree that night, snuggled close for protection more than anything.
Early morning brought us back into the world of real nightmares. Ryan and I scurried desperately through thick fog that seemed to conceal Marcus behind every dark shape. Ryan turned me toward him in a clearing near the river after quite a bit of traveling.
"I've never cared even after finding out last night what your problem was if I got hurt some how trying to help you. That guy who abused you, he should be in jail now for all that's been done up to this point. It's not what I'm most concerned about though. Aislyn, I want to be there to get you into a more comfortable lifestyle because honestly, I love you," Marcus breathed with great longing shining over his entire profile.
My thoughts battled for what seemed like forever until it seemed fear won. At the last second however, another won out, and I found my lips on his, our lust blended into a passionate chain of emotion. Gun shots echoed across the river just as a single ray of sunlight broke the fog and we slowly untangled from each other. Marcus kneeled, injured and handcuffed between several policeman.
Eventually everyone made it back to town where Marcus ended up in jail for abuse, murder, and probably more while Ryan and I tried to recover at his house for a few days. I was feeling much better about the whole thing, and what had me terrified before didn't seem like a problem now. Love was never something that I was meant to fear no matter what Marcus or another being did to me. For the soul to want while the mind resists, such is the tragedy of a life turned against love as I have learned.

*This my revised copy for class.