Well on Labyrinth Gardens

Mia

December 06, 2004 5:27 PM

Taking time for yourself by Mia

Mia sat on a bench she found, somewhere deep in the Labyrinth Gardens. She had time for herself and found this a good place to be alone at the one time she let her guard down. Mia was always trying to keep a cheery face. She always let on to people that she was alright. She was sure that people had family issues worse than hers, so why should she look or be depressed when she could be cheering other people up?

Mia sat on a bench within the labyrinth. Her knees were pulled up to her chin and her head was buried in her arms that she folded over her knees. Her hair fell on either side of her head, covering her face. She just sat there for a while thinking about her family.

She had two older brothers. The younger of the two was a jerk. He didn't care about what anyone else thought about anything. If he didn't like something he called it stupid. If he couldn't do something, it was stupid. He acted like a total moron and he was constantly being rude to people including the members of his family. Mia couldn't find the perfect word to describe her younger older brother but he was and idiot, a poser, a moron, a jerk and more. Combine all of that and multiply by ten thousand and you have Mia's brother. It may not seem like a big deal but it really really was. Mia never thought she could hate a member of her family but her brother came pretty darn close.

Mia's eldest brother was slowly drifting away from the family. He was constantly depressed, and was always going to his friends house. In fact, he spent the entire summer away at this friends house. He's hardly ever home and when he is, he's fighting with Mia's parents. Mia's mother always found some reason to yell at her eldest brother and her father was always siding with her mother. Although, he made it seem like he was in control. Mia's father always had to be in control. There was constant yelling at home. Mia could hardly stand it.

Then there was Mia. She was excelling in school, she was always smiling, She was the peacemaker in her group of friends and at home, she was always outgoing and tried her hardest to stay positive but that was the only thing that slipped. Sometimes she acted very pessimistic but once she realized this she put a smile on and was positive for the rest of the time. She was always making things better for others despite what extra troubles she put on herself because of it. She was just perfect.

This was all a mask. Mia was confused and frustrated on the inside. She wanted to scream and yell and let other people know that she's not perfect. She wanted people to know that she wasn't always smiley and cheery. She wanted to let her family know that she can't always make things better. She wanted to let everyone know that she had problems of her own. She wanted to...

She wanted to cry.

'No!' Mia scolded herself. 'You can't cry! People go to you to cry and you make them feel better! Not the other way around!' Despite what her mask was telling her, a single tear made its way down Mia's cheek.\n\n

0 Mia Taking time for yourself 0 Mia 1 5

Elizabeth

December 06, 2004 8:05 PM

I hope you don't mind... by Elizabeth

She turned the corner of the maze, absorbed in her book. Elizabeth looked up and saw Mia, sitting on a bench, obviously upset. She didnt' want to interfere, because lord knew that she had many moments that were ment for Elizabeth only. Timidly and cautiously, totally against her usual nature, she sat down on the bench, her book closed shut sitting in her lap.

"Hey," she said, recognising the lost feeling reflected in Mia's eyes. "You alright?"\n\n

0 Elizabeth I hope you don't mind... 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Mia

December 06, 2004 8:26 PM

I'm fine, really by Mia

Mia's train of thought was interrupted when she heard a familiar voice ask if she was alright. Mia jumped a little and looked to see Elizabeth sitting next to her. Mia looked back at her knees and quickly wiped awy the tear that fell.

"I'm fine, really." Mia said, giving her signature large smile. Why did she keep doing that?! "I just had some extra time and I guess I got lost im my thoughts, that all." Mia explained quickly.

She knew there was no way Liz would buy it. Mia wasn't even sure she could explain what was wrong. Not with out sounding completely pathetic and corny. Mia wasn't one to place her burdens on others. Yet she would take other's burdens with out a second thought.

"I had better go. I- was supposed to meet someone a little while ago but I got caught up in the maze." Mia said with a smaller smile and quickly got up. She brushed off her robes and started to walk off.

'That was a pathetic excuse!' Mia scolded herself.

'Well, there's the whole problem," Mia countered herself 'I'm not perfect!'

With out realizing, Mia had voiced that last part as a whisper.

\n\n

0 Mia I'm fine, really 0 Mia 0 5

Elizabeth

December 06, 2004 9:04 PM

Well by Elizabeth

"Well that's logical," she heard herself say, "No one's perfect."

She looked at her retreating friend. Mia was holding out from everyone else her problems. Elizabeth could understand not wanting to burden anyone, but you had to let a little loose sometimes. She didn't believe for one second that Mia had a previous engagement.

"Mia..." she said, trying to find the words that would help her convey her thoughts, "Mia, you don't have to be perfect. No one in the world is, we all have problems. It's alright to have weaknesses, to let down your walls once in a while."

Elizabeth's eyes implored Mia to turn around and listen to her words. "Look," she said a grin coming up, "You've made me start monologing!" \n\n

0 Elizabeth Well 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jenna H

December 06, 2004 9:08 PM

On the Other Side of the Hedge by Jenna H

On the other side of the hedge, Jenna was listening in on the conversation. It wasn't her intention to be eavesdropping on them. But when she recognized the voices, she couldn't help but listen. As she couldn't see what was happening, she couldn't be sure, but Mia was upset over something.

Jenna closed her eyes, she wasn't feeling so lovely either. She had just recieved a letter from her parents, and Merlin knows what they had to say. But, knowing she would have to face severe consequences if she didn't read it, slowly she opened the letter.

Dear Jenna,
We congratulate you on your acceptance to Crotalus House. I must admit I did have my doubts in you, but I see you have chosen to follow the noble path of your ancestors. Your father is equally as proud. You haven't shamed us- yet. Make sure that you are the best in all of your classes, so your father can brag to his coworkers about you. And keep in good company, only children from the best pureblood families will suffice. Maybe we can marry you into a good family after all.
Sincerely,
Mother

The letter was nauseating. At least it wasn't a Howler, and only she would have to hear her mother's unkind words. Only she would know what the Howard family was really like.

She heard footsteps coming her way, and scrunched up the letter, and hurriedly stuffed it into her robe's pocket.

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Jenna H On the Other Side of the Hedge 46 Jenna H 0 5

Sally

December 06, 2004 9:10 PM

Re: On the Other Side of the Hedge by Sally

Sally looked almost pityingly at her new friend. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Was there something wrong at your home? I saw you stuff a letter into your pocket, and you look like you're about to cry."\n\n

0 Sally Re: On the Other Side of the Hedge 0 Sally 0 5

Jenna H

December 06, 2004 9:57 PM

Caught by Jenna H

Jenna could have said that nothing was wrong. Everything was perfectly normal, for her household, that is. Maybe in some other family, it wasn't normal to constantly be put down, but for Jenna, it was just another part of life.

"Erm, nothing's wrong. It's just my mom was being... well, my mom," she said. She could hear her voice cracking. Oh no, she would not cry- she wouldn't- she couldn't. \r\n\r\nBut she was. She had to. There is just so much a person can take before they burst.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Jenna H Caught 46 Jenna H 0 5

Mia

December 06, 2004 10:03 PM

The whole story by Mia

Mia stopped as she heard Elizabeth voice the words she wished she believed.

'...no one's perfect'

Mia looked down. She didn't want to cause a scene but she really did want to talk to someone. She was going crazy trying to be the listening ear for everyone when no one seemed to think it was okay to lend an ear back. People were fine with being listened to but never seemed to listen back. A part of Mia wanted Elizabeth to stop her from leaving. Elizabeth wanted to listen. Elizabeth wanted to help. Mia was finally on the receiving end of the listening ear.

Mia cracked a small smile and turned back around. She didn't look at Elizabeth rather she kept her gaze at the ground.

"Monologging huh? Well, I suppose we can't have that can we?" Mia joked as she made her way back over. Mia took a seat next to Elizabeth but never caught her eye.

"I know that no one is perfect. I just seem that way. I'm always smiling, always cheerful but that's just because I don't know how else to be. " Mia sighed. Now was as good a time as any to explain her little story drama.

"My family is at the very end of its ropes. I feel like I'm the only thing keeping it from flying apart. My parents fight with my eldest brother all the time, my younger older brother is a complete jerk with no respect for anything or anyone and that definitely doesn't help with the fighting and I'm just stuck in the middle, trying to make people see eye to eye with each other. My family seems to think of me as the good child. I'm the one who will make up for everyone else's mistakes. I'm the one who'll do it right. I'm the one who'll keep things positive with my cheerful disposition." Mia had to stop before her voice cracked. She wasn't used to telling others how she was feeling and she hoped she was saying it right.

"I have to keep the peace. It's always been my job and not only at home. If my friends are upset, I always hear them out and try to help them. I always let them vent to me. I guess, I don't think about what it does to me. I've been so stressed. I suppose I feel like I have an obligation to my friends and family to help them so they don't feel bad. So now I'm stuck with all of these troubles but then what happens when I have a problem? I can't very well go up to my friends because they have problems and need my help. There is no way I can go to my family and add more problems for them. They're alreay busting at the seams." Mia stopped. Her eyes were slowly starting to fill with unshed tears. Mia tried to blink them away but that made them come closer to falling.

"Basically, my problem is everyone elses problems. I don't know who to talk to because it wouldn't be right to pass these problems to someone else. If I took them then I'll deal with them but that is a lot easier said then done. I'm not perfect. I can't hold everyone's problems anymore and still keep smiling and covering up my own. I just can't do it anymore!" Mia's eyes started leaking tears she tried to wipe them away but more just took their place.

Everything that had been troubling her for so many years was being let out in a few minutes time. Mia didn't try to brush it off with her signature smile. She was past that. She finally had someone to listen to her instead of the other way around. Mia was more crying out of relief than out of sadness. Finally someone would listen and she took full advantage of that. Mia really hated to cause drama scenes but she thanked god for putting people like Elizabeth on this Earth.\n\n

0 Mia The whole story 0 Mia 0 5

Sally

December 07, 2004 6:09 PM

Re: Caught by Sally

Sally rushed over to her friend, and put an arm around her shoulders to support her as the tears came.

"There, there, it's okay." she murmered. "You don't have to say what's wrong if you don't want to. I've found it helps if you do, though. Just cry, and it's all going to be okay. Just let it all out."\n\n

0 Sally Re: Caught 0 Sally 0 5

Elizabeth

December 07, 2004 7:04 PM

So no one told you life was gonna be this way... by Elizabeth

Elizabeth smiled consolingly. She what it was like to be lost in the shuffle of life, afterall, when her parents died, no one was there to hold her hand and tell her it was alright. Her brothers had done the best that they could, but they had just lost the same thing as she had, and they needed their own time to heal. Elizabeth knew the life of the family "glue", and it was hard. It took a lot to be that kind of person, and she knew that what Mia needed right now was someone to just hold her hand, letting her spill.

That was what Elizabeth was going to do for her friend now, just let her pour out whatever she was carrying that was weighing her down so. She took Mia's hand in hers, and lifted her blue eyes to meet Mia's.

"It's okay Mia, you don't have to carry the world on your shoulder. You're not Atlas, so you need to focus and have a little of "me time". You're the only person you get to be, so you need to take care of you, even if it's just for a while. It's fine to be a listening ear, but know that whenever you need a vent to spout out from, I'm here. I'm here whenever you need me." \n\n

0 Elizabeth So no one told you life was gonna be this way... 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Mia

December 07, 2004 8:27 PM

Speechless by Mia

Mia's hazel eyes were locked onto Elizabeth's blue ones. Mia didn't know what to say. She just poured her whole life into the hands of someone she had just met recently but she was the first one to care to listen. Mia didn't feel like herself at all. No, she couldn't be herself. The real Mia wouldn't tell anyone else her problems. She would never impose her burdens on another. She would never cry and show weakness.

Or maybe that's how the fake Mia would act. Maybe the real Mia was lost somewhere after being pushed aside by the mask of smiles and cheerfulness. Maybe the real Mia had finally broke free and came to the surface after years of waiting for the oportune moment.

Mia lowered her gaze to her dainty hand in Elizabeth's own hand. Her hair fell gracefully in front of her face and a few stray tears made their way down Mia's already tear stained cheeks. After a few moments of just staring, a small smile edged its way across Mia's features. Her gaze never left her hand in Elizabeth's.

Mia opened her mouth and closed it again. She wanted to thank Liz for being there when Mia needed her. She wanted to say all of the grattitude she felt but the words weren't coming out right.

Seeming rather completely out of the blue, Mia looked into Elizabeth's eyes and threw her arms around her. Mia leaned her head on her friend's shoulder and whispered, "Thanks for listening!" and a final tear streamed down her face.

Mia let go and gave a huge smile. This smile wasn't a cover up. This smile was genuine. There was no voice telling Mia to 'Stop crying you wimp! You have to help other people stop crying, not cry yourself'

Not anymore.

\n\n

0 Mia Speechless 0 Mia 0 5

Elizabeth

December 07, 2004 8:44 PM

Re: Speechless by Elizabeth

Elizabeth put her arms around Mia, hugging her back. She barely knew the girl, but something had told her that no matter what the circumstances, people just needed to be listened to. Bottling up emotion inside yourself was dangerous because if too much fizz got caught beneath a cork, even the strongest cork will pop from the pressure.

"Anytime" were the only words she could find to respond to Mia. Elizabeth was glad she had made such a close friend, and one who was so sweet. She knew that Mia was a good person, but she just needed to let the uncorked Mia out for a while. Elizabeth unwrapped her arms from her friend, and stood. "Well," she said, unsure of what to do next, "I guess I'd better get going. I'll see you around, k Mia?" She grinned and as an afterthought, she continued, "Remember, even Atlas struggled."

With that, Elizabeth picked up her book from the grass next to the bench and opened it back up. Page 124... she thought, flipping pages and walking away through the thick and confusing hedgemaze. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Re: Speechless 0 Elizabeth 0 5