Little Things
Little Things
By Angelina Moscatello
The cold nips at ungloved hands and rosy cheeks, and people of all ages wander around the frozen soil. Before me lies a bleak gray maze of corn. I rub my hands together and walk closer, but I can't bring myself to go to the entrance alone. Turning to perhaps find something to warm my chest or hands or keep my foggy head occupied, instead we collided. My eyes could barely process the mess of golden brown curls and freckled button nose that I encountered.
“You okay, hun?”, she said. I could barely speak, my mind running at the same speed as my palpitating heart.
“Yeah, I'm good! Don't worry...” I tried to sound cool and calm. But my attempts faltered as she reached out her hand, and I hesitantly grabbed it to let her help me up. Could she feel my heart beating through my palm? I cleared my throat, and felt the tiniest bit of courage well up, or maybe it was just the warmth of holding her hand.
“Do you maybe wanna go in the maze together?” I ventured, biting my chapped lips and awaiting rejection.
But her eyes sparkled as always and she grinned. “Course I do! Wanna grab a map?” I nodded. I was never good with directions anyways. All the way to the map stand I repeated confident mantras in my head. “You've got this, just be cool.” It sounded like a lie, but I tried to believe. When I sprinted back, I feared she had already left, like it would be too good to be true. But she was there, her smothered in pink wool, and I in my navy blue.
“Ready hun?” Her soft voice seeped through my thoughts. I could only manage to nod.
Through the maze, I didn’t know what to say. A cold world, but a warm girl next to me that I was so lucky to stand by.
“You know what I think about these mazes?”, she asked.
I responded with a curious grunt so as not to sound overly enthusiastic like a loser.
“When I look up, all I see is the sky. And I'm no bigger than a stalk of corn in this field. It feels humbling to be so small.”
I had never heard something so lovely in my life, but I couldn't bring myself to feel the same. “Feeling small scares me. I feel powerless, like I can't control anything in my life.” I didn't mean to be so pessimistic.
“I know what you mean but, that's life.” She smiled at me, her grin as comforting as a tight hug. “The small things can do a lot, can change everything if you want.”
We didn't speak for the rest of the maze. I was too busy thinking of her, admiring her, analyzing every word she'd said to me like it was scripture. We found the exit, and I knew it would be an end to this dreamlike moment as her brother and… Her boyfriend came into view. I gave her a forced smile and turned away to leave before I could get upset.
“Wait!” She called, and I turned around quickly, my face’s surprise betraying my attempt to seem cool.
“Yeah?”
She opened her palm and, I don't know when or how or why she found it but, in her hand lay a small blue violet flower. “For you, hun.” I took it, and as she left, I'd never felt warmer.