My Livie

There are so many of my friends that are online, my friend Livie usually gets overlooked. She's not a part of my regular circle of friends, and she has some self-esteem issues... but she's a sweet kid. And by that I mean that she's still fragile at nineteen. Drac, you think I'm naive? So is she, only more so.

When she came to my high school her freshman year, she was a bubbly tall, thin, dark-skinned girl. And eccentric. She believed she could do anything. Different school... different background. I learned that I could write anything. She could sing anything.

She really could. Her voice would give most pop legends a run for their money. She and I were involved in a singing competition on behalf of my choir teacher... she forgot half the words and still got a higher score than I did. I envied her for that, I suppose. My talent in singing probably ends with me singing hymns in the church choir or along with my headphones. The drama teachers took great care in not putting me in solos during the musicals. (Probably a good thing. I still got noticed anyway. "Hey, Weren't you in FAME?")

But Livie was rather sickly. Maybe because her immune system is low, maybe because her self esteem is somewhere around her feet. Because she was sick, she would go to the nurse, who would claim that she couldn't help her. Hypochondriac? I don't think so. She needed an ambulance to pick her up from a dance my Junior Year.

At school, Livie received the taunting that I shrugged. By High School, they mostly left me alone. Meanwhile, the kids at school teased her unmercilessly. Occasionally she'd lash back, harsh-like. But not often enough. I'm sure that took it's toll, too.

So now, after high school, she's picking up the peices. She needs a job, one that she can concentrate on... and preferably one that she can enjoy. Because when that girl smiles, she lights up the room. I pray to God that the first man that Livie finds herself with does not take advantage of her- and I think that's the reason her Aunt treats her like a porcelain doll.

She's a rare sort of bird, and she won't want to be in a cage forever. But for right now, she'll have to be.