The Failed Meeting 10OCT2007

Dan stood there looking at his watch, 3:30. He had been waiting for Sophia close to thirty minutes now and he was beginning to think he was simply the victim of a cruel joke. It wouldn't be the first time. After convincing himself it was and it had been too good to be true he picked up his bag and headed down the hallway. Halfway down, he saw Angela coming from the opposite direction towards him. He thought nothing of this until she stepped right in front of him. Dan looked at her "What's up?" he said. Not missing a beat, Angela responded "Sophia said that she's sorry she wasn't here and wants to talk to you tomorrow." and before Dan could even think of a response, Angela continued down the hall. Dan's mood lifted, and he was glad it wasn't just a joke. He arrived the next day only to find that, not only had Sophia decided not to meet him but also there was no word from Angela. "Figures" Dan thought "guess that's just how things go." Then Dan checked his watch again, picked up his bag, and proceeded to walk down the hallway. The world and time becoming nothing but a blur.

The Old Acquaintance 21AUG2007

It was the first day of a new school year, Dan strolled to his locker past the cliques and the social groups. Dan used to be obsessed with maintaining social status but this year was different. This year he was part of an "experimental academic fast track" that wouldn't get him a diploma sooner but he would get a more prestigious one. He was proud of his academic achievements, but subconsciously the reason he worked so hard for the grade was he had nothing else to strive for. He expected to be the first student to arrive in the classroom but he was not. Sitting in her seat was a girl that, although he had not talked to in years, he immediately recognized. It was Sophia, and that feeling that he had towards her years ago was still strong. In his mind hundreds of different things to say streamed through his mind, he wanted to sit next to her and talk for hours. learn everything about her, tell her how he felt. He didn't. "She probably doesn't even remember me" Dan thought "I'd just make a fool of myself. Besides, there's work that I need to get done. I need to focus if I want to make it through this year." Dan took a seat in the front right hand corner of the classroom, He got ready for the class and kept to himself. This routine went on for several weeks. Dan was not happy, but he was not sad either. He was simply there. The world and time started to blur, but then one day he sat at his seat and in his desk was a note. Inside it said "Dan, meet me in the hall after class. I want to talk to you. ~ Sophia"

The Introduction 21Jan2002

Children know more then we give them credit for. It's less of an actual knowledge of how things are and more of small suitabilities that, as we get older, we tend to lose. They do not focus on the repercussions or the "meaning" of something but instead take joy from the small moments. That mindset is what made the first time Dan met Sophia something special.
Dan sat on bench, watching his new classmates in the school yard. The gray sky and cool weather only worsened his already somber mood. He thought about what this all meant, going to a new school were his mother taught, in a new state, and with no one he knew. There was a cold gust and Dan, used to the warm Georgia weather, shivered in his t-shirt. Everyone always told him to put on a coat but he refused, in his short sleeves he could pretend, Dan closed his eyes, imagine he wasn't here but back where he knew..."Hey!" said a voice. Dan looked up, startled. "I'm Sophia, you're new. What's your name?" She said. "I'm Dan" he said quietly, still wary of this new person. Sophia took grabbed Dan's arm and pulled him to the playground. The rest of the next few weeks the two were together for every recess. Running, Talking, or just doing what kids do. Dan liked Sophia, but before he could say anything both met other friends and were soon pulled into separate social circles but he wondered if he would ever be able to talk to Sophia again. Seasons changed, years passed, and every day seemed like a shade of gray. Dan moved on. The world and time became nothing but a blur.

The Moment 17Dec2011

Dan sat in the room for the school newspaper, the only light came in through a nearby window. It was around 4:30 in the afternoon, not too late but late enough that the rest of newspaper staff had left. He and Sophia were the only two left. Sophia was working on a project, as she had been for over an hour now. Dan sat next to her, pretending he had nothing better to do but help her. In actuality he had so much to do, but nothing was more important to him than to simply be in here with her, help her, and wish things were different. His phone chirped, letting him know it was time to go. Dan rose and turned towards the door, he lay a hand on Sophia's shoulder and said "It's been nice but I have to go, let me know how the project goes." He took his hand off, and had only opened the door a few inches before he heard her voice. "Wait..." she said. He turned towards her after closing the door and said nothing, neither did Sophia. They locked eyes for a moment that seemed much longer than it was, and Sophia leaned towards him with her head slightly tilted. Dan held her, and met her in the middle. They kissed, they kissed until Dan's phone chirped a second time. Then Dan said I have to go, opened the door, and proceeded to walk down the hallway. The world and time becoming nothing but a blur.

Explaination 00NoMonth0000

This is the story of Dan an average guy with an average life until he met a more than average girl. Meeting this girl led to a fabric of life that came as the result of a single crucial choice. A thread in this fabric, that Dan would come to hate... even though he himself made the choice. A choice that is what makes him Dan. All the events which follow are true and only the names have been changed in order to protect the privacy of those in this story. The date in the Title, not the time stamp, of each post reflects the order in which the events occurred on Dan's Timeline.