I passed you in the hallway again today, it seems you are always some where, standing out from the crowd. Your face beaming with youthful radiance and a nose and ears that are just slightly awkward upon your sweet face. Today was different though, I was compelled, if that is even the word. I had to speak, to know if your voice would register on some lingering wavelength surrounding my soul. "Do I know you?" I naively ask. "Umm I don't know, I've seen you around though." you said as you shyly kicked at the blackened cracks between the tiles. My breath caught for just a second, my mind trying every trick it could find to capture and replay your voice and hear you again. "Oh, OK, well I'm Val. Whats your name?" I asked with a smile that I hoped looked more sincere than it felt. With those deep eyes lifting from the pale gray floors, it seemed you were moving in slow motion, so that I could maybe count the freckles scattered across your nose and by that detail alone recognize you. "I'm Mat. It's nice to meet you." you smile and that little gap between your teeth makes the room spin and I come to a startling revelation. You will always be near me. Your beautiful youth and shy smiles will live on in my heart forever. So with that Brother, I'll see you later.