I Met This Girl

A few days ago I met this girl while grabbing a coffee from the corner store/cafe. As usual, I was taking some pictures of the area for a newspaper ad when she tapped on my shoulder and asked what I was doing. I told her I was taking pictures of residents for a local newspaper and that I've never seen her before, as this store is where I go every weekend to take photos. She replied that she was going to school in the area and had started working part-time for some extra money.

She asked to look at the pictures I had been taking and said they were some of the most beautiful pictures she'd seen from someone like me. I had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but I took it as a compliment and told her she was beautiful as well to which she blushed and continued on with her work.

I stayed at the store for the rest of the day, admiring her taking orders of customers in the side-cafe of the store. Every now and then I'd take a picture with a spare instant camera I had beside me and took pictures of her. I made careful of the amount of shots, as each one was special. I waited for around five hours until it was time to close to talk to her again, in which she came to me instead.

She told me her school was hours away and she took the city bus to get from there to work during the weekend. I took the utmost opportunity to give her a ride to her dorm for the night, to which she denied. I'll say, it did sadden me a bit, but luckily she told me that during the morning hours, the security grew tired of the night shift and dozed off. She said her roommate takes night classes and is never there, so she leaves the door unlocked because the lock is old and sometimes never fully locks.

We walked for another ten minutes to the bus stop and talked about all sorts of things. She told me she was from a rich family that gave her a hundred thousand dollars to live on her own and finish college, that she was happy she was given an opportunity to be an "individual." The way she spoke so passionately caught my eye so that I decided to take a photo. She was so intrigued by her own story she didn't notice the photos I took of her while walking—so beautiful.

We got to the bus stop and said goodbye and waved. I watched her enter and leave me under the post light of the stop.

For the next few days, I visited the store, but stayed out of sight, as I was a little awe-struck with her existence. The amount of money I wasted on instant camera film started to wear my bank account down, as I found my scratch book filled with nothing but her since we met. She'd finish her shift and walk past me without noticing, and I'd choke when trying to talk. I guess she never noticed me because I stood with a bunch of strangers.

After a few weeks of seeing her at work, I decided to meet her at her school; her dorm to be specific. I woke up in the dark hours, driving to the school. As she said, the security guards weren't there and either dozed off or went inside to sleep. I was so excited to see her, I even took the time to research her dorm and find out where she slept.

I crept inside the dorm through a broken emergency exit and made my way up the dimly lit stairwell to the second floor. Luckily, it was late enough to where everyone slept and the hallway lights were dim. I made my way around the area, looking for her room until I found it at the end of the hallway. I pulled out my camera and met myself staring at the door. I opened the door slowly and crept inside, meeting her in a sleeping state. I took some photos of her before I decided it was the perfect opportunity.

As a precaution, just as before, I gave her an anesthetic in case she'd bolt awake. I carried her in my arms like a prince carrying his bride in a movie and made my way confidently back through the dorm.

No other girls, fire alarm, or security guard was available to interrupt me. Surprisingly, it was the easiest entry I've done so far!

Now, she lies in my dark room with the others; another treasure in my scratch book.