• It had been a lifetime. 3 lifetimes. Maybe more, or that's what it felt like. I stood there, still. She wouldn't come. I had a feeling in my gut
    People hustled around me, unaware of my silent panic. The airport was busy as ever, I hadn't had a reason to come here since I moved. For vacations, my family and I take trains. With being only 15, I was here with my mom. She's ok. Just a mom; no where near a dictator and far from a passivist. But she was in the car, leaving me to mule over my thoughts.
    I was waiting for a friend... well, I thought of her as more than a friend, but I had never met her. We weren't pen-pals; we met over an online chat site. People laugh at me when I say that. They scoff and say: "How do you even know she is a she?!" The truth is: I don't. I just trust that the pictures on her profile are her and what she says about herself is true. Because thats who I fell in love with, if she lied... I didn't even want to think about it. It wouldn't happen, it couldn't. And I left it at that.
    I finally convinced myself it was alright to sit down. I just stared at the gate, waiting, I may have nodded off, because I woke to a pat on my knee. It was a girl with bouncing curls and a round face. She looked about four or five, not old enough to be alone.
    "Why, hello there," I said. "How may I help you?" She looked back at me for a moment, wide eyed.
    "Are you waiting for," she emphasized every syllable, "a lady named Amaya Uta?"
    I was taken aback. How could this little girl know that? I nodded, keeping my compousure. She smiled, showing dimples, and pointed a little finger over to baggage claim.
    "She's over there, mister. She's looking for you." She took my hand and pulled me up and towards baggage claim. "Here! I'll show you!"
    I was dragged over, willingly. Maybe her flight came in while I was asleep. Following this little girl won't kill my chances of finding her, I thought. Might as well.
    She led me for a moment more, then let me go, suddenly. I was a little surprised and asked her whats wrong. She looked up at me and glanced to the wall behind us, I looked but saw nothing but a flash of short blond hair. "Is that your mom?" I pointed. She giggled, I gently pushed her towards the wall. She ran off.
    I was alone. Again. Sighing slowly, I turned away from the wall and walked away. I headed towards the exit when I heard fast little footsteps. At the time, I had thought that it was the little girl, running to thank me, so I stopped. But what hit me was a much bigger body than I expected. She glomped me around my neck, her arms wrapping around me gently. I was in a bit if shock so I couldn't tell this stranger to get off. She nuzzled my neck and said my name; "Ben! Oh God! It is you!"
    This was her. I knew it and I hadn't even seen her face yet. When she let go after I said "Hey, Amaya." I turned around and looked at her. She hadn't lied. It was her, from the blond hair to the itty-bitty feet and shining hazel eyes. Her bright smile lit up infront of me and I smiled in return. Amaya turned to the side and the little girl came up to us, sucking on a lollipop.
    From what I remembered, she didn't have that before. Amaya spoke in response to my unsaid question. "She has a sucker because that's her payment for helping me." I moved my eyes back to Amaya, seeing her ears turn red. Her hand reached towards mine, I took it firmly and squeezed it. She looked back at me, smiling a little smile. The girl was quickly swept off by her mom. I picked up Amaya's bag without letting go of her hand. We talked while walking to the parking garage where my mom waited.
    She hadn't lied about anything. She was a bubbly and spunky as she was online. My mom got along with her. Or should I say that she still does? biggrin