Black night surrouds us as we walk silently through the quiet neighborhood. I can barely make out the features of Maisie’s face that the darkness has hidden.

I take the opportunity to keep my head to the right, staring at the side of Maisie’s face. Even in complete and utter darkness she’s so beautiful.

We pass a flickering street lamp, and I force my eyes to look away from her. Luckily she doesn’t notice my quick movment and we continue, still in silence.

A few yards away I see what I believe is a park bench, but in this darkness it might as well be anything.

“I love it here,” Maisie says as we stop in front of what now is clearly a bench. “I’ve never told anyone that.”

My heart starts gaining speed as Maisie’s dark figure turns to look at me. I can see the perfect blueness of her eyes, from day one I knew those eyes.

“Now you have,” I point out, smiling as if she could see me.

Maisie laughs quietly, falling to the bench. I follow her, wrapping my arms across my chest.

Maisie shifts around, sighing. “Do you beileve in second chances?”

Maisie’s question hits me hard. I have no idea how to answer to this. If I say yes she could get false hope, if I say no she could lose what little hope she may have left.

I part my lips, trying to find words. All that comes out is a small grunt.

“I think I do,” Maisie whispers.

“How do you know?” I blurt out, as the question enters my mind. “If they’re real.”

Maisie moves, I can’t see her but I think she shrugged. “I’m just going off of my life. What I was like a year ago, what I’m like now . . . What’s changed me.”

My words get caught in my throat. Is Maisie trying to tell me something? Or am I reading everything wrong?

“Last year I could barely get a word out,” Maisie sighs. “I had anxiety that told me what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. I had no say in my actions, or my words.”

Maisie turns to look at me, and I twist my head to look at her. Even in the darkness I can tell her eyes are on mine.

“But then I met you,” Maisie whispers, I can hear the smile in her voice, and it makes me smile. “I can talk to you . . . I trust you.”

“Good,” I say when Maisie pauses. “Cause my favorite thing in the world is talking to you.”

I see Maisie’s perfect smile in my mind as her hand slowly brushes agaisnt mine.

“You’re my second chance,” Maisie says as her fingers wrap around mine.

I squeeze her hand gently, my heart racing in my chest. I want this . . . I think I need it. But I can’t let Maisie fall for me, I’m the one that killed her mother. Maybe it was a mistake to try and fix my mistake.

I pull my hand away, standing up. “Maisie . . . I . . . I forgot my brother needed me home . . . I was supposed to help with something . . . Sorry.”

Maisie stands as I start to walk away. I can see her face, the disappointment in her blue eyes, her fading smile. I killed her mom and now I’m not sure what I’m doing.

I’m doing all the wrong things but for the right reasons. And to say the least it sucks, all I want to do is be there for Maisie, and I can’t.