I found a note in the bathroom
It was on the floor of the second stall
The girl that had walked out of it before I entered it looked sad and shy
She had long ash brown hair it was wavy and frizzy
But her face would have been so beautiful if she would have smiled
I stepped in the stall and there it was
It was none of my business so I picked it up left the stall and ran out
Into the hallway I was staring
Looking for the girl
But there was no one
I looked down at my hand that held the folded up piece of paper
I could turn it into the office
Tell them to give it to the girl
But I turned that idea down
How were they supposed to return the note if I don’t know her name and have no idea who to give it too
I thought as I was walking back to class
I am not going to read it
It’s none of my business
You should understand it’s in my nature to overthink things completely
What if it’s just her homework instructions?
On a project
A silly note from a friend
Secrets from a friend
Drama squeezed between the lines of notebook paper about an old best friends new haircut
It could be a love note
Sappy words strung together by an admirer
I’ve gotten myself curious at this point
I’d like to say I’m not going to read it for the sake of the mysterious girl
But maybe it will have her name on it
Then I could return it
I might read something the girl wouldn’t want anyone to know
Plus if I returned it she would know I had to have to have read it in order to find out who’s it is
If it had a name in it at all
At this point I could throw it away
No harm done there
The paper looked old really old
Maybe it’s just a piece of junk
An old homework assignment that fell out of her book bag
I never thought I’d hesitate so much over reading a note found on the ground
The whole day had passed by and I still had the note folded up in my pocket
Strange feelings is what I felt when I thought about the girl and the note
If I am going to return it I should read it
But my mind was fighting me
When the bell rang for school to dismiss I still had the note
I had forgotten I had found it at this point of the day
I wasn’t really interested anymore
I had forced myself to think of other things so I wouldn’t read the note from the bathroom floor
My mind was thinking about where I would stop on the way home to get food until I saw a familiar face
Not too familiar but just enough to spot out of the crowded hallway
A face from earlier that day
It was the face of the girl from the bathroom but this time her face was covered with tears
She was walking in a somewhat fast pace from the bathroom
I suddenly remembered the note
I felt all of my jacket pockets for the note
Hoping I hadn’t dropped it
I felt reassured when my hand gripped the paper inside my jacket
I turned around and for the second time that day followed her
The halls were busy
Crowded with kids hurrying to get out and get home
It was difficult to see the girl because so many people were in my way to her
Plus she was walking fast
That didn’t help the cause
I lost sight of her after I followed her down a hallway that cut off to the right
Feeling let down I turned around to leave the building figuring I wouldn’t find her again
I was walking alone feeling disappointed
Kicking myself for not catching up to her fast enough
Looking down at the floor
I was so close to returning the note
Oh well it wasn’t meant to be I guess
Everything happens for a reason
I picked my head up and looked down the hall
I almost felt dumb when I realized I was running down the hallway
To the girl with long wavy frizzy hair
That’s all I could see of her
She was walking in the same direction I was
Just about to open the door to walk outside to the large group of students waiting for a ride
I grabbed the girls shoulder trying to get her attention
I grabbed the girls shoulder trying to get her attention
I probably freaked her out with my huge smile on my face
But I couldn’t help it
I was so happy to finally catch up to her and give her back the note
I asked her to wait with my hand on her shoulder as she turned around
She turned and looked at me in the face
A confused expression on her face
That’s not the face I was looking for
My smile turned blank
I apologized to the girl and explained my mistaking her for someone else
We walked out the door
Then parted ways
On my way home that was all I could think about
I remembered the girls face
I wonder if it’s even worth looking for the girl tomorrow
Im so mad at the irony of the situation that I get home set the note on my dresser and don’t look at it for a while
Even though that’s alive been thinking about
I’ve been through too much over this stupid piece of paper
Why was the girl so upset?
Could I find out if I read the note?
I’m just gonna read it and throw it away
I grab the paper from my desk
Start to unfold the old sheet
The folds look worn
The lines are faded
The page had red orange stains
It was wrinkled
I opened the paper completely and started to read the messy hand writing…
“Dear noelle,




My angle you are the best thing I could have asked for. God couldn’t have blessed me with a better daughter. You are so young and full of life I know you probably won’t understand when you find out what has happened to me but you will when you are older. I hope you understand god has a plan for everyone and everything happens for a reason. I love you so very much baby! You are my world. I’ll see you again Pumkin. Be strong for mommy. I love you!
-Angela Stephens (mommy)”
I didn’t quite understand until I read the date of the letter
9-11-01
Suddenly I’m saddened
But I’m happy I read the note
I’m thankful I didn’t throw it away earlier
I now know what I have to do