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Description
Ashura did not celebrate Valentine’s Day, though he longed to so badly. He had learned back in kindergarten that no one would give him any candy or valentines, and that no one wanted candy or valentines from him. He would sit quietly at his desk, staring down at his hands, while the rest of the children chatted, giggled, and ate their candy. They ignored him easily. Everyone did. He was used to it.
But this year was different. This year, Ashura had a friend.
As he had done for the past two years, Ashura sat out of the Valentine’s Day party. That didn’t change. But instead of staring at his hands, encased in their brown, dirty, threadbare gloves, he was looking intently at the treat in his lap. A big, fat chocolate bar: his first ever Valentine’s present. Lauren had gotten it when she and her family had gone to visit the City. It was originally for herself, but this morning, as the school bell rang, she’d stopped him right outside the big wooden building and handed over the chocolate bar. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Ashura,” she had said, with a sweet smile that always turned Ashura’s legs into water.
Lauren was always doing nice things for him. She was his friend when everyone else hated him; she protected him from those haters; she comforted him when he was left to cry alone. She came secretly to play with him every day, and had even let him in her room a couple times. She was so good to him. She loved him.
Ashura loved her back, of course; more than she could know. But it was so hard for him to show his love. He was too shy and humble. He did his best to smile and be polite, though, but that was nothing special; he did that all the time, with everyone.
He never did anything for Lauren. What if she thought that he didn’t like her; that he was bad and rude?
Well, it was Valentine’s Day. The perfect day to give his thanks.
As the bell rang, announcing the end of the school day, his hand moved to his shirt pocket and reached inside gingerly. It was still there, safe: his gift for Lauren. It was nothing too grand---it certainly wasn’t as nice as the chocolate bar---but it was something. He knew Lauren would like it.
Ashura wanted to give her his little present right away, before it was too late. “Right away” meant as soon as he saw her---outside of school. With all the masses of elementary children surrounding him. Children that despised him and mocked him every chance they got.
It was risky business, but Ashura was willing to take that risk. He was tortured every day of his life by those children---what was another harsh laugh or hurtful word? He’d do this for Lauren. She herself was taking a risk by being his friend. She deserved a present.
At first he didn’t see her when he got outside. Too many children around. Children that hated him. Ashura felt his heart begin to pound, and his throat went dry---his normal reaction to crowds. Maybe this was a bad idea. He couldn’t bear much more oppression. He didn’t need it. He should just leave while he had the---
He spotted her. A flash of violet quills, hanging down around her delicate shoulders, bouncing lightly as she walked homeward. His weak, heavy heart became light, as it always did when he got his first glimpse of her.
“Lauren!”
He started to run, pushing past the other children to get to her. Some muttered things at him, and others pushed him back. A few kids even cussed. They frightened him, but they didn’t matter right now. What mattered was Lauren, and his love for her.
“L-Lauren!”
The little girl finally stopped walking. Out of all the voices around her going at once, she picked his out right away. He had a voice like no other boy she’d ever met: high and soft. Scared and submissive. She liked his voice.
Lauren turned around, and he was right there in front of her. She forced a smile, trying not to stare at the large bruise on his right cheek. “Hi, Ashura. Did you like the chocolate?”
“Uh . . .” Something was wrong with Ashura. His shoulders hunched, and he started to look sick. He shifted his feet uncomfortably. Then he began to blush, hard.
He always looked so cute when he was shy. Lauren wanted to giggle, but he had a very serious look in his eyes. There was something he wanted. “What’s up, Ashura?”
“I-I . . . g-got a valentine.” Ashura reached into the pocket on his tattered T-shirt, seizing something carefully between his thumb and forefinger. He drew it slowly out of his pocket, and displayed it for Lauren---and the world---to see.
A flower. A simple little flower. One leaf on the stem, and red petals. He had picked it during their outdoor lunch, from the garden out front of school. “I-it’s m-my gift for y-you,” he explained quietly. “Th-thank you f-for . . . e-everything.”
Lauren was stunned. What a bold move for Ashura! To show his deepest emotions in front of a whole throng of people that hated him! Those people were looking now. If anyone hadn’t known before that The Most Popular Second-Grader and The Freak Boy had a thing for each other, they damn well knew now. The surprised gasps, hooting, and catcalls began. Ashura turned even redder, but was determined not to let them dissuade him. Not this time. He was on a mission.
Lauren took a couple of steps closer to the terrified boy. She adjusted her knapsack, looked hard into Ashura’s face, and then, finally, reached out to accept the flower. She removed it gently from his fingers, sniffed it, and smiled. “Thanks so much, Ashura. That was really nice of you.” She placed it behind her left ear and giggled.
Ashura smiled. It wasn’t a shy smile, or the fake, polite smile he used so often to mask his emotions. It was a big, truly happy grin. He was satisfied. Lauren had accepted his gift. A dinky flower would not pay Lauren back for her friendship, but at least she knew now, just a little bit, how grateful he was.

-----

Aww One of the extremely few happy events from Ashura's past. Simple but cute little thing I drew for Valentine's Day, when I thought my Happy V-Day pic was scrap. Yes, I did intend to have everything remain colorless, except for the flower. Why? Actually, I'm not really sure. . . I guess 'cuz it's the focal point of the pic; the gift of love. Meh. Love sucks anyway.

Description
Ashura did not celebrate Valentine’s Day, though he longed to so badly. He had learned back in kindergarten that no one would give him any candy or valentines, and that no one wanted candy or valentines from him. He would sit quietly at his desk, staring down at his hands, while the rest of the children chatted, giggled, and ate their candy. They ignored him easily. Everyone did. He was used to it.
But this year was different. This year, Ashura had a friend.
As he had done for the past two years, Ashura sat out of the Valentine’s Day party. That didn’t change. But instead of staring at his hands, encased in their brown, dirty, threadbare gloves, he was looking intently at the treat in his lap. A big, fat chocolate bar: his first ever Valentine’s present. Lauren had gotten it when she and her family had gone to visit the City. It was originally for herself, but this morning, as the school bell rang, she’d stopped him right outside the big wooden building and handed over the chocolate bar. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Ashura,” she had said, with a sweet smile that always turned Ashura’s legs into water.
Lauren was always doing nice things for him. She was his friend when everyone else hated him; she protected him from those haters; she comforted him when he was left to cry alone. She came secretly to play with him every day, and had even let him in her room a couple times. She was so good to him. She loved him.
Ashura loved her back, of course; more than she could know. But it was so hard for him to show his love. He was too shy and humble. He did his best to smile and be polite, though, but that was nothing special; he did that all the time, with everyone.
He never did anything for Lauren. What if she thought that he didn’t like her; that he was bad and rude?
Well, it was Valentine’s Day. The perfect day to give his thanks.
As the bell rang, announcing the end of the school day, his hand moved to his shirt pocket and reached inside gingerly. It was still there, safe: his gift for Lauren. It was nothing too grand---it certainly wasn’t as nice as the chocolate bar---but it was something. He knew Lauren would like it.
Ashura wanted to give her his little present right away, before it was too late. “Right away” meant as soon as he saw her---outside of school. With all the masses of elementary children surrounding him. Children that despised him and mocked him every chance they got.
It was risky business, but Ashura was willing to take that risk. He was tortured every day of his life by those children---what was another harsh laugh or hurtful word? He’d do this for Lauren. She herself was taking a risk by being his friend. She deserved a present.
At first he didn’t see her when he got outside. Too many children around. Children that hated him. Ashura felt his heart begin to pound, and his throat went dry---his normal reaction to crowds. Maybe this was a bad idea. He couldn’t bear much more oppression. He didn’t need it. He should just leave while he had the---
He spotted her. A flash of violet quills, hanging down around her delicate shoulders, bouncing lightly as she walked homeward. His weak, heavy heart became light, as it always did when he got his first glimpse of her.
“Lauren!”
He started to run, pushing past the other children to get to her. Some muttered things at him, and others pushed him back. A few kids even cussed. They frightened him, but they didn’t matter right now. What mattered was Lauren, and his love for her.
“L-Lauren!”
The little girl finally stopped walking. Out of all the voices around her going at once, she picked his out right away. He had a voice like no other boy she’d ever met: high and soft. Scared and submissive. She liked his voice.
Lauren turned around, and he was right there in front of her. She forced a smile, trying not to stare at the large bruise on his right cheek. “Hi, Ashura. Did you like the chocolate?”
“Uh . . .” Something was wrong with Ashura. His shoulders hunched, and he started to look sick. He shifted his feet uncomfortably. Then he began to blush, hard.
He always looked so cute when he was shy. Lauren wanted to giggle, but he had a very serious look in his eyes. There was something he wanted. “What’s up, Ashura?”
“I-I . . . g-got a valentine.” Ashura reached into the pocket on his tattered T-shirt, seizing something carefully between his thumb and forefinger. He drew it slowly out of his pocket, and displayed it for Lauren---and the world---to see.
A flower. A simple little flower. One leaf on the stem, and red petals. He had picked it during their outdoor lunch, from the garden out front of school. “I-it’s m-my gift for y-you,” he explained quietly. “Th-thank you f-for . . . e-everything.”
Lauren was stunned. What a bold move for Ashura! To show his deepest emotions in front of a whole throng of people that hated him! Those people were looking now. If anyone hadn’t known before that The Most Popular Second-Grader and The Freak Boy had a thing for each other, they damn well knew now. The surprised gasps, hooting, and catcalls began. Ashura turned even redder, but was determined not to let them dissuade him. Not this time. He was on a mission.
Lauren took a couple of steps closer to the terrified boy. She adjusted her knapsack, looked hard into Ashura’s face, and then, finally, reached out to accept the flower. She removed it gently from his fingers, sniffed it, and smiled. “Thanks so much, Ashura. That was really nice of you.” She placed it behind her left ear and giggled.
Ashura smiled. It wasn’t a shy smile, or the fake, polite smile he used so often to mask his emotions. It was a big, truly happy grin. He was satisfied. Lauren had accepted his gift. A dinky flower would not pay Lauren back for her friendship, but at least she knew now, just a little bit, how grateful he was.

-----

Aww One of the extremely few happy events from Ashura's past. Simple but cute little thing I drew for Valentine's Day, when I thought my Happy V-Day pic was scrap. Yes, I did intend to have everything remain colorless, except for the flower. Why? Actually, I'm not really sure. . . I guess 'cuz it's the focal point of the pic; the gift of love. Meh. Love sucks anyway.