• "Ella May Chandler, the world hates you." At least, that what's going on in her head each and every day. Yes, this is Ella May's mind set and that is how she was raised.

    You see, Ella May Chandler had been alone for a very long time. She was much happier in childhood, as many people were in those days. She had a loving mother and a protective father who both worked, her mother being a doctor and her father often away as a merchant marine. Ella May never let that cloud her mind. She was always happy...until her ninth year.

    Arguments became a part of her daily routine, and her parents would be in the kitchen for hours on end, arguing over everything from the house to her. It tore Ella May apart, but she never showed it to anyone. She always kept a smile on her face.

    One day, her father up and left. Ella May never knew why. She was greatly broken and at this point, she is beyond repair. Ella May became withdrawn and no one understood why. So, they decided to stay as far away from her as humanly possible. Everyone turned against her and she was left to fend for herself. No longer did she care...or at least, she thought she never cared.

    His name was Evan. All I can say about Evan is that he can be lazy, or he can be intelligent. I don't really know for sure. Those two were so alike, but they were completely different, too. Where Ella May had no one, Evan had everyone. Guys would either emulate him or go against him, he never cared. Girls would be drawn to that charm that oh so often was projected from the Emo kids; that charm even snagged himself a lady of his own. But, the one person who caught his interest was Ella May herself.

    Ella May just wanted to talk to him. In the beginning, that was all she could hope for. All she wanted was to say hello to her once in awhile. Over time, that wish would transform into unrequited love, made only worse because Evan's lady would not let them be together. In truth, Evan's lady knew that Ella May loved Evan, but she knew that the dregs of society would never let them be together. Knowing that if she still associated with her, she had to give up their friendship, still keeping watch over her. Evan's lady asked him one day what he thought about Ella May. Though, he never directly stated it, he revealed that he was in love with her.

    Ella May once wrote a short story about a girl who suffers from some sort of depression because she could never get the nerve to speak to her love, who has someone else. Published under a pen name, Ella May's story touched all those who read it, including Evan.

    Evan's lady knew that they were in pain, and, in secret, approaches Ella May. "I can help you, but you have to trust me." Ella May, though afraid, decided to trust her. They decided to have her meet Evan in the park, but complications from rumors put these plans on hold. It seemed that there was no hope...but that story had more power than anyone thought.

    Evan frequently carried a copy of her story with him, reading it every chance he got. He was greatly affected by the story, not understanding why she apologized if she made an effect on anyone. Deciding that social boundaries cannot keep them apart forever, he approached Ella May and sat down with her. She had been engrossed in the book, Jane Eyre, and it took many tries for her to pay attention to something else.

    Ella May eventually looked up and immediately became frightened. She tried to look away but Evan stopped her, cupping her face in his hands and making her look at him. "You have a boundless heart, Ella May," he said. "I'm sorry we haven't met until now." "Why did you decide to meet me now?" "I was hoping we would become friends."

    As the weeks passed, Evan and Ella May realized they were one in the same. When Ella May asked if anyone felt sorry for her besides his lady, who became the protector of their friendship. Evan replied no, not even him. Instantly becoming afraid, she backed away, thinking this was all a lie. Evan explained that, though he is a kind soul, he could never feel sorry for her...because he knew what it was like.

    Evan's parents went through the same thing and he ended up being alone, trying on different personalities in order to fit in and feel affection. His "Mysterious Emo" persona was working for him, having attracted the love of his life. "Feeling sorry for someone is only for those who can be sympathetic; they never knew what it was like. Feeling empathetic is for those who understand, and that's a person you really need."

    Their love grew each day, but they never consummated it, for fear of being discovered. Eventually, that fear came true, as, while Ella May was walking with the lady, some of the girls came up to her. They confronted her about her relationship with Evan, saying she had no right to be with him. The lady tried to defend her, but she was quickly pushed out of the way, the blow of the ringleader knocking her out. Thinking that she could die here tonight, Ella May confessed her love for Evan in her thoughts. Just as the blow was about to land, something unexpected happened....

    Evan, as if answering her cry, stopped the girl's fist from shattering Ella May's face. As the lady awoke, the girl asked why. He replied, "As long as this world houses us all, I will not let any soul harm Ella May!" The lady, so proud of him, couldn't help but smile.The girls left in complete disgrace; everyone else left completely blown away.

    Later in the day, Evan and Ella May were sitting under a tree in the park. Evan turns to her and says: "Ella May, is there something you would like to tell me?" Ella May was naturally terrified, of course, but she mustered up all the love and courage she had and told him the truth. "For so long, I have loved you and held you dearly in my heart since I first saw you. I am sorry that I never revealed it to you sooner." Ella May was fearful of rejection, but Evan, realizing the sincerity of her feelings, cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to her own, the kiss deepening for a while before both pulled away.

    Evan, with a smile on his face, said: "I was waiting for you to say that." Ella May, tears falling down her now joyful face, kissed him, the agony in her fading away as Evan held her in his embrace.