It was an October afternoon; the heat had overstayed its welcome and was making me drip with sweat. My hair was pasted to the back of my neck, my t-shirt pasted to my stomach. But I was happy. For the first time in months I was happy. I was laughing with my sister while we dangled our legs off the lake dock. She was telling me about college and her roomate’s dog. I leaned back and let the sun warm my face. I could feel the rays burning my skin, but I didn’t care. My sister was home for the weekend and all was right in my world again. Then I glanced up at the sky and saw a cloud shaped like a heart...and it made me think of you.

It's the color of love, of softly kissed lips, chocolate covered stawberries, roses in a vase, the cherry punch filled glass, the telephone booth on the street corner.

It's the color of heartbreak, of fire trucks racing by, brakes slammed too late after the stop sign, bloodied fists and party cups, half-eaten poisoned apples, a crumbled brick wall.