"A wise person will learn from his mistakes. So, I choose to learn not only from my mistakes, but from the mistakes of others too." -Author Unknown.

My life turned upside down the day I received a letter. Ironically, it was also the day he rejected a letter. Oh, yes, him. The devil incarnate. Satan, a monster, Beelzebub, whatever you choose to call him. It's all rightly the same. But I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I?

*

My name is Amaris Tsukino. I'm fifteen going on sixteen, and in my final year of high school. It's been a long, long road, and I'm really looking forward to quitting this school and moving on to brighter places come the following year. 

I'm in Class A of my school, along with some of the other most intelligent our year group has to offer. I'm by no means perfect, but I try my best, and I get good grades. I'm always striving for better though.

An oddity about me is the fact that I have no friends. Well, I have two, but somehow, they're a bit more than friends. I don't think friends are supposed to irritate your soul quite this much, nor quite this often. Regardless, because of some...bumps in the road, I've been turned off the idea of having friends. People, in general, I dislike. They're too complex, and just when you think you've gotten to know them, they turn on you. Worse, they do it with a huge smile on their faces.

Another contrast with my dislike of people is the fact that I'm not unwilling to help them. I also never underestimate the power of a smile. I've been told that my smile changes the entire look of my face. I suppose it is a bit strange, seeing as I dislike people but I still enjoy being around them and speaking with them. 

One more thing you should know about me is that I'm a peer guider at my school. That means I am one of those who the students can come to about problems they may be having, no matter what it is. I can try my best to help them, but if I ever suspect they may be causing harm to themselves or others, I'm duty bound to involve an adult. However... 'causing harm to themselves' was a term that was starting to get sketchy meanings for me. Please, allow me to explain.

In all honesty, when I first heard those two rules of peer guiding, I thought it wouldn't be that hard to distinguish one of those two scenarios. I also thought it would only happen in extreme cases, where things are so bad, the person has given up all hope. I do admit that, after a year of peer guiding, I was beginning to lose my patience and had half a mind to walk around with a baseball bat to knock people in the head.

And of course, this has everything to do with him.

You'll find out more, of course. Because this is the story of how I, Amaris Tsukino... never mind. I won't spoil the surprise.

*

"Amaris-san!"

I sigh and turn around, already knowing what I will see. A young girl, obviously a Year 1, panting, hands on her knees, clutching an envelope. Here we go again. It was a shame, because she really was pretty. Long, auburn hair caught up in a twist, a style, that, with its meticulousness, betrayed the carefree look the girl is so obviously aiming for. She had spent hours perfecting that look before coming to school.

Her blue eyes shine as she holds up the envelope. I do not have to read the addressing to know who it is for. Such a waste. She was so young, so energetic, so full of rash hope. I suppose that would work in her favour. She would get over it easily.

"Hello. You're Sakura, aren't you?"

Her cheeks colour, and I know she's going to be one of those who burst into tears. After a year of this, I'm not even sympathetic anymore. I'm just tired.

"Y-yes. I...I'm going to do it. Today. And...I know that all of the other girls...it didn't work out for them so...I'm worried. What if..."

Despite myself, my heart twinges a little.

"Look, I'm sure you spent a long time thinking about what to put in there. I'm not telling you what to do, but I don't think you should live your life with regrets."

"I know," Sakura says earnestly, her head bobbing up and down. "That's why, I decided. It's going to be today. I'm going to do it!"

Closing my eyes against the annoyance rising up in me, I breathe in and count to ten. Relaxing, I open them again. I'm a little surprised to see the degree of passion shining in her eyes. She's really serious about this. Her emotions are so intense, I find myself smiling, a real smile.

"Good luck."

A/N: '-san' is one of the many Japanese honorifics. It's used when being respectful, often to a stranger, or an elder. What do you think so far? There isn't much of anything to think I guess :) But still, please, vote, and above all, comment! I'd love to hear what you think.