Page 18 - Diane Musgrove Issue

Laya Grace Aichle will be attending Oceanside
High School after the summer with her
identical twin sister, Lana. She's been writing
ever since she was in second grade and enjoys
watching and performing in Musical theater.
She’s practiced and perfected her writing in
countless Google docs and is honored to present
a new piece to the public again through San
Diego Woman’s Magazine! She hopes readers
find her writing inspiring, like she did when
she was younger. Learning from other authors
through their stories, books, and tips helped
guide Laya’s writing, and she feels truly blessed
to share it with you again! She thanks you all
for this incredible opportunity!

The Lotus

Flower and

the Ghost

By Laya Grace Aichle, 14

he bus struggled to surge ahead, the ride
becoming bumpy from the uneven roads. The
T quiet teen sat by one of the many windows.
Near the back of the bus, his eyes were turned down
toward his cell phone, which he used to change his
music. With his bulky headphones on and his back-
pack on the seat next to him, he seemed very anti-so-
cial. After carefully placing the phone in the pocket
of his bag, he pulled out a familiar sketchbook—the
one he doodles in every day on his journey from the
bus to another destination. Most of the others seated
on the bus never give him a second glance.
I stood nearest to the door on the crowded bus.
My eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to him. I felt
guilty. I should really have thanked him the other
day. Instead, I ran off the bus and am now sentenced
to a lifetime of watching him at a distance. It was
driving me crazy. Talking to someone shouldn’t be so

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