Innocence Lost

What comes to mind when the word ‘innocence’ is brought up? Does it conjure images of carefree boys playing together in a game they concocted themselves? Would one think of best friends laying upon a beach and watching a sunset together, their hearts devoid of malice and ill intent? The pictures the mind paints when people speak of ‘innocence’ are singular to the person imagining. If one can pinpoint innocence to a few images, what …

…Gene, with all his human flaws. I could recognize the blind feelings inside of me just acting out only after it was too late to stop them. I jounced a limb of my own that night; I had to face that I was capable of this pointless malice. Unfortunately, unlike Gene, I still cannot find my “separate peace.” Of course, someday, I will. It seems that I have a lot of innocence left to lose.