Footsteps in the Night

Chapter 3

                                                                        3 Months Later

I now live with my Aunt Edith. As much as I dislike her, she has helped me get over it some. It's like an ugly scab over an old wound that still smarts whenever touched.

I still go to the same school. My first day back at school was bad. It was hard to go out after all of this. To realize that it wasn't the end of the world, that I had to go on with my life. When word got out, it was even worse. All of my teachers smothered me with their sympathy. I guess it was nice to know that they cared, but at the same time, it was really overpowering. When I am hurt, I am like a porcupine. I curl up and try to deal with it myself. When people try to help, I lash out. 

It's better now. They don't look at me like I'm a kicked puppy, they treat me nomally. That's better than sympathy any day. 

The funeral was incredibly difficult. Everyone wanted to come and talk to the "poor orphan girl". It was tiring after a while. Please don't think of me as a horrible human being. It's just really hard to deal with. 

Although I got over it a little, I became depressed. Aunt Edith has me seeing a therapist every Wednesday. The therapist does not help. At all. He just annoys me with his stupid questions. Eventually, when I get fed up, I just ignore him. There is this kid at school, he sits next to me in math. He asked about my parents, and I gave him the whole run-down. He nodded and asked questions that no one had ever asked before. He wanted to know "How I was taking this" and "If I needed a friend right now" and "If I wanted to hang out with him". It was so nice to have someone understand me. We hang out now...after school...at the mall...in the park...places. 

His name is James.

He had me try something I had never tried before, James had me smoke. It wasn't bad, I felt so happy afterward. I forgot about everything! It was so great. I still knew it was there, but I couldn't remember what it was.

He also took me to a tattoo parlor. James payed for my first tattoo. It is a woman with wings rising from vines. The vines wrap around her ankles, but she is pulling away. It made me feel so inspired. 

Today, in math, James and I are chatting on chromebooks. Our teacher moved us away from each other because we kept talking. He asks me if I want to go to the Christmas Dance with him. 

WITH HIM.

I reply "Yes! Thank you for asking me!"

He comes back with " :) anything for you!" 

I say "*blushing*"

He says "Beautiful"

I feel happy. 

Once I'm at home, I look at the picture of my parents on their wedding day. "What's love like?" I wonder.

I miss my family.