Empowered

Chapter One

My eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep and anger towards my thoughts. Ms. Smith points at the board then calls my name"What's the answer?" It's a rather simple trig question. "It's negative four Ms Smith", "Good" she confirms my answer.

I go back to looking at my desk when I feel my shoulder tapped. I quickly turn around to see my buddy Eric. He has short blonde hair, with brown eyes the color of my hair. He's built athletically like me since we played football together throughout high school, his face emotionless. "I'll miss ya" he stutters. I notice his eyes are red and puffy. "I know Eric, we'll see each other again though". I try to reassure him but I'm not even sure I'll see Burlington again, let alone my friends. I turn back around, "hopefully" I hear him mutter under his breath. I don't turn around for the last twenty minutes as the class works in silence till the bell goes. The last bell I'll hear from this school, my time here is done. The class gets up almost in unison and everyone walks out the door.

As everyone exits, I wait by the door until Eric is out of the classroom. We exit the school silently. Eric is definitely not hiding his sadness as I see tears begin to stream down his cheek "I'm sorry, I know we said no tears." his breathes shallow, he isn't dealing very well. I knew he wouldn't. "Eric it's okay, it's a hard day for both of us" I try to remain strong, one of us has to. He nods with a sniffle and uses the sleeve of his shirt to wipe the tears away. "You shouldn't have to worry about my feelings though.." He pauses and looks away from me, he sniffles again before looking back "You have enough to worry about" he finishes, his voice lowered. He's hinting at the reason I have to leave in the first place. "I'll be okay, I just wish my father would smarten up." I sigh and eric pats my shoulder "sadly it's a little late to change his mind" I know he's right, my dad has already sold our house. We realize its time to say good bye. No words are needed anymore, we've known each other long enough. Our farewell is a couple of smiles and shakind hands before we go our seperate ways.

I continue down the sidewalk to my house. It's a long, quiet walk. I climb up the two concrete steps and open the door. I see my dad walking through the hallway towards the kitchen. I put my shoes in the closet and head to the living room where my brother is playing on his phone. I kick his foot for him to notice someone is in the room now. "I didn't see you at school". I notice his dark brown hair is still completely in bed-head mode. "Dad let me stay home today" he looked at his suitcase. "I had to finish packing".

The house has been emptied besides our suitcases, sleeping bags and couches we're leaving behind. The house definitely looks weird and abandoned without our stuff here. It's in the moving truck we'll be driving first thing tomorrow morning. I get off the couch and enter the kitchen where dads preparing dinner. "I'm going to go for one last jog before we leave Burlington. Text me when dinners ready". I turn around and head upstairs to my room.

I notice myself in the mirror. I'm six foot and two inches with messy chocolate brown hair without a single combing today. I have a very muscular build from my football training during the offseason, the constant jogs have been helping as well. I get changed quickly leaving my suitcase in a mess.

As I exit the house, I plug in my headphones. My country playlist is automatically selected, and I start to jog lightly into the forest behind my house. I cut into a trail through the forest and start sprinting, using fallen twigs to practice my cuts for football. My pace weakens after about ten minutes of straight sprinting and I begin to jog as I catch up to the auburn haired girl I see running here all the time.

I start sprinting again and tickle up her spine as I pass her. She flinches and nearly falls face first into the ground. I reach out and grab her forearm to help steady her, she regains her balance and pulls my ear bud out. "Every goddamn time Matt!" she exclaims. "I can't just let you go without saying a good bye, I have to torture you like always Em." I wink and she scoffs "like you have a chance at torturing me, I'll beat you this race." "Let's get going then" I smirk and let go of her arm. "To the end of the trail" she calls out as she starts running, I chase after her.