The Burning

Chapter 1

The Burning

        I sought out a burning sensation that rippled from beneath my underside. I had felt lightheaded and everything had been brighter than before. The Catholic school had expected better than this from me, but the excruciating pain I felt throbbing in my chest was nothing like before. It was like a heartache that beat for the return of my brother.
       The drops of dew from the deadened grass crept into my sandals as I made the trek towards my target, the catholic school. It was like every day had repeated just as the one before. I would catch myself sticking my hand out and even grasping my wrists, the feeling like I was in a dream and couldn't control anything any longer. I felt terrible for the girl that was trapped inside my head constantly banging on the walls begging for forgiveness and freedom.
        "Marjorie, your late!" my arm got dragged and my body followed in a leaning manner, the girl in my head getting rattled around. All I could see was the lady in black dragging my arm, thumbnail digging into my skin to a dark room, the room I knew all too well. She sat, fronting me with a ruler and a hard smack against the wrist. Simultaneously, I reached for my now throbbing wrist as it agonized in pain. "Where were you?" another smack came across my left hand swiftly.
         "I ran up a fever, I'm sorry sister." I felt a soft hand gently squeeze my shoulders before whipping around and giving my hand yet another swing at. My skin felt numb yet it made me feel real, this was real. I felt her gaze as her she carefully calculated her next move. I stood and in the same moment was pushed back down to my seat, nearly topping over.
          "You are ill, god will never give you a trial you cannot handle," she continued as she circled back around to face me. My eyes followed the seam of the walls to the wooden flooring as to avoid a conflict. "You have no reason to be late, let alone bypass your daily instruction." Both of my arms were grasped and pulled up to a halt. "Now be on your way." A hand placed on my lower back gently guided me out without the memory of what had happened moments before. Had I really just begged for forgiveness yet again? When will I learn? I hastily finished my path to the instruction room where I had been greeted with the warmth of Augustine. She had been waiting for me like a child whose face remained squished against the candy glass waiting for the gumdrops.
          "Hey, Marj where were you?" I followed her gentle crimson hair to our placement in the study hall. I seated and calculated my words before I spoke out of ignorance.
          My heart beat faster and faster, a symbol that I was still living. "I was sick and got brought in." I traced circles around and around on the table. I sensed worry in her eyes. She had a burden she was carrying on her shoulders, I could tell. I tried not to breathe heavier than normal but her presence made me stressed.
         "Oh, okay. Are you gonna be okay?" she sighed with relief. I turned my head away for my answer as my eyes teared up. I couldn't be brutally honest with August, she was too sweet.
        "Yes August, have you heard much from Betty?" I blankly stared, I could tell I had struck a nerve. "It really is awful that James disappeared too, she really loved him you know?" August had started tapping her foot out of pure anxiety that eventually she too would be taken.
          "No, she went ghost after she found out. I really hope she wasn't taken too." she started to tear up before I grabbed her hands and held them in mine. Her hands were frigid and worn down on the ruler side. Pulling her close to me as to give her my support and love, her tear rolled down my shirt soaking up before it could make its way any further. August was the one person in my life who had the ability and power to make me feel real again, maybe there would be a logical reasoning. For now, I wish I could have August's embrace for all of eternity. She made me feel like I was a good person. I felt real.