Lost and Found

Free

Ch. 1 ~ Free ~ Demi’s POV

            I had not thought about my parents much, since my mother disappeared almost five years ago. Well, actually, that’s not true; some nights I thought about my mother. But I hadn’t really thought about my mom and my dad, and if they were even married. I remembered what my mother said about him, though, even though I hadn’t met him. Some days she would describe him as a tall, dark, and handsome man whom she’d met in the park. Others, he was a sociable florist she visited downtown in his shop, or a guitar player who performed every Saturday in the café. I would be okay with any of them. I stopped asking about him a while ago after I realized my mother made up most of the stories about him.

            The only reason I bring him up is because Nana reminded me about him.

            She said at breakfast this morning, “Summer’s coming to an end, Demetria. Has your tutor spoken to you about your schooling?”

            I was quiet, watching the syrup drip out of the bottle and onto my pancake intently. I’m homeschooled, meaning Nana pays a tutor to come over and teach me while other kids are away at school.

            “Have you thought about college much?” Nana continued.

            I moaned, looking up from my pancake stack, “Nana, that’s two years away. Why are you so excited to get rid of me?”

            “Don’t be silly.” Nana came over and kissed my hair. “I hope you aren’t thinking of skipping college… Your mother skipped college, and, now, where did that get her?”

            Once again, I fell silent. After a few minutes, I asked, “What do you mean?”

            Nana’s wrinkled face smiled in apology. “Oh, dearie, she’s in a better place, now… But she could have done without that wretched father of yours. She might have met a decent man if she hadn’t given up on her education.”

            My face twisted into a scowl. I sat up in my seat and replied, “My dad was a great man.”

            Nana heaved a sigh. After clanking the sudsy dishes around in the sink, she spoke. “I don’t want to argue about this. Go outside, like other kids your age.”

            I obeyed, although I was completely peeved at her. I slipped on my moccasins and my gray wool sweater, even though it was eighty degrees out, because I felt cold inside. It took a few tries, but the back door finally swung open as I rammed it with my shoulder. I wonder if Nana would ever fix anything in this house. Everything here is even older than her.

            I stepped out onto the back porch, moving around the squeaky boards that were close to giving way, leapt down the steps, and ran across the stone patio. The grass was wet from last night’s rain and stained my shoes. I couldn’t care less, honestly. I kept running, mud splattering all over my ankles, until I reached the tall wrought iron fence. There was a gap between two of the poles that Nana didn’t know about. She never lets me go out alone, – even though I’m almost seventeen – but that gap was my escape.

            Downtown Winchester is far from my Nana’s house, but I needed to go somewhere. I wasn’t exactly sure what I would do there. Maybe I wanted to find something.

            I slipped through the fence and grabbed the white bicycle that I left leaning against it. The bicycle was old, but in good shape. It could take me down the hill and across the town without trouble.

            I hopped on the wide seat and grabbed the handlebars. Slowly, the bike and I rode away from the manor on the hill.

            Pedaling harder now, I reach the main road. A smile spread across my face as I took it all in. The sun was shining on my cheeks, and the wind was blowing my deep brown bangs out of my eyes. It was perfect. I was drunk on freedom.