Intentions of a Dark Mage

Chapter 2

I'd already packed my winter clothes away into the spare cardboard boxes we had lying around. It would just make it faster for me to leave when they inevitably kicked me out before university began.

The room that I had once decorated had become barren. The mosaic of sketches, writing and sticky notes that I once plastered all over the walls were all now discarded, thrown away into the bin - they weren't necessary to take along with me, after all.

My little purple plum tree that had recently sprouted in the garden this spring was now resting neatly in a medium sized pot on the floor, drooping sadly. I spent a lot of work stealing the clippings from the park to start growing it, and I certainly wasn't going to do it again from scratch.

Seeing the change made my heart sink deeper and deeper.

My home was disappearing.

My place here in this family was no longer here.

No one in this damn house wants me.

I couldn't bear the sight. I turned away to look outside for anything different to distract me from the ache in my chest.

Separated by the glass of the window, Angelica waved her hands in the air like an energetic four year old near the outer edge of the forest, next to the house. The leaves on the floor floated and spun like sycamore falling from the tree - she was manipulating the winds and twirling the leaves like puppet-dancers at a ball.

To the side, Mum and Dad hugged each other, cheering loudly and joyfully. They wore excited faces as they swooped in to shower Angelica with feather kisses for a job well done.

I clenched my fists.

Despite all of this, I knew there was a positive - I could finally find my own path when I leave and be free from this torment - be who I wanted to be and all that nonsense.

But why does it still hurt so much? Why do I still yearn to be by their side, when they have discarded me with such cruelty?

It was stupid.

But it was a feeling that time would certainly heal.

I taped up the boxes and pushed them to the corner of the room.

Take a breath and let it out. Calm.

I unclenched my fists and shook some of the tension out of my body.

I'd already resolved to find my own way through life - without them. I just need to do it. It was no use pining after something that would not come.

My shuffling echoed throughout the mostly vacant room, and suddenly the walls felt like they were closing in on me. My heart shook. I needed out.

I ran downstairs and flung open the door.

The cool wind ruffled my open hair and cupped my face, pulling away the angry heat and sadness that had stifled me earlier, but my heart still pounded anxiously.

I closed my eyes, taking in the amber glow of the afternoon sun and feeling it seep into my skin.

If there was anything I was going to cherish in this place, it was going to be the forest.

"What are you doing here?"

Caught off balance, I caught my heel on the edge of the step and tilted backwards, but a strong arm caught me before I could crack my head open on the wood.

"Got you." Dad called out. He pulled me back up to my feet and held my shoulders to make sure I was steady.

"Okay, thanks." I shrugged his arms off me gently.