finding wanda: a tale of discovery and trust

'Lost in thought'

"No I'm not gonna vote" I said as I got Irritated by lucas and his stupid questions. Always with his nose in stuff he shouldn't be. "And im not gonna change my mind either" I added as I leaned against the kitchen counter, pulling off the silver paper wrapped around my snack while waiting for dad to get home. The crisping foil felt somehow satisfying as I held it in my hand and formed it to a small ball while looking outside the window.

The sun was shining bright outside, and the birds were chirping in the trees. But inside the house, I was feeling a mix of sadness and disappointment. Dad had promised to be home early today, but once again he was late. As I stood in the kitchen, munching on a snack and thinking about my school essay, Lucas came in again with his usual questions. 'But yn..just vote for more free time at school', he said. I rolled my eyes at his persistence

I sighed and decided to go for a walk. "Where are you going?" Lucas asked as he seemed to be confused why I  went outside. "It's 8pm lucas. He promised he'd be home by 6.30. If you want to wait, be my guest". I said while opening the door. rolling my eyes about the fact dad didn't come home again but, especially because I seemed to be smarter than my older brother.

I was walking trough some of the small streets in the city, while heading towards the forest ,for my walk, as I usual do in the evenings. The city ain't big but you can still easily get lost. Especially when you're new. Like I was three years ago,  when I moved cities with my older brother and my father after my parents got divorced.
I haven't seen my mother a lot since then. Visiting her is hard since the trains don't head to the city we used to life in. she is mostly busy with work. So the only time I get to see her is when she comes here on holidays. Which was like once in a few months.

I didn't even realise that I already arrived as I was still deep in my thoughts. The thought about dad not coming home once again and rather be with his friends then his kids makes me mad. Even tho I know he doesn't even care and that's exactly why I shouldn't care either, I still just need him.I want to spend time with him, doing fun things with him like most people my age can do with their dads. But not me. My dad only cares about having fun with his friends. It's like ever since we left, he's a complete different person. I know the divorce is hard for him, but so it is for me.

I was being so much in my mind, that I hadn't realise I was going deeper and deeper into the forest, Past a "forbiddig era" sign. I kept walking till the sound of a woodpecker caught my attention and I looked around. A different way of feeling creeped inside of me, as I realised how far I walked. As soon as I turned around to go back again, I heard something. It sounded like footsteps cracking and breaking sticks. Some one else was there aswell.
I turned my head to see a young woman, standing in a long black jacket and red hair, facing the small river. She had her hands in her pockets, her hair down. falling over her shoulders. She seemed to stare at the water but, being deep in thoughts aswell.

the young woman turned around. Seeming to have heard me aswell and slowly turned to me, revealing her face