𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐘'𝐒

OO1. Farewell at Sunset

FAREWELL AT SUNSET
Words:
779
Act one
Date:
October 14th 2002

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the small, familiar town of king county, Sarah ran around her room putting whatever she could into a bag with a mad face on. The air was thick with a bittersweet scent of impending change. Sarah's younger sister Sadie was clutching onto a little bunny that looked old and broken listening to the argument in her sister's room play out.

The tension was thick the room was palpable, a thick invisible wall that separated Sarah and her mother

"Mom, you don't understand! Steve isn't a good person!" Sarah shouted, her voice cracking with a mix of frustration and desperation. Her mother stood firm, arms crossed, eyes filled with a blend of annoyance

"He's more of a father then your dad ever was Sarah!" Her mother insisted, her voice steady but strained.

Sarah's heart pounded in her chest as she fought back to the woman she called her mother. Sarah was ready, ready to leave and never come back. Steve, her step father, was her number one reason to leave. Steve is Sadie's father when Steve came into her life she became miserable, depressed almost.

"No he hasn't, he can't even remember his own daughter's birthday!" Sarah retorted, her voice raising. "I raised Sadie more than you and Steve did together!" Her mother shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips.

"What about when your father left huh? Who took care of you!?" Sarah threw her hands up at her mothers statement.

"Me I did! You were never there, you spent hours on end at the bar while I was nine raisin' myself!" Her mothers eyes softened, but then hardened again. "You wanna have another kid then have one, but come and call me askin' me to play mom while you go off and spent all of our money on beer and drugs...again"

Sarah's mother left with a big sigh not wanting to continue this argument with her daughter. Sarah shook her head and also sighed at the tension in the air.

The room was now dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as Sarah hurriedly stuffed her belongings into an old worn-out bag. The air was still thick with even more tension than before, the echoes of countless arguments still lingering. Her hands tremble slightly as she zipped up the bag, the weight of her decision to leave her sister to end up just like her one day pressing down on her. Just then, the door cracked open, and Sadie peeked in, her little three year old eyes wide with worry. Sarah took a deep breath forcing a smile as she knelt down to her little sister.

" Hey, Dee," she said softly, her voice shaking. "I have to go now, but I will come back for you and your new brother or sister..I promise'

Sadies lip quivered as he stepped inside, her small hands clutching to the doorframe.

"B-But why do you have to leave?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah's heart ached at the sight of her little sister's worried face. "I need to find a better place for both of us, Dee. This isn't home anymore," she replied gently. "This isn't a safe place for me you or the baby in mommy's belly Dee"

"But I no want you to go!" Sadie's eyes filled with tears, and Sarah pulled her into a tight hug, feeling the warmth of her sister's small body against her.

"shh..shh..I know, I know," Sarah whispered, her own eyes stinging with unshed tears.

"But I promise, this isn't goodbye forever. You're strong, and I will always be here for you, no matter what." She pulled back, cupping Sadie's face in her hands.

"Just remember that, can you do that for me?.."

Sadie nodded slowly, her tears spilling over.
"Okay... but I going to miss you a lot."

Sarah smiled, brushing a tear away from her sister's cheek.

"I'm gonna miss you too, more then you'll know. Just keep being the amazing little sister you are, and I'll be back before you know it."

With one last squeeze, Sarah grabbed her bag and headed for the door. As she turned to look back, she saw Sadie standing there, small and mighty, and it made her heart swell with love.

After Sarah, the family struggles to adjust to the new dynamic. The father, overwhelmed by the situation, eventually decides to leave as well, hoping to find a better life elsewhere. This leaves Sadie, her mother, and her little brother Tommy to fend for themselves.