One Day I'll Fly Away....

Chapter 5

"I will always be with you, my precious baby. I will always be with you and I will never leave you." Mommy lays me down in my bed and tucks me in. She gives me my puppy to lay with me. Her name is Tundra. She's a pretty white snow doggy. She's very funny and soft, like a pillow. She licks my face and makes me slimy and icky with slobber. I love my puppy. She was a birthday present from daddy. He said that I was a big girl now and had to take care of her. Mommy didn't like my puppy. I love my puppy so much!

"Goodnight mommy. I wuvs you!" I reach out and tug on her arm. She leans down and places a kiss on my forehead. Then she hugged me tight. Mommy's hug are always warm. I like mommy's hugs..........

I woke up with sweat dripping off my body. I felt drained and didn't have the strength to move or get the sweat soaked sheets off my hot body. I just laid there. A couple of tears dropped to my pillow, which was also sweat logged. I bet you couldn't even tell if I was crying from all the sweat. It's been many moons since I've seen her last. So many, I've lost count. Last I heard anything of her was her being in jail for minor charges. My dad was the only one who fought for me going into the end of the tragic part of my long story. As time drew on in my childhood, the woman who raised me became more distant and monotone towards me. Whenever I'd ask to go to the park, she'd forcefully push me away. If I'd ask for a cookie, she'd get scary angry and spank me and tell me to 'Never ask that again!' My dad would comfort me and explain that mommy was stressed and not herself. Not long after that, she filed for divorce and got sole custody of me. It was hell. And I haven't seen my dad since. A couple more years and she'd come to leave me in the neighborhood park. She said, "Stay here. I need to go to the store. You go play and I'll be back." She drove off and she never came back. It's amazing how I survived and here today with a new life. And a great life, all things considered. I looked over at the digital clock on my nightstand. 4:57pm. It didn't even fell that long of a nap. All of a sudden, I was hit with a killer headache.

"Kanani..." I couldn't yell. My head hurt too much. But I bet he heard me. There was a scratching and whimpering at my door. Kanani opened the door and poked his head through. Tundra wiggled her way past him, through the door, ran over to me and climbed on my bed, lying next to me. I calmly stroked her fur and she exhaled in content. She looked at me with those cute puppy dog eyes she's had ever since she was a puppy. She kept on whining and fidgeting in her spot on the bed. I looked at Kanani in the doorway.

"She been acting like that since Seth brought you up here. She's been worried about you. How did you sleep?"

"I've had better naps. How are things downstairs?" Then the smell of meat overwhelmed my senses. I didn't even realize how hungry I was until my stomach made a disturbingly loud growl.

"Everything is great. Nothing for you to worry about. The laundry is done. Beds and rooms have been tidied and all rugs, aside from yours, have been vacuumed. We had already started on dinner, as you can probably tell." Just then Seth appeared at Nani's side.

"How are you feeling, Lyra. Can we get you anything?"

"Could you get me some pain killers and orange juice, please? I have a killer headache and I feel dehydrated." Seth was away to fulfil my request and Nani came and sat at the foot of my bed. He looked down and realized the soaked sheets and my sweaty state.

"Are you okay?" I sighed. "It's just another bad memory. One good thing did come out of it, though." I reach and stroked Tundra fur and in turn she licked my forearm. When my mom left me in the park, I was fortunate to come across a family who had seen me day after day at the park in the same clothes. They asked me where I lived and I was old enough to know my neighborhood. They drove me around and found my house. There was no car in the driveway, but there was a "For Sale" sign in the yard. Some of my clothes, toys and books were scattered across the yard. And on a small, heavy chain, my puppy was laying in my clothes. She was emaciated and looked dead. The family drove me to the vet to get her checked out. I stayed with them a few nights and Tundra was out and healthy days later. A week later, I run away from the nice family and I go home. Everything was gone. I went to my room, where there were a few blankets. I made a bed and tucked myself in, Tundra cuddling up next to me. We survived together and stuck by one another.

Seth appeared in my room with my requested pain killers and OJ. I downed the pills and guzzled down the juice. It felt well needed. The twins and even my dog looked at me anxiously.

"I think that...I think I just need to get some air. Get some fresh cool mountain air to clear my head. Yea, that's what I need." I got out of my comfortable bed and walked downstairs, the twins and my dog following close behind. I reach the front door and open it, walking out and taking a massive inhale of air. I instantly got cool and my headache started to subside. Another idea popped into my head.

"I'm going to go and check the perimeter. I won't be long." I stripped down to my sports bra and panties and sat them on the ledge. Without a glance back at them, I close my eyes and jumped and let my instincts take over. I open my eyes and I'm soaring. My senses cleared and my initial internal feelings gone. I felt so open and free. Free to make my own decisions, my own life and to choose my own family. I take in another large breathe of air and I continue on my perimeter check.

But come to think of it; No one is ever truly free. Even the birds are forever chained to the sky. The fish to the ocean. A newly 21 year old human going out and having her 1st drink. They're now bound to the burning taste of alcohol. It's quite saddening and depressing if you think about it, really.

Lyra's Bedroom and Tundra ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------à