Gracie

Chapter 1 - Meet Gracie

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing of Sarah-Marie or as expressly permitted by law or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organisation. Enquiries outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Copyright department Sarah-Marie Productions. First published, London 2013.

Sarah-Marie Productions is a registered trade mark

__________________________

Hello there, my name is Gracie; I'm here to tell you my story.

In 2012, I stood just over 3ft.8inches. I guess it was rather short for a 13-year-old. It was as if I hit six and just stopped growing all together. I merely weighted 46.2lbs, I know it may seem very little, but I was only short, not disproportionate. I wasn't drastically underweight considering my height. My hair was long, curly and jet black, just like Snow White's, except mine was curly. My clear blue eyes were, as my friend Zachary would have said, blue as the clearest ocean.

I was born on the first of January 2001. Hey! I was a New Year's gift. I bet you are thinking my parents loved that, right? ... Wrong! I was the child they didn't want, at least until they realized there was a way to make money off me. It's a long story, a story I wish to share with you all.

I'm going to rewind back to the twenty-second of May 2012.

I was running, running fast and hard, so fast and hard my ribs had started to hurt me. My legs were numb. I had no idea where I was heading to, but I felt I had finally broken free.

Broke free from what you ask? My parents.

I had spent years dreaming and plotting my escape, but I was never brave enough; because if my attempt failed, and I was captured, I would have been severely punished. However, on this particular day, I felt sure that I could break out of the hell I lived.

While my parents were high on drugs and their friends drunk, I seized the moment. Quietly, I pulled my small stool towards the window and climbed up, silently pushing the window open. I glanced back at the dark dingy room which held me captive for so long, "No more" I whispered.

Looking out of the window, I examined the depth of the jump I was about to perform. I was far too short to reach the ground. I had no option but to jump and hope for the best.

The ground was hard, and it hit me with one almighty thud. An immense pain rushed throughout my body, a quiet gasp escaped from my mouth. My body wanted to give up, but I knew I couldn't; I had to ignore the pain, get up and run. My feet were bare, and even though the ground was rough, it wasn't as painful as the things that would have happened if I had stayed in that trailer.

Still bruised and aching from my parents' previous beatings, I picked up my pace and started to run. I passed various other trailers. All were dirty and had at least one or two windows missing. Then the scenery changed to trees. I had no idea which direction would be the right way to escape, but I kept running through the never ending forest. It felt like I had run for hours and got nowhere. My bravery started to wear thin and panic set in. I was lost in the jungle.

Just as I was about to give up, the sky cleared and turned into a blue so bright it made me remember why I was running. The truth is that I was running to clear my own sky and chase away my own clouds. I was rarely allowed to admire such beautiful days, so, having found my new freedom, I wanted to stop and take time to admire the view. The sad truth hit me though, I couldn't; I had to push on. My pace gradually decreased as pain started to burn through my feet. Trying my hardest, I kept running. My body finally said; 'No'. I was bruised and aching everywhere. My tiny self could not cope any longer and I finally fell. I had no idea where I was.