Refuge

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Welcome to my book, Refuge!!! I'm extremely proud of where it's going and where it's gonna go. I'll let you know ahead of time that this book is an emotional rollercoaster; there's a whole slew of ups but there's also a fair share of downs. I guess that's just life though, right?

Right.

My Name is Alison and I wanted to share this story on behalf of a very good friend of mine. The events that are expressed in this Wattpad novel are based off of true events, although they aren't exactly the same. It will be hard to read at times but I promise you, it'll prove to be a good read. So, invest yourself in this story. Pick your favorite characters, pick the ones you hate. Ship certain characters with each other, create a fandom, and just appreciate Refuge for what it is: 

A book about real things. A book that isn't cliché. A book you can relate to. 

Welcome to the Journey. Hopefully you'll ride the rollercoaster with me all the way. It'll be worth it. I pinky promise.

-A

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Chapter 1: A New Beginning

I really hate cows. 

They’re big, gross, and smelly. The way that they chew their food and spit it back up is absolutely disgusting, and don’t even get me started on their giant turds. They’re like a level ten bazillion on the gross scale. Yuck. This is what I think this as I gaze out the window, looking out across the rolling fields of Wynn, Arkansas. 

Charming, I know. 

It’s the same scene every mile. Those stupid mammals graze in pastures and worn, old buildings pop up on the sides of the highway, looking like they would fall over in a stiff wind. It’s unbelievable that this is where I will live for the next year.

I look at the back of my parents heads from the back seat. I try to see it from their point of view. They, being the good and concerned parents that they are, have to protect their child from certain dangers, right? Even if it means uprooting her whole life in Denver and taking her away from all her friends and the normal things in her life and making her live with complete strangers. They’re just doing this out of love. Well, and their need for a year long vacation, conveniently “child-free”. It’s not really their fault. 

It’s his. 

At the thought of him my body cringes, nearly sending me into another fit of terror. Every since the “incident,” I’ve been getting panic attacks whenever I think about certain things pertaining to a certain male figure. My breaths quicken and my palms start to sweat. Breath Alex, breath. He’s not here and he won’t ever be here. 

“Alexandria?” Mom calls from the front seat, hearing my sudden fit. She turns around and gives me that look that just screams, “I’m-sorry-this-happened-just-calm-down-because-I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-you.” She tilts her head to the side and regards me like I’m some puzzle she can’t figure out. “Honey, are you okay?” 

I nod, calming myself down, knowing that even if I did say I wasn’t fine, she would just advise me to take an Advil and “push through it”. “Yeah, mom. I’m fine.” She nods and tries to give me a reassuring smile, but it just comes out as more of a grimace. Typical.

I smile grimly back and look out the window. I love my parents and all, but all be damned if I wasn’t aloud to be pissed at them every now and then. Leaving me isn’t really what I had in mind when I finally ‘fessed up and asked for help. But, what sucks is that I can kinda understand why they have to go. I know they love me and are worried about me, but sometimes what happened to me is too much for them.