Take Me Home

Chapter 1

I don't know much about life or what you're supposed to with it. Some people choose to dedicate their lives to making other's lives better than their own, some people spend it lonely, some spend it in love, others choose religion. And i choose nothing because i have no choices at all. 

My name is Sarah. I've been living at Madame Fringes orphanage since I was seven years old. I've got one friend and it's my cat named Oliver. He's a good little cuddly boy. We walk the streets together almost every day to avoid Madame Fringe and her stupidity. 

As i look down next to me i see that Oliver is leaving little paw prints in the snow covered sidewalk as we go down Main street to the local market. I scoop him up and wrap him and his chilly fur inside my old coat as he purrs into my neck and snuggles with my long hair. My boots leaving the only footprints behind us now. 

I can smell fresh bread as we near the doors of the market, and shake the cold off of myself as I walk inside. " Hey Sarah," I hear next to me.

Ginger is standing behind the counter smiling at me warmly. She is a small woman with an old knitted green scarf wrapped around her neck and wrinkles under her eyes. "Hey Ginger," I smile back. Oliver poked his head out of my coat and sniffed the air, knowing where we were and just what he wanted. 

"Oliver!" Ginger looked to him "Come here you old thing, I made you another biscuit" And with this i unzipped my coat and Oliver jumped to the counter and rubbed his back against Ginger as if giving her a hug. She laughed and petted him as she presented the biscuit to him. "Have you been a good boy?" She asked him. Half expecting an answer but Oliver just nibbled away at his treat. 

My attention was drawn away when a man walked up to the counter and started to drop things all over the place, startling Oliver who jumped down to my feet. "Thank you Ginger" I smiled at her, knowing she needed to tend to her business. We walked down the aisle of cupcakes and muffins, my favorite place to window shop since i only had a few dollars to buy food for Oliver and some necessities for myself every week. I gazed in through the glass and crouched down to Oliver's level. He put is front paws on the glass and got close to the warm display. I was looking at a specific blueberry muffin when the view changed to a mans reflection in the glass who was standing behind me. Watching us intently. I turned around and looked up at him. "Hello" I said. 

He was almost startled. Did he not expect me to notice him there? "

"Hi there" He stammered. 

"Do you need me to move out of the way?" I questioned

"No, no thank you i can see fine," he answered. I nodded to him and turned back to the case, but Oliver was gone. I looked to find him circling the feet of the man behind me.

"Oliver" I whispered "Here boy,"  My face turning red with embarrassment

The man laughed "It's quite alright," he scooped Oliver off of the floor who was all too happy about it. "He's a handsome fellow." My cat stretched his head up with pride from the compliment. 

"Yeah, he's one of a kind" i said quietly.

"Like yourself" he responded smoothly. "I'm Liam, what's your name?" 

"I'm Sarah" I answered his request. He looked at me deeply, but Oliver jumped down and came back to me. "Well it was a pleasure but i've got to be going,"

"Right. See you then." Liam said to me. I gave him a small smile and walked past him down to the end of the aisle. As i turned the corner i could see him watching me walk and he waved at me when i looked at him. I turned the corner and went to the pet aisle. 

Oliver looked at me. "Go ahead buddy"  I Said to him. He jumped to the shelf and sniffed around for this weeks pick of dinner. He made his selection and i took it from the shelf, leaving an empty space where i could see Liam in the next aisle on the phone. He looked distressed and left his basket on the floor running out the door. i furrowed my eyebrows. 

"Meow?" 

"Come on, bud lets go,"