Anonymous

4

The jarring sound of my alarm awoke me from my sleep. It was a ringing sound, that I had learned to hate, and  I quickly hit cancel and sat up in my bed.

I had always been a morning person, so I had no trouble waking up early every morning.

The sun had not yet shown itself at this half five in the morning time and so my curtains remained unaffected from the suns rays. My room was dark, but I had no trouble seeing. I looked at my unpainted walls and my desk, my only piece of furniture apart from my bed, and felt sadness prick my senses as I stared. I never wanted to bring people over because of my room. I would feel embarrassed if anyone saw it. Even Toni hasn’t seen it. 

I pushed these thoughts away and started to get ready for school. I found my uniform on my desk, where I had placed it the previous night. Everything was there that I needed; my grey skirt, my white shirt, my green jumper, even my white socks and navy school shoes. Organisation was the key to speed.

I swiftly donned my clothes and pressed on out to the bathroom. As soon as I reached it, I began my morning routine; I washed my face and did my hair.

After I was done, I looked at myself in the mirror. Two bright brown eyes were staring back at me. My eyes were the only thing I liked about myself. Along with the eyes, there was a slightly tanned face and brown curly hair which was currently in a ponytail at the back of my head.

About 30 seconds passed before I looked away. I never looked at my reflection for long.

I checked the watch on my wrist, which read that it was ten to six. I started. I was running behind.

“Shit!” I muttered, cursing myself for my tardiness. The time indicated that I had around 10 minutes to get out of here. I forced myself to brush my teeth and forget about eating breakfast.  

I ran back into my room and grabbed my already packed bag and then raced down the stairs. But, I was too late. The familiar flash of car lights lit up the hallway, illuminating the happy family photos hanging on the walls. I stared at them while they lit up, wishing I could go back.

I heard a car door slam and I rushed down the short hall into the kitchen. The door was opened minutes later and the stomp of boots made my heart stop. This was my father. The man who spiked fear into me, and caused for me to, every morning wake up at an ungodly hour and go to school, so I could avoid him. He was a garda and worked nights, so he came home at around 6:00 every morning, in not the best of moods.

I held my breath hoping against hope that he didn’t want to eat anything. I was lucky this time. He trudged up the stairs and entered his room, slamming the door with a resounding thump.

I let out my breath.

I stood there as still as a mouse listening to my dad upstairs. When I heard the bed creak and then after a moment of silence, deep breathing emitting from the room, just left above the kitchen, I crept noiselessly to the back door, unlocked it quickly and slipped out of the house.

Once outside, I began to relax. All around me, in the gardens of my neighbours, birds were waking and songs were being sung from the trees to all who could here. Over the tops of houses, I could see the sun just creeping over the horizon, giving off a faint red glow into the sky. 

Red sky in morning, shepards warning.

 So, today would be a bad day?  I tightened my bag on my back, rearranged my skirt on my body and set off to challenge the day. 

I reached the park gate, my hiding place from yesterday, and involuniterly turned my head to glance at the Tristian Cambell's house. His house was deserted. The cars were free from the driveway and that van from yesterday had vanished. 

I checked my yellow watch. It read twenty past six. So, it took me twenty minutes to walk a journey that would normally take me five minutes, very nice Ciara. Well, in my defence it started to rain as soon as I left the house. There are loads of advantages to living in a housing estate, but the main didadvantage is that there isn't that many big sturdy trees. Yes, not really any big sturdy trees meaning a person wouldn't have anywhere to take shelter if the heavens started to pour. This was me today. I was the idiot who didn't bring an umbrella with me, first of all, in Irealnd and also with the warning of the red sky. I would slap myself, but are hands are now otherwise engaged acting as my own handmade umbrella. 

I took refuge under the tree from yesterday's excitement, and ran a mental time plan. So, it would take me at least thirty minutes to get to school from here in this weather. Twice as long as it would usually take me. That would mean, I would get to school at ten to seven, but I still had to get a bit of grub inside me. I finally decided I would walk to the playground and wait under the slide set. Not ideal, but no one is out at this time. I knew this from both common sense and experience. I would wait there for about ten, maybe twenty, minutes and would be on my way to the shop. That would give it plenty of time to open. 

I resloved to do this, and with one glance back at the now inhabitated house of Tristian Cambell, I was on my way. Here's to another day of life. I punched my fist in the air as a skirted the treeline of the park. 

Dedication is for my second commenter! I love you and thanks for all your dedications!