Hopelessy Devoted

Chapter One: The Speeding Bullet

Growing up, my Daddy always told me that this town was my canvas and I could paint the future I wanted. The farm was a big part of the community- monthly parties, markets, and a place to bring your hurt pets. My Daddy painted his canvas full of people and God. He knows everyone and that includes people many wouldn't look twice at. But that doesn't mean he is always kind.

When my Mama died, he started to drink and has even spent nights in the drunk tank at Senonia's County Jail. The town isn't that big, butit's big enough to still have some mystery around every corner. When my Daddy got to drinking in town, I was left to find something to entertain myself because my sister, Maggie was always with her friends and boys. Me, I had friends- I guess- but we never really hung out. The younger me was always curious in town. I spent so much time on the farm that the buildings and paved streets were like a jungle. I found hiding spots no one knew about, I climbed trees the other kids were scared to climb, and I ran the streets.

Running. That's what I've always loved. When I was little I did it to keep away from Maggie amd her mean friends, but I as got older it became my thing. I made a track around my Daddy's cornfield so I could run miles without getting in trouble for leaving the farm. Yeah, my Daddy's always been really protective over me, but that's because I'm the baby of the Greene's. His first wife, Maggie's mama, died during birth. When Maggie three years old, Daddy met my mama, who was pregnant with another man's baby. Daddy was mad that he didn't know, but accepted Shawn as his own son. About then five years after that, Mama was pregnant again. They weren't planning on havin' another baby, but Daddy doesn't believe in abortions so needless to say- I was born that August.

Because I wasn't a planned baby, Maggie thinks that's why Daddy gives me a lot of attention, but it's really because Mama and Shawn died about a year after I was born in a car accident. He was so hurt by the lise of his family- that he had no choice but to try and raise a seven year old and baby by himself. Luckily, Uncle Otis and Aunt Patricia were there to help. They aren't really my Aunt or Uncle, but they're so close to us that they are our family.

When I started running, Otis and Patricia would sit in lawn chairs amd cheer me on. They would time me and take me out for ice cream if I beat my record. By the age of twelve I was already running the mile in under five minutes. For a girl, that's pretty good! Because they believed in me- that's what lead me to this moment of my Senior Career.

I started competing in middle school- they didn't really count cause there were no other districts who had middle school track teams. So I would compete against anyone who wanted a challange- boy and girls alike. I always came up the winner, which made it easier to make friends because everyone wanted to be known as Beth "Speeding Bullet" Greene's friend. As I entered high school, my skills only progressed. I placed in Cross Country and Track n' Field- both very honorable things for a small fish in a big pond- considering the last first place trophy for any of the sports in Senonia happened in 1986.

So with it being my Senior year, I am more than ready to start looking at colleges and taking with me my canvas full of hard work and dedication.

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Tomorrow is the first day of my last year of high school. As I go over my checklist again and again while brushing my teeth- I can't wait for tomorrow. This year is going to be amazing- considering I'm starting out the school year with a boyfriend!

Zach Grey, the most popular football jock in school, finally asked me out four days ago! He is like a football God at Senonia High School- lead quarterback who has ten touchdowns under his belt- asked me out! I could 't say no! I couldn't! This is just going to make my first day even better! Zach is already nineteen and it says a lot that he's willing to date the youngest Senior
(Me--->17).

As I fold up my checklist and put ontop of my already packed book bag, I glance at my FitBit and notice it's already midnight. This is the perfect time for a mile- mostly because Daddy is fast asleep and won't notice I'm gone. Which also means I can run off the property!

Tiptoeing down the steps, I grab my running shoes and head out the back door. Slipping in my shoes, I lace them up tight and say my quick prayer- a ritual I always do before I run- and burst doen the driveway! The greatest thing about living in the country is I can be at peace in the quiet, velvet darkness. The moon is the only light I need to guide me as I fly across the ground and out passed where my property ends. The dirt road is smooth beneath my feet as I own the center of it. Dust kicks up behind me like a dust storm as I bound forward. When I get to the edge of town, I turn back and head towards home. The cook night air, flows through my thing tank top and the burn in my thighs keeps me warm as the wind kicks up.

As I come closer to my property, I want to weep because that means my run has ended, but I stop short of my own driveway as a chill runs up my spine. Stopping in the middle of the road, I nearly fall over as I see something I haven't ever seen before.

The light, of the abandoned house next to mine, is on.

It takes me a few minutes to regain focus as I rub my eyes to make sure I am not seeing anything from my own imagination. Yet how could I imagine a light being on when I never seen one on in that house before in my life?

Shaking my head, I jog back to my driveway, slip my shoes off and tiptoe back inside and up to my room.

Laying in bed that light still haunts me. And now, I cannot sleep at all.